Part 2-protein skimmer acting funny? Is it dead?/

[rjmayes34]

So i get my protein skimmer back up and running after a cleaning and i guess it was dirtier than i thought! At about 8:30 last night,7 hours or so later after i cleaned it, me and my wife are watching a movie on netflix and she says sounds like the tank just got a little louder,i hear water...... so we look and yup water spewing from the pump out of the back of the stand so i shut down the pumps and find that my DIY fix on the U shaped tube that connects the pump to the skimmer came apart,like i said skimmer was used,fixed, now finally cleaned and my fix couldn't hold the pressure of a clean pump i guess!!

Do they make replacement parts for that?

How important is a great reliable skimmer(dumb question)?

Thinking bout getting a new one to be safe,mine worked fine so if i could fix it then that would be ok, or for piece of mind should i just buy a new one? Mine has no brand on skimmer or pump?

Or does anyone have one in mint shape for a 120 gallon(should i fix my used one if im willing to buy someones used one?)

If i should go new, what one,brand size?? Id like to keep the price down,but have a quality one if i buy new.

Thanks,i know its a long post

 

[Capt_Cully]

Can you post a picture of the Skimmer you have? Its tough to troubleshoot unless we know what you've got.

You are lucky you were home. If its been repaired by you once, and failed again, might be the right time to look into a newer one.

Wish I could be of more help.

 

[rjmayes34]

yeah thats what im thinking too, just have to find the right one...ill post pic tomorrow when i charge my camera

 

[rjmayes34]

So it took a couple of days to find my camers and charge it but here are some pics of my protein skimmer. Any thought on what brand?? And any thoughts on how "good" of one it is? It pulled out lots of gunk but its the only one ive owned so i dont have anything to compare it to.

Pic of the whole skimmer

Pic of skimmer body

Pic of other side of skimmer body

Pic of pump with filter off

Pic of pump specs,no brand on pump either

Pic of part that goes to pump thats broke

Pic of how it connects to skimmer body

Lots of pics but wanted to get pics of everything. thanks again for any input on my questions!!

 

[rjmayes34]

Pic of pump specs,no brand on pump either

Pic of how tubes/pump connects to skimmer body

Didn't go through right the first time so here are two of the pics again

 

[jfl14609]

The pump is a mag drive pump. the skimmer looks like one I used to have made by a company called wan brothers or something like that it was ok but definitely not meant to keep up with the demands we put on a reef tank these days. ever thought of a lifereef or etss those are two of my favorites. octopus skimmers and the others like it I have had good luck with as well

 

[Capt_Cully]

Just saw these. Is that an old Red Sea???? Got me swingin' on what brand....Regardless, I think that you are in for the shock of a lifetime when you get a new skimmer. I bet the new one runs circles around that old clunker. (no offense intended, I just think that skimmer's seen better days is all)

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I think a reliable repair could be made with some new vinyl tubing and one or two fittings. That looks like an npt fitting on the skimmer; if it is, I'd try plumbing new from the skimmer body to the pump. A new/new used skimmer is always nice, but if your budget is like mine every need needs waiting its turn.

 

[rjmayes34]

lol that what i was thinking too, just had to hear it from elsewhere!!! Too bad the gov got rid of cash for clunkers
Yeah i see a lot of people with the reef octopus and i think im leaning toward that brand, but not partial to it.
Thanks for the input guys!!!! In my other thread " what protein skimmer for my 120 " Ill keep you updated,with my choices as i make my decision

 

[rjmayes34]

I was thinking of fixing it but im def leaning towards getting a newer one instead. I got a 20h set up that im going to sell to recoupe some of the money spent on the skimmer. I guess my bedroom tank will have to wait. The wife will love to hear that since she didnt want it to begin with I was on the verge of convincing her though

 

[Capt_Cully]

You can certainly make what you have work, I wasn't trying to bust chops, just saying the newer skimmer designs rock. You can make due with anything. I've seen some very successful reefs here on RC that just do waterchanges and don't even have skimmers at all.

Cash for clunkers...I love it.....(insert your own political opinion here...)

 

[tmz]

Looks like it can be fixed but I think you'll be happier with a newer needle wheel type, say ASM or Octopus.