Please help! Skimmer not working!

[Lou Cifer]

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I decided to perform a thorough cleaning of my protein skimmer (EuroReef RC180). I ran the recirculating pump, an Ehiem 1262 in vinegar and water for several hours followed by several hours of water only.

Fast forward to today. I hook everything back up, plug in the Eheim pump and it sounds like a dying car engine. So I unplug it and try again and more of the same.

I then decided to open it up just to make sure there weren't any broken parts and everything looked to be in good shape.

Did I ruin it by running it in vinegar and water?

Anyone, have experience with these pumps? Is there anything I can do to get this thing running again or do I have to drop $370 for a new one?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[pandimus]

i run all my pumps in a vinegar/rodi solution, no problems as of yet.

 

[Lou Cifer]

Yeah, I've always done the same.
I don't know what's going on with this thing.
I have it back in a bucket of water and vinegar and it seems to be working just fine.

This is the second time that I've done this today. It runs fine in the bucket but then when I put it back on the skimmer, nothing!

 

[spollock818]

After its back in the sump and hooked up, try loosening up the cover to the impeller and you might have to give it a spin to get it to start.

 

[Lou Cifer]

If I do that, I'll have water al over. Its an external.

 

[pandimus]

try it in a bucket outside.

 

[spollock818]

is it just not making bubbles? or does the pump not push water at all?

 

[Lou Cifer]

It has a piece of plastic glued along the bottom so it's impossible to put it in a bucket.
I suppose I can test it in the bath tub or something. With my luck, it'll work just fine until I hook it up to the tank again. :-/

 

[Lou Cifer]

The pump doesn't seem to be pushing water at all while hooked up to the skimmer.
I have the pump in a bucket now and it seems to be working just fine.
As soon as I hook it up to the skimmer and the tank it just stops.

 

[savethereef]

Blow in the airline to see if it kick starts.

 

[Lou Cifer]

Ok, I'll give that a try as soon as I get home.
Thanks!

 

[pandimus]

remember you wont get airbubbles in fresh water..

 

[jesseblack]

I recently learned that vinegar can ruin the coating on the magnetic impellers and thus shouldn't be used to clean pumps (see Mr Saltwater Discussion- link below)-- perhaps you ruined your impeller?.

http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/vinegar-is-so-last-year-hydors-magi-klean/

 

[jesseblack]

One more thing... I had a similar problem with my main pump... when I clean it, if I do not put the impeller cover on the same way it was (it will go on three ways), it will not restart after I turn the pump off. However if I put the impeller cover on one way, the pump starts up fine every time. Apparently something is slightly off....

Perhaps you have the same issue.

 

[Lou Cifer]

Ok, so, I came home and the pump was still running fine in the bucket.
As soon as I hook it up to the skimmer it stops.
I tried blowing in the venturi but that didn't work. It doesn't appear to be sucking in any air at all. As a matter of fact, if I point the venturi down water comes flowing out.
Any more ideas?

 

[Lou Cifer]

Oh, by the way, how's the Tomini Tang doing Johnny?

 

[pandimus]

I traded him off to a buddy.. I havent seen him lately.. But im assuming good.

 

[pandimus]

Ok, so, I came home and the pump was still running fine in the bucket.
As soon as I hook it up to the skimmer it stops.
I tried blowing in the venturi but that didn't work. It doesn't appear to be sucking in any air at all. As a matter of fact, if I point the venturi down water comes flowing out.
Any more ideas?

Thats really wierd.. and your airline is out of the water right? and no holes/cuts in it?

 

[Lou Cifer]

Oh, right on.

Yup, the venturi is out of the water.
I just don't get it.

 

[gveng]

leave it running and give it a couple of days to break in.