problem with pump in Tunze nano skimmer

[FishWife1]

This is my second pump, Tunze replaced the first one with no problem. when I take it apart to clean it, the inside of the impeller shaft is gouged and looks like it is rusted. the impeller doesn't turn smoothly, it rattles, and the skimmer doesn't skim. I don't know what could be causing this. None of my other pumps have this problem, Tunze or not. The pump and impeller are clean with no debris which could be cutting into the shaft.

Has anyone else had this problem? I've got to lay hold of another skimmer somewhere fast because my tank looks really good right now and I don't want it to start going south.

Laurie

 

[rvitko]

In the last couple years I have only had to replace 2 of these pumps, yours being one of them so I am not sure why this is happening, it is very unusual. Do you use any sort of fine sand that may be getting inside?

 

[FishWife1]

Hi - No, it's down in the sump and there's no sand there. there is some lr but it's not sandy and it wasn't in there when I had the former pump. the last time I cleaned it about a month ago I didn't notice any damage. Like I said in my post, it's clean, no build-up, nothing but a slight slimey coating that rinses right off. The impeller actually sits a little crooked in the pump. It's worked like a champ until recently. It looks like 2 areas of rust on opposite sides of the shaft casing. that's the best way I can describe it Not so much gouged, but rusted and starting to wear away.

Laurie

 

[rvitko]

Laurie, this time why not send me the entire skimmer, I cannot think of what in the skimmer would cause this to happen but I would like to look over everything. Include a print out of these posts. In the meantime just run some carbon and a polyfilter and you should be fine for the short time it will take.

Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin TX 78753

 

[FishWife1]

Thanks - probably can't do it until Friday but I will send it to you asap. I think the metal post that holds the impeller is ever so slightly bent from the base up because on close examination it is just a teeny bit closer to one side than the other. And that is where the apparent rubbing occurs. I didn't notice this with the other pump but I didn't look as closely. It's a pretty solid piece of metal, I don't know how it could be knocked off center. I bought a used skimmer super cheap today to tide me over. It's always good to have a back-up.

Laurie