Pump exploded in sump, cut return off Asap. Carbon, WC??

[Hollifields]

My Skimmer pump (most used skimmer brand in hobby) had been losing pressure not turning back on after auto feeding. It's only been 3 months since cleaned (journal it) ugh!

Many moons ago after purchasing this new, I realize this maintanence was required as I could see the water bubbling inside the body but not enough pressure (without putting my finger over the pump intake hole for a second) to get it start working properly. Regular skimmer body and Pump cleaning has been mandatory often including tonight. Now, as a more experienced reefer, this seems lame and irritating... however fact!

TONIGHT when I put it back in the sump and flipped it on using my iPad/apex, it blew up in my face :mad2:
I flipped the return pump off asap and watched a brown electrical, burnt smell discharge from the skimmer pump at the cord areas. The air still smells...

I'm currently running GFO and carbon, out of prime. Any other suggestions besides a WC? I did a 35 gallon WC last night!

Should I worry about the water in the sump or can I turn the return back on and go to bed (dead tired)??


Thanks
Deb

 

[wildman926]

Mind sharing what brand of pump you are speaking of?

 

[AZRippster]

Yes, please share. A pump failing is one thing but exploding is something else.

 

[alton]

Any pump leaking current has a chance of blowing up. We continue to drop 120v pumps into our saltwater thinking they will never fail. My only question is was the pump on a GFCI Breaker of plug, and if it was did you have a grounding probe to go with it?

 

[Reef Frog]

It sounds like it didn't have much if any contact time with the water. If that's the case you should be OK.

Plastic burning under water for an extended time is another thing entirely and could be dangerous to livestock (based on posts here on RC), depending on exposure time. WC & carbon is the right thing to do. Good luck.