Reef Octopus Classic 150INT Protein Skimmer making vibration noises

[is null]

I've had this Reef Octopus Classic 150INT Protein Skimmer for probably 3 months and it keeps making a vibration type of noise, but I can't locate the source. This is in my home office, so I'm sitting here listening to this thing vibrate for 8+ hours a day and it's driving me crazy.

Today I disconnected the return pump and cleaned it out, then plugged it in inside the sump but disconnected from the skimmer and it was nearly completely silent.

Then I hooked it up to the skimmer and put that back in, on top of an egg crate stand I built (to elevate it), with a mouse pad in between (to dampen any vibrations) and it's still making the vibrating noise. I can physically lift it up in the sump so it's not making any contact with anything and it's still making the noise.

I'm out of ideas. Any help would be amazing, thank you!

 

[is null]

Actually, I think the noise may be coming from the silencer. If I plug the hole the noise goes way down, but the collection cup goes crazy.

 

[henryle]

Are you sure it's "vibration noise" or maybe just the sound of the foam? I have a SRO and I always assumed it's noises from the production of foam. I have it on a rubber plate thing to keep it quiet. My skimmer is the loudest thing on my tank. If I can silence it, there'll be virtually no sound from my tank. It's in my bedroom so noise is a big factor like yours


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[is null]

I'm not sure, it sounds more like a mechanical noise than a water noise. I've got the output silenced already, there were some other threads on that part. I may try to get a video of it with my phone, unfortunately nothing better to record with.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Sounds like you have the same issue I did. It's most likely the impeller. The sound would stop when I plugged the silencer, skimmer would go crazy, but this was due to the increase of air in side the pump which stabilized the bouncing impeller.

 

[henryle]

Interesting. I'll have to test that theory when I get home


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[Scarface8]

Reef Octopus Classic 150INT Protein Skimmer making vibration noises

Try having the pump disconnected from the skimmer but have the air and silencer connected to the pump and try that in the sump, sure it will make bubbles in the sump for as long as u have it turned on but that will tell you if its the impeller or not, could the bracket that holds the silencer to the skimmer be a little loose? After all the air his it connected to the pump and silencer, the pump going to vibrate a little and that vibration is then transferred to the silencer and bracket holding it, that would also explain why it goes away when u put your finger on it, just a thought

 

[is null]

that would also explain why it goes away when u put your finger on it, just a thought

It doesn't go away when I touch it. I can hold it in the sump not touching anything and it still makes the noise.

 

[Scarface8]

Reef Octopus Classic 150INT Protein Skimmer making vibration noises

I must have missed that bit, if you take the pump apart, do you think it could be missing an 'o' ring, I have the same skimmer with aquatrance pump, here's a pic, I cleaned mine the other day and this is what it should look like, note there's 3 orings on the front, 2 that help locate it and one acting as a cushion for the impeller