Royal-Exclusiv / Vertex Cone Skimmer Club

[thi7b]

I'm having the start up problem on my son new skimmer. It's only been 2 wks. Twice it have not start up for me. I took it apart but there was nothing there or any build up. I have pm Proline and waiting for them to pm me back. This is only 2wks old. If this happen everytime I shut down for a water I would be very disappoint.

 

[MFR]

Uus

Uus

Anyone have problems with their skimmer pump where it suddenly stops working or the impeller stops spinning?

I have taken my pump apart and nothing seems to be preventing it from spinning . . given it a vinegar bath for a few hours but the problem still persists.

Just some background I have had the Alpha 200 skimmer for almost a year and the pump has been working flawlessly until this issue.

Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Usually it is just air. Tap the pump without taking it apart- hiccup if you will.

Best,

M

 

[DarG]

These pumps dont seem to have inherent start up issues. RE has been using the motor on the BK skimmers for a long time. Air trapped in the volute as suggested above is a possibility but there may very well just be an issue with the particular pump. I would contact the dealer ... If it's Premium Aquatics, they have always been real good at taking care of their customers.

Im sure that Jeremy will chime in with advice.

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Will give it a try and report back . . thanks for the help

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Ok I got it working again but now it seems to be a noisier that before. now there is a noticeable hum from the pump. I will give it a couple of days to see if the hum goes away before trying to take it apart again.

Thank again for all the help

 

[Jeremy B.]

These pumps do not have a known startup issue. I would recommend giving Proline Aquatics a call at 604-278-1474 if you purchased it from someone other than us. I would not wait on a reply back to a private message you sent them, as it could be a few days. If you did purchase it through Premium Aquatics, give me a call directly at 317-895-9005.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Pran]

Hey Jeremy

thanks for your advice on friday about using the small narrow nozzle for my alpha cone 200.

Now its not overflowing and its running fine.


To Jeremy and others



I am using Zeovit Coral Vitialize and Zeovit Amino Acid SPS, do any of you shut off your skimmer while using any of these products


Thanks

Pran

 

[Eel-byte]

I'm having issues with my 170 not dumping the waste in the collection cup. It just slimes up the chamber with lots of nasty stuff, never reaching the cup. When I do make adjustments to where it looks like its fine, it just over flows in the cup. I'm realy getting frustrated. By they way this is on a 58g w/15g sump.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Can you provide us with more details than that?

- Please post a few pictures of the setup.

- Do you have the upgraded wet end on the pump?

- How many turns out on the nozzle?

- How far closed are you running the wedge pipe?

- How deep are you running the skimmer in the sump?

- Does the water level in the sump fluctuate at all?

- How long has this tank been set up?

- What inhabitants are in the system?

Let us know and we'll try to help. It sounds like the skimmer is working wonderfully, just skimming dry. My 170 runs extremely dry on my office tank as well (about 90-100gal total volume), but I only have 1 fish in the tank, and don't feed much.

 

[Eel-byte]

- Do you have the upgraded wet end on the pump-yes

- How many turns out on the nozzle- not sure, about 2 if i remember

- How far closed are you running the wedge pipe - i'm guessing 1/2

- How deep are you running the skimmer in the sump - 8.5"

- Does the water level in the sump fluctuate at all? Nope

- How long has this tank been set up? 7yrs this fall

Lots of shrooms, a few sps, true perc, yellow tang, and purple tang (i know, one was a rescue from a members tank), various snails,blue legs, and a couple of serpent stars. I feed sea veggies everyday for the tangs, plus 1 cube of hikari each day or every other day.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I would recommend making very small changed to the wedge pipe position. Close it to 60% this evening, and observe over the next 24hrs. If that doesn't help at all, then go to 70%, and observe over the next 24hrs again. Make sure that no other changes are made during this time.

I would also recommend taking a black sharpie marker, turning the volute all the way in to the right, closed position, then marking the twelve o'clock position on the nozzle. You will then be able to tell exactly where you're at on the nozzle itself.

Let us know what happens.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[touhy]

change in alpha 200

change in alpha 200

here is a question for Jeremy or anyone that has one of the newer alpha 200s that came with an adjustable nozzle.

i've been running my 200 with the adjustable nozzle for about three weeks with no problems.

175 total ga, 8.5" sump level, nozzle out 4-5 turns, pipe about 50% closed. nice dry skim.

seems the adjustable nozzle did not make much difference unless i take it completely out or turn it in just about all the way closed. i left it about 4-5 turns out and needed to close the pipe down to about 50% close to get a dry skim.

then today after adding some soft corals, it all of a sudden started to overflow into the cup in a major way. the only way to get it to stop overflowing was to turn in the nozzle to almost fully closed. so now the nozzle is just 1 turn out and the pipe is 100% open. if i turn the nozzle to 1.25 turns out it starts to go high and overflows, and if i turn it out 2 turns, it starts to majorly overflow....all this while the pipe is 100% open. water level unchanged at 8.5" i checked the impeller and it looks clean and fine.

so why all of a sudden, does the nozzle position make such a big difference? even very small changes in the nozzle position affects the foam level when it made very little difference before.

and with the nozzle out only 1 turn, the foam level will move up and down almost 4 inches every 45 secs or so..is this the 'surging" problem as discussed here? if so, prob is i can't screw open the nozzle any further without it overflowing.

thanks in advance

 

[Jeremy B.]

Nothing has changed on the skimmer side, but rather the water chemistry is the cause. Most likely when you put the softs in they slimed up pretty good, causing the skimmer to go crazy. Also, did you use any epoxy or glue to attach their base to your rock structure? If so, this would have also caused the skimmer to go crazy. It should settle back down after a couple days, and everything will be back to normal.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

here is a question for Jeremy or anyone that has one of the newer alpha 200s that came with an adjustable nozzle.

i've been running my 200 with the adjustable nozzle for about three weeks with no problems.

175 total ga, 8.5" sump level, nozzle out 4-5 turns, pipe about 50% closed. nice dry skim.

seems the adjustable nozzle did not make much difference unless i take it completely out or turn it in just about all the way closed. i left it about 4-5 turns out and needed to close the pipe down to about 50% close to get a dry skim.

then today after adding some soft corals, it all of a sudden started to overflow into the cup in a major way. the only way to get it to stop overflowing was to turn in the nozzle to almost fully closed. so now the nozzle is just 1 turn out and the pipe is 100% open. if i turn the nozzle to 1.25 turns out it starts to go high and overflows, and if i turn it out 2 turns, it starts to majorly overflow....all this while the pipe is 100% open. water level unchanged at 8.5" i checked the impeller and it looks clean and fine.

so why all of a sudden, does the nozzle position make such a big difference? even very small changes in the nozzle position affects the foam level when it made very little difference before.

and with the nozzle out only 1 turn, the foam level will move up and down almost 4 inches every 45 secs or so..is this the 'surging" problem as discussed here? if so, prob is i can't screw open the nozzle any further without it overflowing.

thanks in advance

Just let it run where it doesn't overflow. By adding those soft corals, you probably added a bunch of surfactant which can drive skimmers crazy and cause uncontrollable amounts of foaming. Just let it run for a day or two and it should settle down in no time.

Cheers,
John

 

[touhy]

Jeremy and John,
Thank you. that makes sense...and I did use some epoxy too.
Dave

 

[Jeremy B.]

Any feedback from those of you using the Alpha 200, 250, or 300 with the adjustable nozzles? Where are you finding the most balanced nozzle position at?

 

[touhy]

i have a 200 with an adjustable nozzle. except for the episode above which has resolved, the 200 is super.
i currently have it at 4 turns out in 8.5" of water with output pipe closed 50%. steady production of dry, dark skimmate. i like the adjustable nozzle as it allows me to make quick, fine tune adjustments. i think in the end it will end up between 3-4 turns out.

 

[Discus01]

Alpha 300

Alpha 300

Hi,
I am about to join the club with a new but older version of the alpha 300 (Grey neck)
What has changed with the pumps and or the skimmers on the newer versions?
Thanks!

 

[foreverfortune]

Any feedback from those of you using the Alpha 200, 250, or 300 with the adjustable nozzles? Where are you finding the most balanced nozzle position at?

i have a 200 with adjustable nozzle, sitting in 9.5" from bottom of base to waterline. nozzle 3.5 turns out, and pipe completely open. works great.

 

[Jeremy B.]

@Discus01, the older version had the grey collar, and non-adjustable venturi nozzle. Other than that everything else ist he exact same. You'll love the 300, it's an absolute beast!

Thanks for the update foreverfortune. What I'm hearing is that most are between 3 and 4 turns out with the nozzle on the 200, 250, and 300. Keep us updated!