Very warm/hot impeller.

[pdkinsel]

Roger,
How warm/hot is it supposed to be? I have been trying to tweek my 9010 for some time, disassemble, reassemble, etc. to figure out how to improve skimmate collection/volume. IThe last time I disassembled and cleaned out pump and impellar, I noticed the impeller felt very warm, if not hot to the touch. It also looked like the magnet was "worn" uneven at certain places.

It is in sump and I have done all I can to make sure air line is not kinked, nozzle placement good, air line totally free of salt and debris. It still seems like it struggles to get bubbles over the top edge to fall into cup. With air screw open all the way the skimmate is very concentrated. I would like to skim a bit wetter and cannot figure why I cannnot with the screw all the way open. I have had this unit since Nov. 2007 and I have had it working fantastically for a while and now it seems that it just started not working as well. My bioload has not changes since I had purchased the unit.

I do not know what else to do.

Thank you for any help.

 

[rvitko]

Clean the venturi. The drive unit will be warm if it just came out of the pump but it shouldn't be hot unless there is a lot of friction from calcium buildup. I would tear everything down and soak it in vinegar. Be very careful with the venturi nozzle, any scratches can cause it to fail so just let it soak until it is clean. What I prefer to do for thorough cleaning is to clean the pump with a brush and 50/50 vinegar and water, letting it soak a few hours and making sure all calcium deposits are removed, see the top thread on cleaning, the same applies to the skimmer pump. After that hook up the skimmer in a 5 gallon bucket of vinegar and water completely submerged so the solution gets pumped through all the skimmer and cleans it, it won't make any bubbles because the solution will be pulled through the air system to get all the salt and calcium dissolved.

 

[pdkinsel]

I did not see any calcium deposits anywhere on the places you mentioned when I last disassembled 11 days ago. The air tube and venturi nozzle had no calcium build up as well.

The worn part of the impeller seemed to go to the magnet itself and with no calcium on it that may cause uneven wearing, I cannot determine what might be the problem.

What else can I do?

 

[rvitko]

Can you post some pictures of the impeller assembly and pump?

 

[pdkinsel]

I will try as soon as I get some free time. I am terrible with a camera, but will try my best.