Submersible Pump ???'s
- Thread starter meowzer
- Start date
aquaknight
Active Member
Yea, and most people would tell ya, for that probably 6" bodied-skimmer, 1000gph is way too much.
meowzer
Moderator
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3276040
Yea, and most people would tell ya, for that probably 6" bodied-skimmer, 1000gph is way too much.
really??? HMMM...it came with it....when you say 6"...do you mean diameter??
http:///forum/post/3276040
Yea, and most people would tell ya, for that probably 6" bodied-skimmer, 1000gph is way too much.
really??? HMMM...it came with it....when you say 6"...do you mean diameter??
aquaknight
Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3276042
really??? HMMM...it came with it....when you say 6"...do you mean diameter??
Yea, the diameter of the main body section.
http:///forum/post/3276042
really??? HMMM...it came with it....when you say 6"...do you mean diameter??
Yea, the diameter of the main body section.
meowzer
Moderator
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3276044
Yea, the diameter of the main body section.
I think it's 5"
http:///forum/post/3276044
Yea, the diameter of the main body section.
I think it's 5"
meowzer
Moderator
WELL the CA3000 stopped again....soooo I now have the Mag7 in as the skimmer pump.....I cleaned all the housings of the skimmer, so it will probably be a little bit before I see foam......Let's hope this works...CROSSES FINGERS
BOY this has been a busy weekend so far phewwwwwwww
BOY this has been a busy weekend so far phewwwwwwww
meowzer
Moderator
WELL.....When I got up for work this morning...one of the first things I do is check my tanks....I open the cabinet and look at the sump under the 225G
GUESS WHAT!!!!!! The damn skimmer wasn't working
APPARENTLY it wasn't the pump.....what could it be....I THUMPED the MAG 7 and it started working.....came home tonight....and it is still working
What could be doing this??????????????
GUESS WHAT!!!!!! The damn skimmer wasn't working
APPARENTLY it wasn't the pump.....what could it be....I THUMPED the MAG 7 and it started working.....came home tonight....and it is still working
aquaknight
Active Member
Do you have the skimmer on a timer, or it's just randomly stopping??
meowzer
Moderator
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3276850
Do you have the skimmer on a timer, or it's just randomly stopping??
randomly stopping.....I have no clue...it worked great for over a year.....I think after it stops again....(not tonight-too tired) I am gonna take the whole thing out, and soak the pvc pipes....MAYBE...just maybe there is something in there
......You can not get to all the angles with my flexible brushes
I mean....what else could it be????
http:///forum/post/3276850
Do you have the skimmer on a timer, or it's just randomly stopping??
randomly stopping.....I have no clue...it worked great for over a year.....I think after it stops again....(not tonight-too tired) I am gonna take the whole thing out, and soak the pvc pipes....MAYBE...just maybe there is something in there
I mean....what else could it be????
aquaknight
Active Member
Even if there was something in the pipes in the skimmer, it really shouldn't be different then say traditionally using a ball valve and restricting the flow. Something I've done on skimmers before.
How tall is the water in that first section? The skimmer sits flat on the bottom? Where does the water exit the skimmer? Underwater? How far under?
Thinking it might be what I think acrylic mentioned earlier, about the backpressure on the pump. But I think that's the way around, with the skimmer being that depth underwater, it, IIRC, should make it easier on the pump, not harder.
Maybe it's the outlet/power strip not supply enough juice? Just lay the extra pump in that section of the sump, like on top the other pump. Plug it into where you had the skimmer pump plugged into. Run an extension cord from a different power outlet in the house, if you can, and just plug in the skimmer pump. If the extra pump stops, but the skimmer pump keeps working, you've narrowed it down.
How tall is the water in that first section? The skimmer sits flat on the bottom? Where does the water exit the skimmer? Underwater? How far under?
Thinking it might be what I think acrylic mentioned earlier, about the backpressure on the pump. But I think that's the way around, with the skimmer being that depth underwater, it, IIRC, should make it easier on the pump, not harder.
Maybe it's the outlet/power strip not supply enough juice? Just lay the extra pump in that section of the sump, like on top the other pump. Plug it into where you had the skimmer pump plugged into. Run an extension cord from a different power outlet in the house, if you can, and just plug in the skimmer pump. If the extra pump stops, but the skimmer pump keeps working, you've narrowed it down.
acrylic51
Active Member
I honestly believe the it's the depth of water the skimmer is sitting in. There isn't or to many skimmers on the market today that will perform in that depth of water. That depth would put pressure on the pump, but how much who knows. Just as if you would submerge the outlet of the skimmer under water you would see the skimmer create back pressure and want to shut down.
acrylic51
Active Member
Ahhhhh good point AquaKnight.....it might be possible there is a voltage drop or other on that line, playing with the pumps.....Meowzer you did state that the pump had stopped running when you checked it this morning? Mags over time will act this way by not liking to restart from no power, but this is a brand new pump. Is it plugged into that infamous power strip laying in the stand??????
(couldn't resist)
meowzer
Moderator
funny guys....LOL.....Yes, it is plugged into the strip that is now moved 
I will have to take some measurements when I get home tonight, but I have to work a little later than usual.
Remember....they sell this set-up like this....so I have no clue
As far as the water leaving the skimmer...you know....I never thought about that.....there is no output like on some HOB's....the pvc pipe goes halfway up the skimmer tube.....the foam obviously goes in the cup....SOOOO I would have to guess the water comes out the bottom
The only problem with the ext. cord that I could see AQUA is that sometimes it takes a week or 2 before it stops running....that would be an awful lot of water movement in that area....wouldn't it?
I'm trying to think of what's actually plugged in there.....The Mag 18 (sump return) a timer for the refugium light, the protein skimmer pump, and another timer....I think for the lunar lights.....
Maybe at lunch today I will buy a new "plug in", and run it from a different circuit.....I had 4 seperate circuits put in behind the tank cause I was scared of blowing a fuse....
OH...AN ELECTRICIAN DID IT
I will have to take some measurements when I get home tonight, but I have to work a little later than usual.
Remember....they sell this set-up like this....so I have no clue
As far as the water leaving the skimmer...you know....I never thought about that.....there is no output like on some HOB's....the pvc pipe goes halfway up the skimmer tube.....the foam obviously goes in the cup....SOOOO I would have to guess the water comes out the bottom
The only problem with the ext. cord that I could see AQUA is that sometimes it takes a week or 2 before it stops running....that would be an awful lot of water movement in that area....wouldn't it?
I'm trying to think of what's actually plugged in there.....The Mag 18 (sump return) a timer for the refugium light, the protein skimmer pump, and another timer....I think for the lunar lights.....
Maybe at lunch today I will buy a new "plug in", and run it from a different circuit.....I had 4 seperate circuits put in behind the tank cause I was scared of blowing a fuse....
OH...AN ELECTRICIAN DID IT
acrylic51
Active Member
Your absolutely positive somehow the pump isn't on a timer or one of those fancy timer power strips???? I'm pretty sure it's not, but stranger things might happen. I'm assuming from what you said that the skimmer itself is a HOB? I'm pretty confident that it's an issue with back pressure. Why not try raising the pump up to where it's basically only sitting 8"-10" in water. Again most skimmers usually will operate about that level, and can't see how it would be any more beneficial at that depth. Not like they are using a premium pump. Depending on your intentions of stocking the tank, you might be better served looking for a more economical, better performing skimmer. The cones will give you better skimmer performance and probably alittle energy savings as well.
meowzer
Moderator
NO, it's not a HOB......IDK how I would raise the pump.....the pvc comes off the pump, then has an elbow that goes up the tube 6" or so.....
Look at this pic....see the pvc tube...
Attachment 243376
Attachment 243377
Look at this pic....see the pvc tube...
Attachment 243376
Attachment 243377
acrylic51
Active Member
Ok....looking at the 2nd pic where is the water exiting the skimmer? I would assume around the bottom.....I see the pump is connected to the PVC elbow at the very bottom. When I say try raising it, I mean to lift the entire skimmer up sitting it on top of something. Most people to get their skimmers at optimum water level (depth) they will make a skimmer stand. Try raising the entire skimmer up to 8"-10" of it being submerged if possible.
meowzer
Moderator
HMMM...I don't think I have that much clearance between the top of the skimmer and the tank itself....
So it is okay for the skimmer cup to be that far from the water??? I wonder why it worked so good for the first year
LOL...Do you have a good in sump skimmer receommendation......JUST IN CASE
So it is okay for the skimmer cup to be that far from the water??? I wonder why it worked so good for the first year
LOL...Do you have a good in sump skimmer receommendation......JUST IN CASE
acrylic51
Active Member
Ooooh yeah.....if you honest go and start looking at skimmers setup in peoples setup it definitely doesn't sit that low.......I think that is the key issue....My big MRC beckett skimmer doesn't like back pressure and that has a way large pump than your using.....I would raise it up as much as possible still allowing you enough room to get the cup off the skimmer.
As far as new skimmers, the thing is what is your price range for a new skimmer???? ATB cones, Octopus (in sump) and the Octo Extreme.....The Extreme would be my choice definitely more than enough and good price. The Octopus have huge bodies and preform and tons of options to upgrade on the pump features. Do a little looking at the Octopus they are by CoralVue. You'd be impressed.....Check them out http://coralvue.com/
As far as new skimmers, the thing is what is your price range for a new skimmer???? ATB cones, Octopus (in sump) and the Octo Extreme.....The Extreme would be my choice definitely more than enough and good price. The Octopus have huge bodies and preform and tons of options to upgrade on the pump features. Do a little looking at the Octopus they are by CoralVue. You'd be impressed.....Check them out http://coralvue.com/