OCTOPUS SKIMMER PUMP not pulling like it used too

[JLAudio]

This skimmer has the OTP 3000 pump, and it still works but the water is all the way down the main chamber even with the riser tube up, and the venturi sucking sound is so much quiter, even when i put my hand to the intake its a weak pull compared to how it used to be, and its only a few months old.

So fact about it though:
1. I modded in with mesh mod (could this of strained pump without stopping it?)
2. It was formally runnning like crazy so I was running it with som sponge in front of it to lower flow, could this of strained it?
3. I took impeller out and no obstructions at all
4. No obstructions in the line that flows into the the skimmer on both the pump end and skimmer end.

Do I just need a new pump? any thoughts Please

 

[Deanos]

Soak it in vinegar or muriatic acid (BE CAREFUL).

 

[fernandokng]

Maybe you have calcium build up. If so, you can soak it in vinegar like Dean said.

You might want to invest in a Flowmeter to see how much air it's pulling currently vs how much it should be pulling in.

My euro reef was having the same issues before (and it was brand new pump). I sent it in and they got it fixed for me.

 

[JLAudio]

Im going to soak it, my only worry is that the part that is expose to water (impeller, etc) dont seem at all encrusted. And it literally slowed down immediately when my venturi came out (BTW that is a mod) it wasnt a slow digression. I reinstalled the venturi using superglue to make sure it is air tight directly into the male adapter of the pump

Hmmm, could the venturi some how play a roll? Perhaps it isnt air tight and sucking in water taking away from the overall pull and suction?

 

[JLAudio]

im currently running pump in rodi water with vinigar, hopefully this does the trick

 

[JLAudio]

After it soaked, what process should I take to make it "tank ready"? Dont want the vinger residue to harm the reef

 

[Killerdrgn]

Actually I had that problem a lot with the stock airline tubing, there kept being clogs due to salt creep and calcium build up. All I did to clean it out though was to take a pin and scrape out the inside of the tube and the connection point.

 

[fernandokng]

What i do to combat salt creep is microwave a cup of ro/di water, and let the airline tube suck the water in while its hot, and this will remove the salt.

works wonders, and you don't have to do take the tubing out! This is worth doing weekly.

 

[JLAudio]

My airline is fine, and its pulling pretty good, its just that it was much stronger a little while ago, so I contacted manufacturers, about the pump losing power, possibly from the two mods I did on it

 

[Killerdrgn]

It's possible that the skimmer could finally be broken in, from after you doing the mods. But I don't have a before and after picture comparison, to see how much weaker the pull is.

 

[JLAudio]

It's possible that the skimmer could finally be broken in, from after you doing the mods. But I don't have a before and after picture comparison, to see how much weaker the pull is.

After I did my mods,especially mesh, I had to keep the riser all the way down to keep it even somewhat dry of a skim. Then a cpl weeks ago after changing my phosban, adding chemipure and adding some coral/rock etc, it was going crazy, so I was restricting flow with the sponge piece of an overflow box, to keep it dry it was skimming awsome with resticted flow and seemed to be pulling better air like that, than the other day the venturi came out when I was messing with sump and now its pulling weak and is a few inches from cup when riser is down. All of a sudden

 

[nycmat]

i have the dnw - 250 and i just set it up. the pump is making a sound. its real annoying. i also have it plumbed inline so with a bleeder. i have to adjust it because if i open the intake it will go to the neck before i even get to adjust it. i cannot even adjust the hieght in the skimmer yet. LOL. i have done no mods. i would really like to see your skimmer. i am near you jlaudio

matt

 

[JLAudio]

Matt, let me know whens good for you, come by anytime and check it out. The two mods I did to it made a HUGE difference,100% difference, however could have resulted in me straining pump: still waiting to hear from technical people over there to hear their opinion.