Need a little skimmer help

[gnatp2]

So my DAS EX-2 skimmer wasn't performing well. I decided it was probably time to clean the pumps on it. I took it apart and the impeller had a ton of small snails in it and the aquabee flap was crusted shut. So I cleaned the impeller and soaked the pumps in vinegar overnight. Clean as a whistle and the flaps were swinging back and forth nicely.

I'm still having some major problems with the air intake on the pumps though. When no air is running through them, the pumps appear to work just fine. When I open the valves slightly, a small but fine bubble stream goes through the pumps. But when I open the valve more than 1/2 way, the pumps basically stall out and hardly any water or fine bubbles come out of the pumps. I could understand having one bad pump but it is strange to me that both are acting this way.

So after trying to figure this out and taking these guys apart over and over, I am not sure what to do next. So I'm wondering if anyone is looking for a little project and wants to come by to tinker with the pumps. I figure someone more handy than me will be able to figure out what I'm screwing up. Free frags and beer to whoever wants to help! I'm down in greenwich village.

Nate

 

[cali_reef]

Did you scrub out the chamber where the impeller\magnet goes into?

What color are the rubber bushings on the impeller? do they fit on the cover plate tight?

Have you tried taking the pumps off, run them in a tub of water, without the air hose, then with? Did you ever get a air gage to measure the air intake?

 

[gnatp2]

Did you scrub out the chamber where the impeller\magnet goes into?

What color are the rubber bushings on the impeller? do they fit on the cover plate tight?

Have you tried taking the pumps off, run them in a tub of water, without the air hose, then with? Did you ever get a air gage to measure the air intake?

Yes, I scrubbed it like a madman and also soaked it all in vinegar overnight.

The rubber bushings are black. They were covered with whitish gunk when I took them apart, but I cleaned them up. (on a side note, while cleaning one of the rubber end bushings, I lost one down the sink and made a new one out of tubing. This could be contributing to my problem with one of the pumps, but both are having the same behavior). You may be on to something here with the impeller not being held into place well. From the noise the pumps are making when the air valves are open, it could be that the impeller is getting off balance while trying to spin because of something with the larger air intake. I've tried tweaking the impeller stick a bunch though, so I don't know what to do.

Yeah, I got a air gauge. If I open the valves 1/4 of the way, I get around 3 lpm on both pumps. If I open it any more than that, I get 2 lpm even if it all the way open. I'm doing these test in my kitchen sink both with and without the air hose.

Come on, someone has gotta have some extra time on their hands today and wants some beer and frags!

Nate