Nyos 120 skimmer pump cavitation problems

slojmn · Jun 10, 2020

I have had this Nyos 120 for a year running on my tank and it works like a charm....once it starts drawing air. For the past 6 months I have had to lift the skimmer above the water line in order for the skimmer to begin to draw air and work correctly. After any shut down the pump needle wheel rocks back and forth, attempting to start, but no air will draw in, it appears to be fully in cavitation mode until I lift it up and above the water level, once the pump is above the water line it draws air and runs perfectly. This is a problem. If I am away and power goes out, like 3 weeks ago, the skimmer will caviatate forever, or at least until I return, or f I am at work, etc. You get the idea. I turn my skimmer off pretty regularly for feeding and other reasons. I have to lift it up every time. I have broken down the skimmer, cleaned and washed all of it every 8-12 weeks since it has been running. This seems to help for a few days (or one turn off cycle) then it is back to crappy non starting.
For reference, I have been running a Deltec on my Nano Tank for 4 years, never a problem with on/off, not one episode of the pump not drawing air or starting flawlessly.....Maybe I need to just get another Deltec. Ugggg, I really do love the silence and great skimming functioning of the Nyos, though.

Any ideas???

Peace River · Jun 11, 2020

Any Nyos skimmer users out there with ideas how to help?

#reefsquad

nereefpat · Jun 11, 2020

Possibly in need of a new impeller?

I have never run a Nyos, but the brand I have needs the impeller replaced every year or two, because the magnet swells.

Dragon52 · Jun 11, 2020

I have the 160, this is a known issue with these. Eco-Tec replaced my Pump 3 times, so 4 pumps total (they didn't charge me anything), I just blow into the Air hose that came with mine. It hooks up to the air inlet on the Air adjustment tube. I have the hose running out the back of my tank & can get to it from the side, works a lot better then raising & lowering the whole skimmer.
Edit: this was all within 18 months after original purchase.

Dragon52 · Jun 11, 2020

nereefpat said:
Possibly in need of a new impeller?

I have never run a Nyos, but the brand I have needs the impeller replaced every year or two, because the magnet swells.

I have not thought about this but might give it a try.

SPR1968 · Jun 11, 2020

It’s either the pump or the impeller I think as already said, I’ve got a 160 and 300 and the same thing happened with the 160. It just stopped producing frothy bubbles over a period until I noticed something wasn’t right with it.

I actually just purchased a replacement NYOS 160 because there so good and silent, but you may as well replace the part if you can tell which it is. The impeller on mine looked fine, so it may have been the pump