Reef Octopus Elite 220S skimmer overflowing

jaxteller007 · Apr 20, 2020

It seems that it's just my day to have questions and concerns after so long of the tank running smooth. We have a the elite 220 S skimmer and since the last time I emptied it, I can not get it to stop overflowing. Like it has to be broken in again or something. It's not making skim mate, just bubbling all the way up the body and neck and into the cup constantly. Even with the pump turned all the way down and the return pipe all the way open. Umm help please? lol

#reefsquad

Awesome Dennis · Apr 20, 2020

Check the volute where the pump sucks air/water into. They can get debris where the hose for air connects and causes a blockage.

jaxteller007 · Apr 20, 2020

Awesome Dennis said:
Check the volute where the pump sucks air/water into. They can get debris where the hose for air connects and causes a blockage.

Probably a silly question but where is that? This has the internal pump.

Awesome Dennis · Apr 20, 2020

jaxteller007 said:
Probably a silly question but where is that? This has the internal pump.

jaxteller007 · Apr 20, 2020

I found it thanks to the explosion chart lol. I cleaned it up some and it's doing better now. Still seems to be making too many bubbles to be on the lowest setting but I'll see how it settles in over the next 24 hours.

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

Anyone know how to troubleshoot these things? After I took it apart to clean it and make sure everything was fitted together correctly it won' turn back on. Every time I plug it in, the blue lights on the controller comes on at first but a few seconds later it just starts flashing the two red lights. I've had no luck trying to find anything online about troubleshooting this dang thing.

kungfujoe · Apr 25, 2020

It’s also possible that the tank has too much organic matter causing it to over flow. I’ve had this problem and and I did a large water chance of about 20% and changed my carbon. After doing this the skimmer ran normally and I was able to slowly turn it up as the organic matter was taken out.

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

kungfujoe said:
It’s also possible that the tank has too much organic matter causing it to over flow. I’ve had this problem and and I did a large water chance of about 20% and changed my carbon. After doing this the skimmer ran normally and I was able to slowly turn it up as the organic matter was taken out.

I'll see if that's a problem once I get it turned back on LOL

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

Bump for any advice on how to get this dang thing back up and running. I'd rather not wait until Monday to actually talk to CoralVue support.

#reefsquad

GoVols · Apr 25, 2020

jaxteller007 said:
Bump for any advice on how to get this dang thing back up and running. I'd rather not wait until Monday to actually talk to CoralVue support.

#reefsquad

Is it a new skimmer or been sitting dry

or have you been using coral putty or Chemiclean?

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

GoVols said:
Is it a new skimmer or been sitting dry

or have you been using coral putty or Chemiclean?

Not new and it's just not been running for the last two days cause it won't power on. I used some coral glue earlier this week to put my duncan in place but that's it. I'm not sure why or how that would stop it from powering back on now??

GoVols · Apr 25, 2020

jaxteller007 said:
Not new and it's just not been running for the last two days cause it won't power on. I used some coral glue earlier this week to put my duncan in place but that's it. I'm not sure why or how that would stop it from powering back on now??

I thought you were overflowing

Have you broke it down / and tore apart the pump to service it?

If not, soak the pin wheel and all the pumps parts in vinegar.

Make sure there's no crust build up on the air line intake going in the venturi, if you get the pump back up.

Might be a dead controller.

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

GoVols said:
I thought you were overflowing

Have you broke it down / and tore apart the pump to service it?

It was overflowing. I took it apart to clean it and see if that fixed the overflowing. Now it won't turn on lol. If it's not one thing it's another it seems.

GoVols · Apr 25, 2020

jaxteller007 said:
It was overflowing. I took it apart to clean it and see if that fixed the overflowing. Now it won't turn on lol. If it's not one thing it's another it seems.

Did you put it back together the right way?

And made sure that the pin wheel turned freely?

Awesome Dennis · Apr 25, 2020

If the lights are blinking I think it means the impeller is jammed.
Take it apart again and retry.

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

Will do. Thanks guys. It sure would be nice if there was a troubleshooting document out there somewhere.

Water Dog · Apr 25, 2020

Make sure both bushings on either end of the impeller shaft are in place. These parts are often overlooked and sometimes lost when pumps are broken down and reassembled.

Retro Reefer · Apr 25, 2020

Good advice above.. sometimes I will have to break down and reassemble pumps several times to get them going. Pay particular attention to bushings on the end of impeller shaft, they need to be properly installed and seated.

jaxteller007 · Apr 25, 2020

Water Dog said:
Make sure both bushings on either end of the impeller shaft are in place. These parts are often overlooked and sometimes lost when pumps are broken down and reassembled.

It was definitely the impeller. Reset it (I was thinking the opening on it was like for a tab to lock onto, turns out that's supposed to line up with the cooling vent on the motor part lol). Reset it, running fine now. Thanks for all the tips everyone!