benpoole28
Active Member
I have a skimmer pump with a stuck impeller. I have tried pulling it out with pliers, soaking in vinegar but can't get it to budge. Any ideas on what I can soak it in to dislodge the impeller?
Seized pump
- Thread starter benpoole28
- Start date
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Sounds like the magnet has swelled. If that is the case it may not come out, I had to toss a Via Aqua and a Rio Hyperflo both due to this.
Did you use undiluted vinegar and leave it soaking at least several hours if not overnight?
Did you use undiluted vinegar and leave it soaking at least several hours if not overnight?
benpoole28
Active Member
I used straight vinegar and soaked it for a week. Lol.
Doesn't sound good.
benpoole28
Active Member
I was afraid of that. It's an old vertex pump, a new one cost nearly as much as the entire skimmer.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Consider an after-market pump? Between Tunze's Hydrofoamers and Reef Octopus's lines of skimmer pumps, it seems like one of them ought to work!
(I just noticed that Tunze one or more DC-powered skimmers up on their website....so perhaps even a DC-powered Hydrofoamer will be available.)
Even a Sedra might be an option....
(I just noticed that Tunze one or more DC-powered skimmers up on their website....so perhaps even a DC-powered Hydrofoamer will be available.)
Even a Sedra might be an option....
mcarroll
10K Club member
You'd have to break it out, but I'd have concerns about motor-block being cracked...from the swelling or from the breaking-out.
The cost of the pump makes it no fun at all....but hopefully there are better options, as I suggested?
benpoole28
Active Member
I'm just worried about matching the height and diameter of the pumps output to the hole in the skimmer. I guess I could do some shimming on either the pump or the skimmer body to line it up.
benpoole28
Active Member
Single pump in sump skimmer.
mcarroll
10K Club member
That's the Euro-Reef knockofff, correct? If so, folks may be somewhat familiar with it, so....whichever replacement pump you want to consider, you might ask the manufactuer (e.g. @rvitko at Tunze, etc) about your particular skimmer. They may or may not be able to share an idea as to the overall fit for their replacement.
Do you know if that's a 1" or 3/4" opening? Uniseal? Hard to tell for sure from here.
Edit: In case you haven't already, you should google around to see who has already replaced their dead Vertex pump with something else....guarantee it's already been done more than once.
Do you know if that's a 1" or 3/4" opening? Uniseal? Hard to tell for sure from here.
Edit: In case you haven't already, you should google around to see who has already replaced their dead Vertex pump with something else....guarantee it's already been done more than once.
benpoole28
Active Member
The opening is actually 1.25" and is a hard plastic piece with an oring inside. I was just tinkering with it and I can shave down sch80 1" pvc to fit snug inside of it so I'm thinking any of the bubble blaster pumps would work, would just have to adapt the output to 1" pvc.
