Skimmer failure

[themcnertney]

Well. Worked on the pump a bit more this evening. Got it to work again. Finger crossed it stays that way.

 

[themcnertney]

Well I bit the bullet and bought a new pump. OUCH. Guess I better sell some coral to make up for the cost.

 

[themcnertney]

 

[themcnertney]

I have a problem...

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Hit the button for the FS "float switch"

 

[themcnertney]

Its just not working correctly. It is very very loud. It appears to trip when ramping up. I cant increase the power past the lowest setting without the pump tripping.

Does the pump have to be level?
Does it matter if it is rotated 90 degrees of the axis?
Why is it so loud?
Why does it shut off when ramping up?

 

[Awesome Dennis]

-I have a regal 150int, the pump is flat and level with the skimmer. I don't know if it has to be.
-My pump is dead quiet unless it sucks up cheating parts up and I have to clean the needle wheel in the pump, it makes a loud hum noise.
-is the pump against the side glass?
-You might need to press the FS button to turn of the float switch off seeing how you don't have one plugged in. the controller won't let you run the pump if you have the FS on and no sensor plugged in.

 

[themcnertney]

Hit the button for the FS "float switch"

I'm a bit confused. If I press the FS button, then the pump doesn't work as I think the FS probe isn't connected.

 

[themcnertney]

-I have a regal 150int, the pump is flat and level with the skimmer. I don't know if it has to be.
-My pump is dead quiet unless it sucks up cheating parts up and I have to clean the needle wheel in the pump, it makes a loud hum noise.
-is the pump against the side glass?
-You might need to press the FS button to turn of the float switch off seeing how you don't have one plugged in. the controller won't let you run the pump if you have the FS on and no sensor plugged in.

The pump is a bit off of the glass. I will play around with the FS sensor and see how that has an effect. All though I hadn't planned on using it.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

I was just trying to make sure you had the FS in the off. On my skimmer I use the sensor but on my varios return pump I don't and I just leave the sensor off with no issue.
I would check the needle wheel to make sure you don't have any debris caught in the intake.
The base slides off and you twist the pump and the intake.
Did it run at all normally before this started?

 

[Captain Quint]

Okay, fine, I'll clean it. HAHA.

Thanks everyone for the help!!!

Laid back cool attitude Dan McNertney. You're good people man.

 

[themcnertney]

I was just trying to make sure you had the FS in the off. On my skimmer I use the sensor but on my varios return pump I don't and I just leave the sensor off with no issue.
I would check the needle wheel to make sure you don't have any debris caught in the intake.
The base slides off and you twist the pump and the intake.
Did it run at all normally before this started?

I noticed that the base slide off and it rotates. I think I am going to remove it from the skimmer place it in a bucket to see how it performs. It never ran normal from the date of the install.

 

[themcnertney]

Laid back cool attitude Dan McNertney. You're good people man.

HAHA thanks man!
Now if I can get my skimmer working properly I can be even more laid back and cool.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Does it do it if you don't go full power?
It's hard to tell in the video if the hum noise is the pump or something else

 

[themcnertney]

Does it do it if you don't go full power?
It's hard to tell in the video if the hum noise is the pump or something else

When start up, it hums very loudly then sort of quiets down a bit, but still very loud. This happens only on the lowest setting. When trying to ramp up, the pump shuts off at any increase in power.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

I can't tell mine are on and running, lol check the needle wheel and if nothing I'd contact the customer support.

 

[T-5unsystem]

I can't tell mine are on and running, lol check the needle wheel and if nothing I'd contact the customer support.

+1 hopefully you can get someone on the phone that can help.

 

[themcnertney]

Water Change Wednesday.
I rotated the pump 90 deg. Leveled out the pump. Inverted a small Tupperware container. Was perfect height and I think it will be a sound dampening barrier from the glass. Will restart the system shortly. Stay tuned.

 

[themcnertney]

Update: contacted both coral Vue and marine depot. Turns out I bought the circulation pump and not the skimmer pump. I was told the make a conversion kit? Is that true?

 

[themcnertney]

Update: I contacted coral vue. I bought the pin wheel impeller that fits the varios-6s. Was 35$. Today it arrived and I hooked the pump back up. Extremely quite. Can ramp the controller up all the way, no trip.

All is good!