Finally got my water cleared up and now my skimmer died!!!

MrHermit85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Man this sucks, I just got my tank sorted water wise and what happens? I change my skimmer cup and when I go to plug it back in its completely dead!!! Anybody have this happen with the vertex in100 and managed to figure it out?
 

MrHermit85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
theyangman link said:
Can the pump be replaced?

Check this out:

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/parts/protein-skimmer-parts/vertex-protein-skimmer-parts

I assume it is the pump that is malfunctioning. Always weird when it just stops working for no reason especially since you just had it working 10 min ago.

Seems that although the skimmer has been discontinued, you might be able to still find replacement parts for it.

Yeah, it has been running great till now. There isnt even a humming noise or anything lol. New pump is like $114 shipped which is more than I paid for it... Bought it used a couple months back. Oh well lesson learned, at $114 I am thinking I may aswell get a new one...  :poop: :'( :poop: :'( :mad: considering how noisy the pumps are for these things!!!
 

Poseidon

Distinguished Member
Joined
May 15, 2012
Location
SW Ontario
its possible the impeller is stuck or something became lodged in the impeller during cleaning, i advice taking it apart and clean it and soak it in vinegar and try again.
 

MrHermit85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Poseidon link said:
its possible the impeller is stuck or something became lodged in the impeller during cleaning, i advice taking it apart and clean it and soak it in vinegar and try again.

I took it apart but didnt soak it, I will give that a go and pray it starts up again!
 

MrHermit85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Poseidon link said:
its possible the impeller is stuck or something became lodged in the impeller during cleaning, i advice taking it apart and clean it and soak it in vinegar and try again.

Holy crapo!!! I took it apart again, stuck my finger in and worked all the grunge out. Soaked it for a few minutes in some heavy vinager solution and then when I plugged it in it fired up!!!!  :slowclap: woohoo! I really didn't want to spend more money!
I think I am going to leave it going all the time now, I will just lower the bubble when cleaning!!!!

Thanks Poseidon and yangman!!!!
 

Neopimp

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Sarnia
Take it apart and clean the impeller magnet of calcium build up. Tats my guess
 

Neopimp

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Course I shoulda read the whole thread .  You figured it out lol
 

Giglio324

Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Location
Windsor, Ontario
I don't turn my skimmer off to clean the cup. A little bit of bubbles spill over into my first chamber in my dt no big deal lol. Soak the pump in white vinegar. Nothing is better for a pump than a good vinegar cleaning
 

MrHermit85

Active Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Petercar link said:
my SWC. when i unplugged it and plugged back in. if the motor didnt fire up.  ..we are told to take the rubber airline tubing off and blow in it. then it will fire up.

It's actually the second time it died except last time I just unplugged it and plugged it back in and it worked. I think I will try the airline thing if it happens again as it's really hard to getting skimmer out of my tiny sump :?

Neopimp link said:
Take it apart and clean the impeller magnet of calcium build up. Tats my guess

Yeah it seemed as though it was something along those lines. As soon as I cleaned it again it fired up.

Giglio324 link said:
I don't turn my skimmer off to clean the cup. A little bit of bubbles spill over into my first chamber in my dt no big deal lol. Soak the pump in white vinegar. Nothing is better for a pump than a good vinegar cleaning

I would usually turn it off as my skimmer section is really small so the water will splash all over the inside of my cabinet. These vertex skimmers have such a large footprint that they don't leave much wiggle room lol. I think I will just lower the bubble level and leave it running when I clean the cup every few days to avoid having to go through soaking it frequently.

Thanks for all the help everyone!!! It is really great to be a part of such an awesome forum and community!!! ;D
 

Neopimp

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We do it for the joy of pointing what people are doing wrong or neglecting to do.  Has nothing to do with helping ;)
 

Neopimp

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its all rooted in the need to make others feel stupid ;)  :slowclap:
 
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