need to replace skimmer pump?

turbo2oh · 06/28/2017, 07:30 PM

I have an Aquamaxx ConeS CO 1 which has a SHARK 1.5 pump. I did a water change yesterday and turned everything back on. I didn't notice until today that the skimmer never turned back on. After confirming it had power, I took the pump out, cleaned it, and it still won't turn on. While out of the water, turning it on, I can hear it hum and sometimes it starts to spin (maybe does a quarter or half rotation) but then stops. It wasn't very dirty but was pretty hot to the touch when I took it out to clean it. It does offer some resistance while turning the impeller myself and I can't remember if thats normal or not.

Is it toast or is there something else I can try to fix it?

Replacement pump is $140 and the only place that seems to carry them doesn't even have them in stock right now

Is there a better pump perhaps?

Thanks!

tonyjd34 · 06/28/2017, 10:21 PM

I have the ConeS co-2 and it uses a sicce pump, forget which one but they are highly regarded as reliable pumps. Many websites carry them and they are relatively affordable.

Pife · 06/29/2017, 06:25 AM

Have you cleaned it? Soak it in vinegar and then run it while it's in vinegar. It's the venturi clear? They can get salt creap in them.

turbo2oh · 06/29/2017, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyjd34

I have the ConeS co-2 and it uses a sicce pump, forget which one but they are highly regarded as reliable pumps. Many websites carry them and they are relatively affordable.

The description I read was that the Shark 1.5 was an upgraded version of the Sicce pump. Is that not true?

turbo2oh · 06/29/2017, 07:01 AM

Good idea, but right not it doesn't even run. Is there any benefit to turning it on in vinegar if its just going to sit there and hum? I guess a vinegar bath couldn't hurt either way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pife

Have you cleaned it? Soak it in vinegar and then run it while it's in vinegar. It's the venturi clear? They can get salt creap in them.

dendrite · 06/29/2017, 02:26 PM

I'm not familiar with this pump but my experience with many other similar pumps is that it sounds like an impeller problem where the magnet swells and no longer fits appropriately in the well. If you hear the motor hum then it probably still works well . Price out the impeller

turbo2oh · 06/30/2017, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dendrite

I'm not familiar with this pump but my experience with many other similar pumps is that it sounds like an impeller problem where the magnet swells and no longer fits appropriately in the well. If you hear the motor hum then it probably still works well . Price out the impeller

Good to know, I ordered one last night, hopefully that's it.

wildman926 · 06/30/2017, 12:12 PM

What did your impeller look like? Was it about to burst? Was it out of round in the slightest way?

turbo2oh · 07/10/2017, 12:15 PM

It looked normal but apparently it wasn't. I replaced it with the new one, and it rotates more freely. However, its not perfect I still had to jump-start it and I'm not confident if I turned it off and back on it wouldn't require disassembly and jump-starting again, but for now its working at least.

Bob Nell · 07/12/2017, 08:01 PM

Best to soak pump in vinegar. I have had to clean the base of the seat which houses the impeller.

PirateToast · 07/12/2017, 08:21 PM

Wow, something super specific I have experience in!

If the pump wont turn on but the rest of the parts are okay you should be in luck. The pump is basically the same as the syncra 3.0 model with a different impeller. If the impeller is undamaged, you could buy that and switch out the parts. Still new, but at least a bit cheaper and in stock.

Unfortunately my impeller was damaged, something got caught in it and destroyed it, so I havent actually done this myself, but it should work.

See my other thread on this:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2602482

turbo2oh · 07/24/2017, 09:21 AM

Just as an update I did replace the impeller. It definitely spun more freely than the old one which I guess was swollen. It wasn't perfect however I still had to kick-start it with the assembly open then put the housing back on with it spinning. When I attempted to start it normally, it just wouldn't start up. Now I'm not confident if I have a power outage it will restart on its own. So its up and running but not ideally.

06/28/2017, 07:30 PM	#1
turbo2oh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MD Posts: 458	need to replace skimmer pump? I have an Aquamaxx ConeS CO 1 which has a SHARK 1.5 pump. I did a water change yesterday and turned everything back on. I didn't notice until today that the skimmer never turned back on. After confirming it had power, I took the pump out, cleaned it, and it still won't turn on. While out of the water, turning it on, I can hear it hum and sometimes it starts to spin (maybe does a quarter or half rotation) but then stops. It wasn't very dirty but was pretty hot to the touch when I took it out to clean it. It does offer some resistance while turning the impeller myself and I can't remember if thats normal or not. Is it toast or is there something else I can try to fix it? Replacement pump is $140 and the only place that seems to carry them doesn't even have them in stock right now Is there a better pump perhaps? Thanks! __________________ Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated...but, like people, some of them are just jerks.

06/29/2017, 06:25 AM	#3
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	Have you cleaned it? Soak it in vinegar and then run it while it's in vinegar. It's the venturi clear? They can get salt creap in them. __________________ Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~

06/30/2017, 12:12 PM	#8
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	What did your impeller look like? Was it about to burst? Was it out of round in the slightest way? __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

07/10/2017, 12:15 PM	#9
turbo2oh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MD Posts: 458	It looked normal but apparently it wasn't. I replaced it with the new one, and it rotates more freely. However, its not perfect I still had to jump-start it and I'm not confident if I turned it off and back on it wouldn't require disassembly and jump-starting again, but for now its working at least. __________________ Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated...but, like people, some of them are just jerks.

07/24/2017, 09:21 AM	#12
turbo2oh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MD Posts: 458	Just as an update I did replace the impeller. It definitely spun more freely than the old one which I guess was swollen. It wasn't perfect however I still had to kick-start it with the assembly open then put the housing back on with it spinning. When I attempted to start it normally, it just wouldn't start up. Now I'm not confident if I have a power outage it will restart on its own. So its up and running but not ideally. __________________ Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated...but, like people, some of them are just jerks.

06/28/2017, 10:21 PM	#2
tonyjd34 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 19	I have the ConeS co-2 and it uses a sicce pump, forget which one but they are highly regarded as reliable pumps. Many websites carry them and they are relatively affordable.

06/29/2017, 02:26 PM	#6
dendrite Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: denver Posts: 493	I'm not familiar with this pump but my experience with many other similar pumps is that it sounds like an impeller problem where the magnet swells and no longer fits appropriately in the well. If you hear the motor hum then it probably still works well . Price out the impeller

07/12/2017, 08:01 PM	#10
Bob Nell Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 128	Best to soak pump in vinegar. I have had to clean the base of the seat which houses the impeller.

07/12/2017, 08:21 PM	#11
PirateToast Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 537	Wow, something super specific I have experience in! If the pump wont turn on but the rest of the parts are okay you should be in luck. The pump is basically the same as the syncra 3.0 model with a different impeller. If the impeller is undamaged, you could buy that and switch out the parts. Still new, but at least a bit cheaper and in stock. Unfortunately my impeller was damaged, something got caught in it and destroyed it, so I havent actually done this myself, but it should work. See my other thread on this: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2602482