Aquamaxx EM200 troubles

Fishmommy · 03/22/2014, 10:14 AM

My skimmer is relatively new, only a couple months running.
Today I went to change my socks, so I shut off the skimmer through my Apex.
The skimmer would not come back on after I returned power to it. Plugging it into a non-apex outlet proved it was the skimmer not the power.

Called the place I bought it from, they said the needle wheel was likely jammed, and I should take it apart. So I did, no obstruction found but some fiddling got it to the point where it would turn on when plugged in.
Reassembled and got it running.

But now the bubbles don't even come up to the neck. They stop pretty much at the sump water level. I didn't clean anything during this process so it's not a biofilm thing unless it being dry for 10 minutes would do this.

What the heck should I do now? I am new at all this so I don't have any idea what I am doing.

Fishmommy · 03/22/2014, 11:03 AM

NM...I figured it out.

newe70 · 03/22/2014, 11:09 AM

I just brought home a brand new skimmer like yours last night. Can share how you trouble with ur issue? Just in case I have the same issue in the near future with my skimmer.

Fishmommy · 03/22/2014, 12:08 PM

the body of the skimmer screws down to the base with these really difficult little thumbscrews. There is a small notch where the pump power cord comes out under the body. I missed the notch so the power cord was under the body preventing it from sealing against the base, so essentially the skimmer was leaking under the body and preventing it from filling properly.
I feel dumb, but the instructions are really sparse!

03/22/2014, 10:14 AM	#1
Fishmommy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NH, USA Posts: 1,214	Aquamaxx EM200 troubles My skimmer is relatively new, only a couple months running. Today I went to change my socks, so I shut off the skimmer through my Apex. The skimmer would not come back on after I returned power to it. Plugging it into a non-apex outlet proved it was the skimmer not the power. Called the place I bought it from, they said the needle wheel was likely jammed, and I should take it apart. So I did, no obstruction found but some fiddling got it to the point where it would turn on when plugged in. Reassembled and got it running. But now the bubbles don't even come up to the neck. They stop pretty much at the sump water level. I didn't clean anything during this process so it's not a biofilm thing unless it being dry for 10 minutes would do this. What the heck should I do now? I am new at all this so I don't have any idea what I am doing.

03/22/2014, 11:03 AM	#2
Fishmommy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NH, USA Posts: 1,214	NM...I figured it out.

03/22/2014, 11:09 AM	#3
newe70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Beach Posts: 379	I just brought home a brand new skimmer like yours last night. Can share how you trouble with ur issue? Just in case I have the same issue in the near future with my skimmer.

03/22/2014, 12:08 PM	#4
Fishmommy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: NH, USA Posts: 1,214	the body of the skimmer screws down to the base with these really difficult little thumbscrews. There is a small notch where the pump power cord comes out under the body. I missed the notch so the power cord was under the body preventing it from sealing against the base, so essentially the skimmer was leaking under the body and preventing it from filling properly. I feel dumb, but the instructions are really sparse!