Another friggin problem.

Willie_6 · 01/16/2007, 09:59 AM

Just when I thought I was ready to coast, I run into another issue. I think I had Chaeto get sucked into my return pump. Here is a pic of my sump/fuge.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../FishTank8.jpg

As you can see it is a Gen x external pump. My sump is divided by three sections. The first one is where water enters my sump then goes to the second compartment where my chaeto is and then into the third compartment to return to my tank. There is a bulkhead that runs immediately off of the right back corner of the fuge.

I will get lose pieces of chaeto in the third compartment of my sump. Last night I noticed it had accumulated quite a bit. I have egg grate in there to prevent it from flowing into my pump. As I was cleaning, I moved the egg grate and some of the chaeto got sucked into the pump. Now there is a noticable differance in performance of my pump.

Any thoughts on what I should do? I am thinking of draining my sump with a shop vac and trying to then suck out the chaeto and see if it will draw it out of my line/pump without me having to re-do my plumbing.

Please help.

papagimp · 01/16/2007, 10:48 AM

Can you remove the pump itself for cleaning? Not sure why your cheato is falling apart like that though, mine does not. Stays in a nice dense ball and I get no loose pieces floating around. may have to much flow over it. Pumps are actually quite simple in design and usually easily unclogged. Unhook the water lines and see what you can pull out that way.

Shagsbeard · 01/16/2007, 10:53 AM

My cheato breaks into smaller pieces if I stir it up too much, or when I harvest some. I wouldn't be too concerned about some getting into your pump... it will be pushed right though. Where it can be a problem is on a intake that's covered with some grill, or a filter can get pretty clogged up with it.

You really should have put a union fitting on each side of your pump though. You'll have to cut that pipe to service your pump. Unions are cheap and it's not too late to put them in... just more difficult now that everything is installed. Make sure the union you install doesn't restrict the flow though.

ricks · 01/16/2007, 11:04 AM

Take your pump off line and clean it of the algae. Also your might try installing a screen filter on your bulkhead...

Willie_6 · 01/16/2007, 12:52 PM

Ok, so this sounds doable (trying to psych myself up for the job. I think I am going to try and dissconect the pump. I talked to a friend of mine who has a Gen X pump. Apparently there are 6 screws that hold the unit together. I can remove those and clean out the impellor. I am also hoping that by doing this I can get a better look a the 6 inches of plumbing coming from my sump. My return line is 1 inch I doubt it is clogged there.

How does this sound?

papagimp- I think my cheato falls apart becase as my water drops (it drops in my sump, not my display) the water flows a lot harder through my sump. The rate is the same, but since the water fills up the first compartment to get to the second compartment where my cheato is, it creates a mini waterfall and spins the cheato quite a bit. Do you think I should put some egg grate in there to slow down the movement?

ricks- very dissapointed in you. You have almost 900 gal. in your system and you don't have any pics in your gallery??? I would love to see your set up.

Willie_6 · 01/16/2007, 08:13 PM

Bump

Still looking for advice. I am not seeing the screws to take this apart. There is on the back side, but not on the side with the intake and return. I really do not want to cut into the plumbing if I can avoid it.

spanglish · 01/16/2007, 09:57 PM

Have you considered a manufacturer's website for
a "blow apart" diagram?

Kurt03 · 01/16/2007, 11:24 PM

This is besides the point of your post but looks like you are restricting the intake of your pump, i think thats a big no no. You should move the ball valve to the outlet side.

Willie_6 · 01/17/2007, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt03
This is besides the point of your post but looks like you are restricting the intake of your pump, i think thats a big no no. You should move the ball valve to the outlet side.

The one on the intake side is for the purpose of isolating the water, in case I need to work on the pump or the sump. I have one on the outlet side it's located behind my tank.

Willie_6 · 01/17/2007, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ricks
Take your pump off line and clean it of the algae. Also your might try installing a screen filter on your bulkhead...

Do you know where I can find one of these?

01/16/2007, 09:59 AM	#1
Willie_6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,439	Another friggin problem. Just when I thought I was ready to coast, I run into another issue. I think I had Chaeto get sucked into my return pump. Here is a pic of my sump/fuge. http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../FishTank8.jpg As you can see it is a Gen x external pump. My sump is divided by three sections. The first one is where water enters my sump then goes to the second compartment where my chaeto is and then into the third compartment to return to my tank. There is a bulkhead that runs immediately off of the right back corner of the fuge. I will get lose pieces of chaeto in the third compartment of my sump. Last night I noticed it had accumulated quite a bit. I have egg grate in there to prevent it from flowing into my pump. As I was cleaning, I moved the egg grate and some of the chaeto got sucked into the pump. Now there is a noticable differance in performance of my pump. Any thoughts on what I should do? I am thinking of draining my sump with a shop vac and trying to then suck out the chaeto and see if it will draw it out of my line/pump without me having to re-do my plumbing. Please help. __________________ 75 gal. reef tank in the making. Snails, Emerald Crabs, Scarlet Crabs,a cleaner shrimp. Midas Blenny, Scooter Blenny, ocellaris clown, Mandarin. Current Tank Info: 75 gal fish and rock, 432w 8 bulb T-5 lights, Deltec Skimmer MCE 600, 25 gal Fuge/Sump, Ro/Di from Buckeye Supply.

01/16/2007, 10:48 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Can you remove the pump itself for cleaning? Not sure why your cheato is falling apart like that though, mine does not. Stays in a nice dense ball and I get no loose pieces floating around. may have to much flow over it. Pumps are actually quite simple in design and usually easily unclogged. Unhook the water lines and see what you can pull out that way. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

01/16/2007, 12:52 PM	#5
Willie_6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,439	Ok, so this sounds doable (trying to psych myself up for the job. I think I am going to try and dissconect the pump. I talked to a friend of mine who has a Gen X pump. Apparently there are 6 screws that hold the unit together. I can remove those and clean out the impellor. I am also hoping that by doing this I can get a better look a the 6 inches of plumbing coming from my sump. My return line is 1 inch I doubt it is clogged there. How does this sound? papagimp- I think my cheato falls apart becase as my water drops (it drops in my sump, not my display) the water flows a lot harder through my sump. The rate is the same, but since the water fills up the first compartment to get to the second compartment where my cheato is, it creates a mini waterfall and spins the cheato quite a bit. Do you think I should put some egg grate in there to slow down the movement? ricks- very dissapointed in you. You have almost 900 gal. in your system and you don't have any pics in your gallery??? I would love to see your set up. __________________ 75 gal. reef tank in the making. Snails, Emerald Crabs, Scarlet Crabs,a cleaner shrimp. Midas Blenny, Scooter Blenny, ocellaris clown, Mandarin. Current Tank Info: 75 gal fish and rock, 432w 8 bulb T-5 lights, Deltec Skimmer MCE 600, 25 gal Fuge/Sump, Ro/Di from Buckeye Supply.

01/16/2007, 08:13 PM	#6
Willie_6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,439	Bump Still looking for advice. I am not seeing the screws to take this apart. There is on the back side, but not on the side with the intake and return. I really do not want to cut into the plumbing if I can avoid it. __________________ 75 gal. reef tank in the making. Snails, Emerald Crabs, Scarlet Crabs,a cleaner shrimp. Midas Blenny, Scooter Blenny, ocellaris clown, Mandarin. Current Tank Info: 75 gal fish and rock, 432w 8 bulb T-5 lights, Deltec Skimmer MCE 600, 25 gal Fuge/Sump, Ro/Di from Buckeye Supply.

01/16/2007, 09:57 PM	#7
spanglish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 788	Have you considered a manufacturer's website for a "blow apart" diagram? __________________ " I quit drinking weeks ago! No one noticed, but I guess that's a pretty good indicator that I conducted myself quite well when I was drunk. " Current Tank Info: 90 G Bowfront, 30G refugium,T5's,Euroreef 100,1 true perc, 1false black, 1 ember blenny,Eight Line Flasher Wrasse, Mandarin,various LPS

01/16/2007, 10:53 AM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	My cheato breaks into smaller pieces if I stir it up too much, or when I harvest some. I wouldn't be too concerned about some getting into your pump... it will be pushed right though. Where it can be a problem is on a intake that's covered with some grill, or a filter can get pretty clogged up with it. You really should have put a union fitting on each side of your pump though. You'll have to cut that pipe to service your pump. Unions are cheap and it's not too late to put them in... just more difficult now that everything is installed. Make sure the union you install doesn't restrict the flow though.

01/16/2007, 11:04 AM	#4
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Take your pump off line and clean it of the algae. Also your might try installing a screen filter on your bulkhead...

01/16/2007, 11:24 PM	#8
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	This is besides the point of your post but looks like you are restricting the intake of your pump, i think thats a big no no. You should move the ball valve to the outlet side.