After 4 years running with no maintenance, my OM Squirt stopped working

sjm817 · 08/31/2008, 07:54 AM

I've been running an Oceans Motions Squirt for ~ 4 years. Its been on 2 different tanks. I've never cleaned it once. Yesterday I noticed the flow from my returns wasn't changing outlets. I called Paul @ OM and left him a message. He called me back later that evening (Saturday night!) and told me what to do. It was late, so I popped it open this morning, did a quick cleaning and all is well. I guess I'm all set for another 4 years.

This has to be one of the best aquarium products I have ever owned. Very well engineered, easy to service (if it ever needs it) and top service to match.

bawla47 · 08/31/2008, 09:51 AM

mines prob due for a cleaning, i think i need to take it off and lube it up from my understanding, i hear a clicking noise as it revolves. going on 2 years.

definately a great product though!

no1fishman · 08/31/2008, 10:08 AM

Please post when you have the clicking noise resolved, like to know what is causing that clicking noise.

sjm817 · 08/31/2008, 10:25 AM

Oddly enough mine had that clicking too, but I had to be right next to it to hear it. I always thought it was normal. I didn't even do much. I took the two hex screws out, pulled the motor and drum out. I didn't touch the body or plumbing. There was a thin film of calcium on the of the drum that faces the motor. Nothing else had anything noticeable. I cleaned that off which gave the drum a stronger magnetic attachment to the motor, and put it back together. Working fine and the clicking is gone.

bawla47 · 09/02/2008, 02:57 PM

think your suppost to open it up, and put a drop of oil, might be mineral oil and it should fix it. its in a terribly awkward spot behind the tank and have been too lazy tho, or i would have fixed mine a long time ago.

H20ENG · 09/02/2008, 07:45 PM

The clicking is the magnetic drive moving to the next set of magnets as the drum stays stationary.

There are multiple magnets that make up this coupling. When the drum is stuck due to calcium or sand, the magnets try to stay attracted to their prospective counterparts in the drive. When the drive moves far enough away from that set, the magnets jump to the next set.

Clean it out and you are golden. Not too sure about the oil!

mg426 · 09/02/2008, 08:08 PM

4 years, awesome I guess that means that I have two more before I clean mine. AWESME PRODUCT.

silverwolf72 · 09/02/2008, 08:24 PM

which drum are you using? I drilled 1/4" holes in mine on a 1&2,2&3,3&4,4&1. This releved some of the force pushing against the drum

sjm817 · 09/02/2008, 08:55 PM

An update on mine:
I still have a problem with it. It will still stop rotating after awhile. It may be a bad motor. I'm working with Paul on it.

As H2O posted, there are 4 small magnets that couple the drum to the motor. I would suggest putting a little silicone grease on the surface of the drum where it meets the motor to keep it turning smoothly.

08/31/2008, 07:54 AM	#1
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	After 4 years running with no maintenance, my OM Squirt stopped working I've been running an Oceans Motions Squirt for ~ 4 years. Its been on 2 different tanks. I've never cleaned it once. Yesterday I noticed the flow from my returns wasn't changing outlets. I called Paul @ OM and left him a message. He called me back later that evening (Saturday night!) and told me what to do. It was late, so I popped it open this morning, did a quick cleaning and all is well. I guess I'm all set for another 4 years. This has to be one of the best aquarium products I have ever owned. Very well engineered, easy to service (if it ever needs it) and top service to match. __________________ - Scott

08/31/2008, 10:25 AM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Oddly enough mine had that clicking too, but I had to be right next to it to hear it. I always thought it was normal. I didn't even do much. I took the two hex screws out, pulled the motor and drum out. I didn't touch the body or plumbing. There was a thin film of calcium on the of the drum that faces the motor. Nothing else had anything noticeable. I cleaned that off which gave the drum a stronger magnetic attachment to the motor, and put it back together. Working fine and the clicking is gone. __________________ - Scott

09/02/2008, 08:08 PM	#7
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	4 years, awesome I guess that means that I have two more before I clean mine. AWESME PRODUCT. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

09/02/2008, 08:55 PM	#9
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	An update on mine: I still have a problem with it. It will still stop rotating after awhile. It may be a bad motor. I'm working with Paul on it. As H2O posted, there are 4 small magnets that couple the drum to the motor. I would suggest putting a little silicone grease on the surface of the drum where it meets the motor to keep it turning smoothly. __________________ - Scott

08/31/2008, 09:51 AM	#2
bawla47 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: fort lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,190	mines prob due for a cleaning, i think i need to take it off and lube it up from my understanding, i hear a clicking noise as it revolves. going on 2 years. definately a great product though!

08/31/2008, 10:08 AM	#3
no1fishman Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 186	Please post when you have the clicking noise resolved, like to know what is causing that clicking noise.

09/02/2008, 02:57 PM	#5
bawla47 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: fort lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,190	think your suppost to open it up, and put a drop of oil, might be mineral oil and it should fix it. its in a terribly awkward spot behind the tank and have been too lazy tho, or i would have fixed mine a long time ago.

09/02/2008, 07:45 PM	#6
H20ENG Pro builder/aquarist hack Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NORCAL (Vacaville, CA) Posts: 5,125	The clicking is the magnetic drive moving to the next set of magnets as the drum stays stationary. There are multiple magnets that make up this coupling. When the drum is stuck due to calcium or sand, the magnets try to stay attracted to their prospective counterparts in the drive. When the drive moves far enough away from that set, the magnets jump to the next set. Clean it out and you are golden. Not too sure about the oil!

09/02/2008, 08:24 PM	#8
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	which drum are you using? I drilled 1/4" holes in mine on a 1&2,2&3,3&4,4&1. This releved some of the force pushing against the drum