substitute for ceramic impeller shafts

eyesinthedrk · 01/02/2014, 10:30 AM

as the title says, I'm looking for a substitute for ceramic impeller shafts. i just broke my second ceramic shaft on my Sicce psk-2500 skimmer pump. it looks like Marine Depot is the only online retailer for Sicce parts in the us and they are out of stock.

i did some digging online for ceramic rods or dowels i could cut to length but didnt have much luck. has anyone used a possible substitute for ceramic shafts and if so where can i order them?

mcgyvr · 01/02/2014, 11:21 AM

titanium rods..

sneeyatch · 01/02/2014, 12:15 PM

Carbon fiber rods.

ridetheducati · 01/02/2014, 12:57 PM

Stay away from ceramics.

jda · 01/02/2014, 01:54 PM

I just use stainless rods. You can get them at some typical hobby shops.

Mattewell · 01/02/2014, 02:42 PM

had to order from these guys when i busted my sicce impeller....

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...category_id=12

moondoggy4 · 01/02/2014, 06:56 PM

Avast used to sell Sicce 2500 shafts. You can try them.

ReefCowboy · 01/02/2014, 08:39 PM

I have to clean/ clear calcium build up of the shafts of the skimmer pump every 1.5 months, and it really sucks taking it appart...so much work. Ive also broken some shafts while trying to release the stuck impellers too. Wonder why these companies still make these ou ps with ceramic ones? Why not aluminum, or stainless steel ones?

I hate this problem

Duvallj · 01/02/2014, 09:21 PM

Aluminum in a shaft probably wouldn't work as the oxide is what protects the metal. As a shaft the oxide would just rub away leaving fresh aluminum. It would take time to fail, but I don't think it would lastas long as lets say a ceramic one.

Ceramic is used because it has decent wear properties, inert, and the shaping process is easy. Its one flaw is that it is brittle.

Some manufacturers use stainless steel, not not all ss is equal. It takes "expensive" special grades. I do recall some manufacturers having problems with stainless shafts a few years ago, I think Koralia was one.

onlinemetals.com has titanium rod that might work. Just piece it to one of the broken ones.

If I had to choose a good material for marine applications I would look for a chromium-molybdenum alloy. For the size your looking for you might be able to request a test sample.

eyesinthedrk · 01/03/2014, 05:24 AM

Thanks for all the info guy. I really appreciate it. I may call a few local machine shops to see if they can refer me to their supply houses that carry a good selection of round stock.

mcgyvr · 01/03/2014, 06:10 AM

titanium rod here www.mcmaster.com
or 316L stainless (but titanium is far better for this application)

sneeyatch · 01/04/2014, 09:02 AM

Carbon fiber is where it's at. It's cheap, readily available at hobby shops. It's comes in all kinds of diameters, and I think like 2' or 3' lengths. A quick cut and a quick sand and it lasts forever, and is 100% reef safe.

I used carbon fibers with all my maxi-mods back in the day before they were commercially available.

jda · 01/04/2014, 01:18 PM

To clean you pumps, just run them in a bucket of water with some muratic acid - no need to take them apart.

Stainless shafts have been in mag pumps, as well as others, for decades with no issues. The ceramic shafts started to solve a problem that did not exist with having metal in the tank mostly speculated upon by message-board reefers in the early 2000s and used as marketing tool shortly thereafter. Ceramic shafts over good stainless is about as useful as a thunderstorm program IMO.

Since then, cheap metal shafts have shown up, but you can buy the good ones since you are in control.

Our local Hobbytown has stainless and fiber shafts in stock.

moondoggy4 · 01/04/2014, 01:34 PM

^^^^ how much muratic acid in a 3 gallon bucket. Thanks in advance

Monkey_Tang · 01/04/2014, 04:21 PM

When the ceramic shaft broke on my skimmer I cut the very top of an old fishing pole. Its been running for over 6 months now with no problems, a bit weird but it works if you're in a bind.

01/02/2014, 10:30 AM	#1
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	substitute for ceramic impeller shafts as the title says, I'm looking for a substitute for ceramic impeller shafts. i just broke my second ceramic shaft on my Sicce psk-2500 skimmer pump. it looks like Marine Depot is the only online retailer for Sicce parts in the us and they are out of stock. i did some digging online for ceramic rods or dowels i could cut to length but didnt have much luck. has anyone used a possible substitute for ceramic shafts and if so where can i order them? __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

01/02/2014, 11:21 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	titanium rods.. __________________ Who me?

01/02/2014, 12:15 PM	#3
sneeyatch Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,312	Carbon fiber rods. __________________ - Todd It's often the saddest of us working our hardest to make everyone laugh Current Tank Info: Tankless

01/02/2014, 12:57 PM	#4
ridetheducati 20 and Over Club Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 2,968	Stay away from ceramics. __________________ "Send more paramedics" Current Tank Info: 300g DD, SPS dominated, Apex, Tunze 6125s, ATB 1050, 400w MH, and Geo 618 Ca Reactor

01/02/2014, 09:21 PM	#9
Duvallj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 379	Aluminum in a shaft probably wouldn't work as the oxide is what protects the metal. As a shaft the oxide would just rub away leaving fresh aluminum. It would take time to fail, but I don't think it would lastas long as lets say a ceramic one. Ceramic is used because it has decent wear properties, inert, and the shaping process is easy. Its one flaw is that it is brittle. Some manufacturers use stainless steel, not not all ss is equal. It takes "expensive" special grades. I do recall some manufacturers having problems with stainless shafts a few years ago, I think Koralia was one. onlinemetals.com has titanium rod that might work. Just piece it to one of the broken ones. If I had to choose a good material for marine applications I would look for a chromium-molybdenum alloy. For the size your looking for you might be able to request a test sample. __________________ If it's not broke, fix it til it does. -Managment proverb Current Tank Info: 180gal softie reef

01/02/2014, 01:54 PM	#5
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I just use stainless rods. You can get them at some typical hobby shops.

01/02/2014, 02:42 PM	#6
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	had to order from these guys when i busted my sicce impeller.... http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...category_id=12

01/02/2014, 06:56 PM	#7
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Avast used to sell Sicce 2500 shafts. You can try them.

01/02/2014, 08:39 PM	#8
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	I have to clean/ clear calcium build up of the shafts of the skimmer pump every 1.5 months, and it really sucks taking it appart...so much work. Ive also broken some shafts while trying to release the stuck impellers too. Wonder why these companies still make these ou ps with ceramic ones? Why not aluminum, or stainless steel ones? I hate this problem

01/03/2014, 05:24 AM	#10
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	Thanks for all the info guy. I really appreciate it. I may call a few local machine shops to see if they can refer me to their supply houses that carry a good selection of round stock. __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

01/03/2014, 06:10 AM	#11
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	titanium rod here www.mcmaster.com or 316L stainless (but titanium is far better for this application) __________________ Who me? Last edited by mcgyvr; 01/03/2014 at 06:15 AM.

01/04/2014, 09:02 AM	#12
sneeyatch Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,312	Carbon fiber is where it's at. It's cheap, readily available at hobby shops. It's comes in all kinds of diameters, and I think like 2' or 3' lengths. A quick cut and a quick sand and it lasts forever, and is 100% reef safe. I used carbon fibers with all my maxi-mods back in the day before they were commercially available. __________________ - Todd It's often the saddest of us working our hardest to make everyone laugh Current Tank Info: Tankless

01/04/2014, 01:18 PM	#13
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	To clean you pumps, just run them in a bucket of water with some muratic acid - no need to take them apart. Stainless shafts have been in mag pumps, as well as others, for decades with no issues. The ceramic shafts started to solve a problem that did not exist with having metal in the tank mostly speculated upon by message-board reefers in the early 2000s and used as marketing tool shortly thereafter. Ceramic shafts over good stainless is about as useful as a thunderstorm program IMO. Since then, cheap metal shafts have shown up, but you can buy the good ones since you are in control. Our local Hobbytown has stainless and fiber shafts in stock.

01/04/2014, 01:34 PM	#14
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	^^^^ how much muratic acid in a 3 gallon bucket. Thanks in advance

01/04/2014, 04:21 PM	#15
Monkey_Tang Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 15	When the ceramic shaft broke on my skimmer I cut the very top of an old fishing pole. Its been running for over 6 months now with no problems, a bit weird but it works if you're in a bind.