Anyone receive their Xtreme skimmer? - Page 8

bkelley02 · #**176** 01/09/2008, 10:22 AM

I figured as much. Just been a while since I had a new one, and just seemed to take a bit longer then what I remembered.

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**177** 01/09/2008, 10:50 AM

I haven't produced any real foam yet, but hopefully when I get home it'll be cranking.

MrSquid · #**178** 01/09/2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLANKENSHIP76
I was also surprised to find that if you turn the motor portion of the pump it seems to restrict the flow??

I am going to put teflon that on the venturi as well to hold it firmly in place. I think I have it where I want, but if anyone else has any recommendations I would love to hear them.

What way did you find to work best for the motor? Pics?

What do you mean withthe venturi "have it where I want it" - do you mean how far it's pushed into the pump inlet? How far do you have yours? (trying to get mine set up right for when my rock gets here tomorrow)

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**179** 01/09/2008, 01:49 PM

I have my motor turned so its all the way open(meaning full flow), as far as the venturi goes, I have it pushed all the way down, until it stopped however it is still a little loose.

MrSquid · #**180** 01/09/2008, 02:26 PM

I guess I'm still not clear as to how it's oriented when it's turned all the way open. Pics? I'm a visual person.

bkelley02 · #**181** 01/09/2008, 06:16 PM

This is where I have mine as well. It produces the most bubble there. I had it so that the angled cut was directly under the middle of the meshwheel and it didn't produce as much bubbles.

Quote:

Originally posted by BLANKENSHIP76
I have my motor turned so its all the way open(meaning full flow), as far as the venturi goes, I have it pushed all the way down, until it stopped however it is still a little loose.

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**182** 01/09/2008, 11:07 PM

I have been having trouble getting my volute cover to set right, I know you don't close it all the way, but I have to leave my open consederably to even get the pump to fire back up, and it is releasing microbubbles from around the covers rubber seal.

I have even cut the enkamat down, and I am still having trouble????

Any other recomendations?

luke33 · #**183** 01/09/2008, 11:18 PM

Yes, take the skimmer out, give it a good dry. Make sure the rubber caps on the impeller shaft are dry and in place super well. They have to be in place perfectly or the pump won't fire correctly. Another thing to do is to attach the mesh with fishing line to decrease the weight. I'm getting mine in tomorrow. So i'll try and do a blow by blow. I've messed with these pump's for a long time, there quite annoying at times, but well worth the trouble.

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**184** 01/10/2008, 12:12 AM

I have messed with it for 2 plus hours tonight and can't get it right or to quit leaking microbubbles from around the seal. Looking forward to see a detailed description of what needs to be done with these pumps.

mr. pluto · #**185** 01/10/2008, 01:07 AM

how come people w/ ati's don't seem to be having as much trouble w/ the pumps.

badazztealcobra · #**186** 01/10/2008, 01:16 AM

I'm thinking that alot of these issues are "first batch" kinda things.... They got them in, modded a bunch of the skimmers to start shipping them back out the same and next day because they we're already running late because of customs and the holidays. I'm guessing when they have more time to make the modifications that they will be ALOT more "plug and play"....

They probably could've spent more time working on them to perfect each one, but then there would've been 250 "I ordered my MSX200 but it's still not here.... blah, blah, blah" posts.

Possibly the reason the ATI's dont "seem" to have any problems with the pumps.

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**187** 01/10/2008, 02:48 PM

The ATi pumps are modded nicely, the venturi is very well done. With the Ati you can seal the sicce pump up so its kind of a no brainer as to if you have it right. These however are just the basic pumps and pieces are supplied, so its like go get'em tiger.

However, I am usually OK at this DIY stuff, and I can not get this pump to operate correctly. I mean I messed with it for hours last night and again this morning.

It seems the problem is the mesh mod, maybe there are too many layer of enkamat. But, I am barely pushing it past the rubber seal on the volute cover, and when it fires up I am not getting peak performance from it, and I am getting microbubbles released fromt he pump into the water. I am luck I have mine in a 10 in deep tank at eye level to work on, I can't imagine having to pull it in and out of a sump.

Anyway, so far I can not get the pump sealed correctly in order for the mesh wheel to operate at optimal efficiency.

If anyone can tell me how they have theirs working good, I would love to hear it.

younglcy · #**188** 01/10/2008, 04:16 PM

I'm running mine with the volute cover locked and all the way closed. At first, the impeller was hanging up a little on the back of the pump housing, but I pushed the impeller assembly in (pretty firmly) until the impeller wasn't hanging up. After that, it's been starting and running fine for me (although I usually have to blow a little air down the tube to get it crankin').

sheepdawg · #**189** 01/10/2008, 04:43 PM

I had restart issues with mine as well and ended up changing the zip ties to ones that are a bit smaller and leaving the volute cover unlocked. It's basically just pushed in so that it's sealed, if i pull on the volute it'll come out. I will be changing out the zips for fishing line in the near future as I believe since the housing was not routed properly, the zips are rubbing or getting caught on the housing.

tsouth · #**190** 01/10/2008, 04:53 PM

What a pita. So whats the solution to fixing the unlocked pump?

bkelley02 · #**191** 01/10/2008, 04:54 PM

Does anyone know if or where we can buy just the Volute covers?

luke33 · #**192** 01/10/2008, 05:00 PM

The sicce's must be firmly in the pump, and the volute cover should glide on very easy. If you have to put pressure on the volute when closing it, its not in there right. The rubber washer on the bottom is not in correctly, get it out put it on the impeller and then put it in.

BLANKENSHIP76 · #**193** 01/10/2008, 05:57 PM

how do you recommend getting the bottom rubber washer out, I am only getting the ceramic shaft when I pull on it and the washer in remaining in the pump.

Any advice?

jokerjp · #**194** 01/10/2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLANKENSHIP76
how do you recommend getting the bottom rubber washer out, I am only getting the ceramic shaft when I pull on it and the washer in remaining in the pump.

Any advice?

If you really want to remove the rubber piece in the pump I've used a small straight blade screwdriver and a flash light in the past to pry it out during cleaning. I don't even bother to remove it anymore as it doesn't cause me any problems.

greenhut · #**195** 01/10/2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLANKENSHIP76
how do you recommend getting the bottom rubber washer out, I am only getting the ceramic shaft when I pull on it and the washer in remaining in the pump.

Any advice?

Method above sounds good. While it may seem obvious, do not try and pry the washer out using the ceramic shaft - it will certainly snap.

tsouth · #**196** 01/11/2008, 12:05 AM

I accidentally snapped my shaft in two but fortunately I fixed my pump so that its closed all the way and still works lol. How do i get it replaced or should I just let it go since it's working?

luke33 · #**197** 01/11/2008, 12:18 AM

Ok, i have a bit of a slide show of my 200. First off i didn't receive my taper that goes inside the volute, no worries as i'm sure i'll get one soon enough. I did manage to make my own real fast. For this pump to work it needs to be restricted, have air, perfectly fitted with the rubber endcaps, mesh cut nicely and light impellers. Anyhow, i cut down the mesh made my own venturi and here's what i have.

After i trimmed it down

Its at 32scfh very very steady and you can't even tell its on its so quiet. Very nice so far. The meshmod was a bit nasty but the venturi hole was very nice and tight. At first i hated the rubber hose but its actually alright and works well. HTH

Luke

dgill · #**198** 01/11/2008, 12:32 AM

Luke33, that looks great so far! It seems the main issue is the rough mesh mod that was done to the impellers and poor instructions. Two questions:

1. The venturri inlet is not pushed in all the way and this seems to be important?

2. Your pump is mounted vertically vs. horizontally - do you think this improves performance and restart?

luke33 · #**199** 01/11/2008, 12:51 AM

Vertical or horizontal i don't think it matters. Its to early to tell about alot, as its only been in there for a couple hrs. I'll get it up to 50scfh here soon enough, I just don't have time right now, leavin town tomorrow mornin til sunday.

Luke

tsouth · #**200** 01/11/2008, 02:36 AM

I have some good news and bad news.
Good: I finally have the pump spinning with the volute and pump notched and sealed plus it's starting to show some skimmate into the cup.
Bad: The shaft snapped while trying to adjust it. I put the two pieces back in and it works with the volute sealed and all. How do i replace the shaft and where? I can't find replacement parts anywhere and the place i did find them is a world supplier in new zealand! I read that sicce pumps run better without the shafts. Is this true?

One other question. What size tubing for the Cup?