HELP With PSK-100H Skimmer w/ Sicce SK200 pump KEEPS SHUTTING OFF/OVERHEATING

[kileki]

Hey All! I have a PSK-100H with a Sicce SK200 pump, the pump keeps randomly shutting down, (I have swapped out the pump and tried a brand new one and still get the same results). The pump runs for approx. 20min then just shuts off. I was wondering if you guys had any idea what could be causing this???

It seems the pump overheats and then trips off, any help is greatly appreciate!

 

[kileki]

Try taking the end of the air tube and blowing in it to make sure it doesn’t feel restricted. It connects to a nipple on the bottom of the skimmer plumbing.

Maybe the nipple has a clog or the air tubing is clogged ?

I actually just bought new tubing off amazon that arrives tomorrow morning, so I am just going to replace it completely

 

[kileki]

np....
Dont give up on that skimmer....its a beast once its working.

@FUNGI @VintageReefer

Have it hooked up again, after it running perfectly fine in a bucket all night long, overheats and shuts off after 5minutes again

 

[kileki]

@FUNGI @VintageReefer

Have it hooked up again, after it running perfectly fine in a bucket all night long, overheats and shuts off after 5minutes again

 

[FUNGI]

That doesn't look right. With the air wide open, you should see allot more finer bubbles.....is its running in fresh water (versus salt)?

 

[kileki]

Yes, I can throw some salt in there if you think that will help

EDIT: But when first trying to run it, I ran it in my nasty water change water (thats obviously salt water) and had same results.

That doesn't look right. With the air wide open, you should see allot more finer bubbles.....is its running in fresh water (versus salt)?

 

[FUNGI]

no its fine....
close air and can you check water out?

 

[kileki]

no its fine....
close air and can you check water out?

Water out seems perfectly fine to me, I can take a video if youd like, it has a healthy flow, also when you say close off air, how so? Like cap the end of the airline allowing no air flow through?

 

[FUNGI]

yes cap end of airline and let it run for 10~15 minutes.....just want to make any air in the U bend out of tank is out

 

[FUNGI]

BTW...never asked..what size tank?

 

[kileki]

40 gal

 

[kileki]

yes cap end of airline and let it run for 10~15 minutes.....just want to make any air in the U bend out of tank is out

Capped for 5min, shut off again

 

[FUNGI]

did water level increase inside chamber when capped?
I'm running out of ideas.....the only thing I can think is water "in" is somehow clogged and not allowing enough flow causing impeller to heat up...... but you cleaned including the elbow....I would look to that...maybe a snail shell or something......dont know buddy...maybe look at running a "snake" thru the piping.....

 

[kileki]

did water level increase inside chamber when capped?
I'm running out of ideas.....the only thing I can think is water "in" is somehow clogged and not allowing enough flow causing impeller to heat up...... but you cleaned including the elbow....I would look to that...maybe a snail shell or something......dont know buddy...maybe look at running a "snake" thru the piping.....

Yes it did, overflowed into cup for a second

 

[kileki]

Yes it did, overflowed into cup for a second

Weird finding, just tried to run it with the pump fully submerged in a seperate bucket, and it had 0 flow out.

 

[Dburr1014]

Got to be something in one of those pipes for it to keep shutting off. Either it's restricting on the output or cavitating on the input.

 

[FUNGI]

Got to be something in one of those pipes for it to keep shutting off. Either it's restricting on the output or cavitating on the input.

agree....

 

[FUNGI]

OP....
run a wire coat hanger or a "snake" thru the piping.....

 

[kileki]

Have a different style wire brush with a more flexible line to be able to better snake through the piping, really hard to do multiple 90 degree turns with a coat hanger. It seems to me something with output tubing, once I wire through it again tomorrow, if it still doesn't work, it's just going in the garbage unfortunately. And will just end up biting the bullet and paying full price for a new one thats guaranteed to work.

Already got $200+ dollars into this thing now with buying a new pump, plus stuff to troubleshoot, getting really close to at this point it would have cost the same to buy a brand new one.

I really appreciate all of your help.

 

[FUNGI]

Make sure to do with both in and out.....
once its clear....I think you will find it works. There is nothing else that can be wrong with it. If you get fed up with it....post it for sale....as the pumps are worth $$ as its the same pump for a Aquamaxx 1.5....but I think you are there.....gotta be a snail shell or something....

 

[Dburr1014]

Replace the pipe, worse case.