Sicce PSK 1200 SDC Vibration

[rob taft]

I purchased this pump a few months ago and up until a couple of weeks ago it has been operating smoothly. The pump developed a vibration after a recent maintenance cleaning that I have been unable to determiner the cause. The impeller and bearings looks ok and they were clean. I did notice that the impeller has a lot of slop when seated i.e. a fair amount of side to side movement that may have existed since I purchased the unit new but I didn't notice.

I have a heck of a time getting the front of the pump on the unit as the impeller doesn't sit dead upright in the pump body. In other words in order for me to align the impeller shaft with the bearing on the front removable housing I have to stick a small stick or knife to through the opening in the front pump case to hold the impeller in position so I can seat the housing and bearing over the impeller shaft. I don't remember this when I first took the pump apart.

As I said the bearings are in place and look ok and there doesn't appear to be any damage to the impeller. I do notice and I'm not sure if this is normal but when I turn the impeller over by hand (with the front cover removed) it doesn't rotate smoothly like say my Varios pumps. It is not binding but it just appears to be hung up magnetically i.e. I can rotate it but it just seems to jump to the next position. Whereas with my Varios pump I can just turn it and it rotates smoothly without any magnetic drag. . Any help would be appreciated.

 

[blaxsun]

Have you tried a spare impeller assembly?

 

[rob taft]

I ordered one but the one I received was for the PSK 1200 and it is not the same as the one for the PSK SDC. So I'm waiting on a replacement although I can't figure out why given the state of the existing impellor it would make a difference.

 

[TastyScrants]

I ordered one but the one I received was for the PSK 1200 and it is not the same as the one for the PSK SDC. So I'm waiting on a replacement although I can't figure out why given the state of the existing impellor it would make a difference.

Did you fix this?

I have this pump in my Redsea skimmer and it sounds like an issue I’m having.

The impeller seems to bounce around inside the pump even though it’s all correctly assembled.

 

[rob taft]

BLine, No due to some personal issues I have had the time to contact Sicce over this issue. There is something wrong with this pump and quite honestly I can't figure out the problem. I purchased what I thought was a replacement impellor from Saltwater Aquarium.com but the 1200 PSK SDC uses a different impeller. I attempted to get some assistance from SA.com and I actually reached the SA.COM sales rep at who was at the time at Reefaplozza he said he would talk to the Sicce rep who happened to be in an adjacent booth and get back to me but despite several messages left on their phone and emails to SA.com, they have been unresponsive. They asked me to send them an email describing the problem which I have on multiple occasions but they have just ghosted me. For the record, I offered to ship them back the other impeller at my expense. So I'm out $56.00 for a Sicce impeller I can't use and SA.Com lost a customer who has spent several thousand dollars via their website.

My next recourse is to contact Sicce. As you described my pump has the same issue. I took it apart to clean as I have done previously but this time when reassembling I found the impeller so loose in the pump that trying to align the pump shaft with the top bearing was difficult . I had to use a thin sharp object to hold the impellor staright vertical so I could seat the top bearing unto the shaft and seal the top case i.e. there is too much play internally to the pump but I can't determine what is wrong. I don't have another PSK but your issue tracks with mine,

 

[TastyScrants]

BLine, No due to some personal issues I have had the time to contact Sicce over this issue. There is something wrong with this pump and quite honestly I can't figure out the problem. I purchased what I thought was a replacement impellor from Saltwater Aquarium.com but the 1200 PSK SDC uses a different impeller. I attempted to get some assistance from SA.com and I actually reached the SA.COM sales rep at who was at the time at Reefaplozza he said he would talk to the Sicce rep who happened to be in an adjacent booth and get back to me but despite several messages left on their phone and emails to SA.com, they have been unresponsive. They asked me to send them an email describing the problem which I have on multiple occasions but they have just ghosted me. For the record, I offered to ship them back the other impeller at my expense. So I'm out $56.00 for a Sicce impeller I can't use and SA.Com lost a customer who has spent several thousand dollars via their website.

My next recourse is to contact Sicce. As you described my pump has the same issue. I took it apart to clean as I have done previously but this time when reassembling I found the impeller so loose in the pump that trying to align the pump shaft with the top bearing was difficult . I had to use a thin sharp object to hold the impellor staright vertical so I could seat the top bearing unto the shaft and seal the top case i.e. there is too much play internally to the pump but I can't determine what is wrong. I don't have another PSK but your issue tracks with mine,

That’s very annoying. I hope they sort it out for you.

Reassembling the impeller pump is the same for me. This is actually replacing my AC Redsea skimmer which has the Sicce PSK 600 pump. The impeller is also difficult to centre over the lid bearing when trying to reassemble after cleaning, by that pump is so quiet by comparison, and it’s AC!

As mine is via RedSea I contacted them and after going through their long troubleshooting process they’re now sending me a new impeller. Hopefully that resolves it or I’ll be switching it out for something different.

On closer inspection of the DC impeller, it does look like there are soem raised areas on the plastic coating the magnet like the vacuum moulding of the plastic wasn’t properly completed. This could be causing an imbalance when it spins generating some centrifugal force perhaps? I could be talking rubbish though it’s currently 00:19 in the UK and I’m full of whisky!

 

[rob taft]

Bline, Please post an update. I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary with the impellor. I ended up taking the pump out of service. Unfortunately, my dealings with Saltwater Aquarium. Com proved to be a big time and money wasting experience.

 

[TastyScrants]

Bline, Please post an update. I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary with the impellor. I ended up taking the pump out of service. Unfortunately, my dealings with Saltwater Aquarium. Com proved to be a big time and money wasting experience.

I will do.

It has arrived at home but I'm working away this week. Pop a message on here on Saturday to remind me if I’ve forgotten to post.

 

[TastyScrants]

Bline, Please post an update. I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary with the impellor. I ended up taking the pump out of service. Unfortunately, my dealings with Saltwater Aquarium. Com proved to be a big time and money wasting experience.

So I fitted the new impeller today.

It sounds exactly the same. It’s like I’m hearing my neighbour go at our party wall with an impact hammer drill. My AC PSK600 pump in my Redsea skimmer is in another league as it’s is much quieter.

If Redsea refuse to replace the pump, the skimmer along with the rest of the reefrun system is going back to the shop for a competitor product.

 

[rob taft]

Bline, Thanks for the update. I suspected the impellor swap wouldn't fix our problem as my existing impellor and the pump housing looked fine with no obvious signs of damage. It is a mystery to me.

My pump worked just fine for a couple of months then I noticed a slight chattering when I increased the speed. I assumed it was some calcium or algae buildup. When I took it apart, the impellor and bearing appeared to be clean. It was when I went to put it back together that I noticed I had difficulty in getting the impellor shaft lined up with the top case bearing. It was almost like the internal impeller bore had grown in diameter or the impeller magnet had gotten smaller so much so that the impeller wobbled in the pump. I will start the process to contact Sicce.

 

[TastyScrants]

Just thought I’d update.

Redsea ended up replacing the pump. The replacement pump was perfectly silent and had no rumble/rattle. (What is was doing cannot be described as vibration, throw a brick into your washing machine and this describes what is happening).

However I’ve had to take apart my perfect, silent pump today for maintenance.

After cleaning and reassembling it, it is now rumbling/rattling again.

So this is absolutely either a user assembly issue or a manufacturing defect.

Potential issues I can think of:
1. Requires a thick biofilm to operate
2. Requires some sort of silicone lubricant
3. Removing the impeller messes with the magnetic fields.
4. Hocus pocus

 

[CoralDanimal]

Just thought I’d update.

Redsea ended up replacing the pump. The replacement pump was perfectly silent and had no rumble/rattle. (What is was doing cannot be described as vibration, throw a brick into your washing machine and this describes what is happening).

However I’ve had to take apart my perfect, silent pump today for maintenance.

After cleaning and reassembling it, it is now rumbling/rattling again.

So this is absolutely either a user assembly issue or a manufacturing defect.

Potential issues I can think of:
1. Requires a thick biofilm to operate
2. Requires some sort of silicone lubricant
3. Removing the impeller messes with the magnetic fields.
4. Hocus pocus

Has anyone found a fix to this issue? I’m on my third PSK 1200 because (similar to everyone else) as soon as I clean the pump and reassemble it, it has this issue and effectively becomes a useless pump.

 

[rob taft]

Nope, I gave up and put it away. Very frustrating and a time and dollar wasting effort. No help from Sicce or Saltwater Aquarium.com who sold me the pump. What was particularly frustrating was I talked to the SW.com rep while he was at a trade show and he had the Sicce dealer right next to him. He promised to discuss the problem with Sicce but after that call SA ghosted me on email and phone calls. So I crossed SWA.com for any future purchases. And like you I now have an expensive and worthless pump.

I actually got one cleaning performed without a problem but with the next the problem surfaced. I assembled, reassembled multiple times while ensuring that no parts were missing but still no joy. A bit hard to describe the problem but it seems the impeller never seats directly in the center of the bore. Almost like the bore shifted or slop has developed in the bore leading to excessive slop. See the video link that I sent to SWA.com



I would be interested in the cause of or fix to this problem as I can't tell what is causing this problem.

 

[CoralDanimal]

Nope, I gave up and put it away. Very frustrating and a time and dollar wasting effort. No help from Sicce or Saltwater Aquarium.com who sold me the pump. What was particularly frustrating was I talked to the SW.com rep while he was at a trade show and he had the Sicce dealer right next to him. He promised to discuss the problem with Sicce but after that call SA ghosted me on email and phone calls. So I crossed SWA.com for any future purchases. And like you I now have an expensive and worthless pump.

I actually got one cleaning performed without a problem but with the next the problem surfaced. I assembled, reassembled multiple times while ensuring that no parts were missing but still no joy. A bit hard to describe the problem but it seems the impeller never seats directly in the center of the bore. Almost like the bore shifted or slop has developed in the bore leading to excessive slop. See the video link that I sent to SWA.com



I would be interested in the cause of or fix to this problem as I can't tell what is causing this problem.

Thank you for this – I was starting to think I was going crazy (or that I was dumb and there was an obvious user error). I have the Sicce PSK 1200 SDC pump for my Adaptive Reef skimmer. Everything worked amazingly until I cleaned it once and then I ran into the same issue as you. At first I figured it was the impeller, so I bought a new one and the same issue reoccurred. Then I thought it was the pump so I bought a brand new pump. The pump worked until I had to clean it (sometimes my skimmer sucks up bubble algae which requires me to take it apart to clean the impeller) and then the same issue happened again. I didn't know what to do so I emailed the Adaptive Reef team – they were amazing by the way, super responsive and thoughtful – and after a ton of debugging, they sent me a brand new unit (so generous) and that worked until...I had to clean it and then the same issue happened again.

I searched on YouTube to see if I was reassembling the pump incorrectly and then I came across this post and others where people had problems getting the impeller to line up with the assembly. Even if you do get it aligned, you have the same experience as your video so when the pump starts up, it's loud and maybe 10% effective.

So now I have 3 Sicce PSK 1200 SDC pumps and none of them work I contacted Sicce but haven't heard back yet. I used to think Sicce was a great brand but this experience really changed my mind and I'm going to stay away from Sicce pumps and skimmers that use Sicce pumps.

 

[rob taft]

"I was starting to think I was going crazy (or that I was dumb and there was an obvious user error)." I hear you. I thought it must be something I did and I checked, rechecked and rechecked. I must have disassembled and reassembled the pump at least 20+ times. I used a toothpick to get the impeller to stay in the center of the pump bore until I could get the end bearing/cap seated but when I turned the pump on, it went right back to chattering.

So after removing the skimmer, assembling/reassembling the pump and, placing the skimmer back in the sump, all those times,I quit and put the original A/C pump back on the skimmer. Like you I tried a replacement impeller (at my expense) with the same result.

I have spent thousands of dollars buying all types of equipment for this hobby and this has probably been the most frustrating and time wasting piece of equipment I have ever owned. Made more frustrating by the complete lack of response from Sicce and Saltwater Aquarium.com.

If you hear back from Sicce, please update the thread.

 

[TastyScrants]

Has anyone found a fix to this issue? I’m on my third PSK 1200 because (similar to everyone else) as soon as I clean the pump and reassemble it, it has this issue and effectively becomes a useless pump.

I purchased a jecod DC pump and you can’t hear it. Also replaced the Dc Redsea skimmer with a Deltec 400i which is also silent.

My reef run system is now in storage as my emergency backup.

I won’t buy Redsea again.

 

[CoralDanimal]

I thought it must be something I did and I checked, rechecked and rechecked. I must have disassembled and reassembled the pump at least 20+ times. I used a toothpick to get the impeller to stay in the center of the pump bore until I could get the end bearing/cap seated but when I turned the pump on, it went right back to chattering.

So after removing the skimmer, assembling/reassembling the pump and, placing the skimmer back in the sump, all those times,I quit and put the original A/C pump back on the skimmer. Like you I tried a replacement impeller (at my expense) with the same result.

Oh man we went down the same journey. I too reassembled the pump 20+ times and every time I did so, I had to unplug my skimmer, drain it, pull it out, and disassemble/reassemble the skimmer as well. I should have just tested the pump within a 5 gallon bucket as opposed to doing what I did.

Did the original A/C pump work fine? If so and it's only the DC version that has issues, I'll probably just get that since my skimmer has a molded bracket for the pump so I doubt any other options (ex: Jebao) will fit.

Started an email thread with Sicce and will reply back to this thread once I know more.

 

[rob taft]

"Did the original A/C pump work fine?". Yes, in fact the pump is a Sicce PSK 600 and its been flawless. I wanted to swap out the AC pump so that I could better control the skimmer via the pump speed instead of just restricting the air intake. And it worked great until I cleaned the pump. The last time is when I tried a replacement impeller and I did that in the sink as I suspected the impeller wasn't going to fix the problem. After that it was consigned to my aquarium boneyard. It is truly baffling.

 

[CoralDanimal]

"Did the original A/C pump work fine?". Yes, in fact the pump is a Sicce PSK 600 and its been flawless. I wanted to swap out the AC pump so that I could better control the skimmer via the pump speed instead of just restricting the air intake. And it worked great until I cleaned the pump. The last time is when I tried a replacement impeller and I did that in the sink as I suspected the impeller wasn't going to fix the problem. After that it was consigned to my aquarium boneyard. It is truly baffling.

Ah good to know. If I end up needing to replace it (again), I'll just go the AC route and get the normal PSK 1200.

I did talk to Sicce and explained to them the situation. After providing my proof of purchase, they shipped out a replacement within 24 hours so seemingly Sicce's response to the situation has been great although they didn't provide information for how to prevent the issue from happening again. Basically my plan is to do never do maintenance on the pump and pray nothing gets sucked into it that requires maintenance either.

 

[rob taft]

By coincidence, this morning my AC PSK 600 started making similar noises as the DC pump i.e. rattling sound. Pulled the skimmer, thoroughly cleaned the pump and impellor, reassembled and it worked fine with no noise. Just like I expected how the DC pump would behave. Please post your observations after your first good cleaning.