[SCETT316]

I have an Aqua C 240. It has always worked fine. Yesterday we changed the return pump in the tank. Now it starts working fine then after a couple of min. it dumps most of the water back to the sump. I recall having this happen once before after working in the tank, but it stopped after an hour or so. It has been doing this for the past 14 hours. Any thoughts?
Thx

[Reefland]

What exactly do you mean by dumping water? Are you saying that all of the water exits the skimmer and the skimmer stops running? If so this sounds like a problem with the pump for the skimmer...

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Reefland

What exactly do you mean by dumping water? Are you saying that all of the water exits the skimmer and the skimmer stops running? If so this sounds like a problem with the pump for the skimmer...

Hi Scott
Sorry for my terminology. Yes all the wtr exits the skimmer. The pump continues to fill the skimmer with wtr, the foam starts rising for a min. or so, then the wtr. exits again. It's like a cycle. I shut it off for now.
Thx

[Reefland]

It sounds to me like a pump problem. What kind of pump is feeding the skimmer? If the skimmer fills with water and is foaming and then suddenly the water all drains from teh skimmer, the pump sounds to be dying.

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Reefland

It sounds to me like a pump problem. What kind of pump is feeding the skimmer? If the skimmer fills with water and is foaming and then suddenly the water all drains from teh skimmer, the pump sounds to be dying.

The pump is a Mag 12. I took a flash light to see in the skimmer if there was interuption in the wtr. coming from the pump, and I see none. We cleaned the pump like 2 wks ago, but took it out again & it seems to be clean. We tested it in a bucket for a little while & it worked fine.
But I guess your probably right.
thx so much for your input.

[SCETT316]

Well is working fine again. I am convinced my tank is trying to test my patience and that is something I have learned in this hobby is a must.
I tried adjusting the gate valve by closing it somewhat just enough to bring the wtr. level in the skimmer up a bit, and Bingo it's working fine.
Again thx for the help.

[homeangler]

Originally Posted by SCETT316

The pump is a Mag 12. I took a flash light to see in the skimmer if there was interuption in the wtr. coming from the pump, and I see none. We cleaned the pump like 2 wks ago, but took it out again & it seems to be clean. We tested it in a bucket for a little while & it worked fine.
But I guess your probably right.
thx so much for your input.

I am having the same thing happen, but also the water level riases to a point of overflowing, it seems to work fine for several hours then it either dumps the water or overflows. I have a new gen-x 4100 & I am wondering if I just have a bad pump??

[grim]

Can you describe how the skimmer drain is plumbed? It sounds like somehow, the skimmer drain is turning into a siphon and pulling the water out of the skimmer. I've seen some funky things happen when skimmer drains were plumbed in strange ways (usually when the skimmer is external and a ways away from the sump).

jb

[homeangler]

Originally Posted by grim

Can you describe how the skimmer drain is plumbed? It sounds like somehow, the skimmer drain is turning into a siphon and pulling the water out of the skimmer. I've seen some funky things happen when skimmer drains were plumbed in strange ways (usually when the skimmer is external and a ways away from the sump).

jb

I think that's what it is, bcause I do have it away from the sump & is about
6"-7" above the sump & has a couple of twist & turn in the flx PVC.

Thanks