redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
I have an SWC 160 with an Atman 2500 pump. Had it about ten years, and it's not on a cleaning schedule, but I'd say I pull out the skimmer/pump and clean the whole thing about every six months or so. For the pump, I pull out the impeller and clean that up. Never touched the back side.
If you look at the back side, you'll see a cover.
That cover very easily pops off. Always knew it was there, but never opened it up. So today I figure I'd pull it off and find a bunch of mini brittle stars....like other pumps I have. Was I surprised...the entire inside of the back side was packed with a white precipitate. Totally packed! Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of this, but here it is after cleaning, with the cover off.
I'm sure the warmth of the motor caused the precipitation. I have to believe all this precipitation impacts pump cooling. It easily was cleaned out. I'm now wondering if the multiple pump failures I've had (maybe 5 or 6 pumps), this packed back side might have had something to do with the pumps no longer working.
On a separate note, I went to order another backup and found that the Atman's aren't as readily available as in the past. Use to find them everywhere...eBay, Amazon, Fishstreet, etc. I'm now wondering if they are on the way out. I did find some, but high price. I was able to find a ViaAqua 2600, which is the exact same pump, with the exception of the impeller....just going to use the old impeller from the Atman.
Atman on the right, ViaAqua on the left.
If you look at the back side, you'll see a cover.
That cover very easily pops off. Always knew it was there, but never opened it up. So today I figure I'd pull it off and find a bunch of mini brittle stars....like other pumps I have. Was I surprised...the entire inside of the back side was packed with a white precipitate. Totally packed! Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of this, but here it is after cleaning, with the cover off.
I'm sure the warmth of the motor caused the precipitation. I have to believe all this precipitation impacts pump cooling. It easily was cleaned out. I'm now wondering if the multiple pump failures I've had (maybe 5 or 6 pumps), this packed back side might have had something to do with the pumps no longer working.
On a separate note, I went to order another backup and found that the Atman's aren't as readily available as in the past. Use to find them everywhere...eBay, Amazon, Fishstreet, etc. I'm now wondering if they are on the way out. I did find some, but high price. I was able to find a ViaAqua 2600, which is the exact same pump, with the exception of the impeller....just going to use the old impeller from the Atman.
Atman on the right, ViaAqua on the left.
