Help. Nyos Quantum 220

[Ian Baxter]

I recent upgraded to a new tank and it came with the Nyos quantum 220. Yesterday two of the mounting plates fell off. Now, I can’t get them to stay on. The screws just pop out when I go to lift it. Any ideas on how to fix this issue?

 

[Peace River]

A few things you can try:

• Make sure the rubber feet and grommets are seated correctly. If they’re slightly out of alignment, the screws will never sit square and will pop out as soon as you lift the skimmer.
• Flip the mounting plate 180° and try again. Sometimes the holes line up better one way than the other.
• Use slightly longer screws of the same diameter. Just a millimeter or two longer can grab fresh plastic in the pump block.
• Add a small nylon washer. It helps distribute pressure so the screw head doesn’t pry out.
• If the threads in the pump block are stripped, a tiny bit of Teflon tape on the screw can give temporary grip - enough to hold it while you position the skimmer.

If none of that works, NYOS does sell replacement pump mounting plates and the pump base itself as spare parts, and their customer support is pretty responsive. The Quantum 220 is a great skimmer when everything is tightened down properly, so it’s worth getting the mount secure.

 

[Ian Baxter]

A few things you can try:

• Make sure the rubber feet and grommets are seated correctly. If they’re slightly out of alignment, the screws will never sit square and will pop out as soon as you lift the skimmer.
• Flip the mounting plate 180° and try again. Sometimes the holes line up better one way than the other.
• Use slightly longer screws of the same diameter. Just a millimeter or two longer can grab fresh plastic in the pump block.
• Add a small nylon washer. It helps distribute pressure so the screw head doesn’t pry out.
• If the threads in the pump block are stripped, a tiny bit of Teflon tape on the screw can give temporary grip - enough to hold it while you position the skimmer.

If none of that works, NYOS does sell replacement pump mounting plates and the pump base itself as spare parts, and their customer support is pretty responsive. The Quantum 220 is a great skimmer when everything is tightened down properly, so it’s worth getting the mount secure.

Thank you! This is a big help. I’ll give these a try. How do you do the nylon washer?

 

[Peace River]

Thank you! This is a big help. I’ll give these a try. How do you do the nylon washer?

For the nylon washer, it is really simple. Put a small nylon (plastic) washer between the screw head and the mounting plate before you tighten the screw.

The washer spreads out the pressure so the screw head is not digging into the plastic at such a sharp angle, which helps keep the screw from popping out. You do not need anything special. The little white nylon washers from the hardware store work fine.

 

[Ian Baxter]

For the nylon washer, it is really simple. Put a small nylon (plastic) washer between the screw head and the mounting plate before you tighten the screw.

The washer spreads out the pressure so the screw head is not digging into the plastic at such a sharp angle, which helps keep the screw from popping out. You do not need anything special. The little white nylon washers from the hardware store work fine.

Thank you!