Just posting this for anyone like me that would rather use a controllable DC jebao pump than spend big bucks on a Reef Octopus pump to replace it on their skimmer. And keep the needle wheel impeller. I did a lot of research and couldn't find much information on this topic other than people asking and not really getting any answers. So I figured I would make a step by step thread and explain how I used a jebao 4000 DC pump for my reef octopus xp-2000 Cone skimmer which is older but very similar to the newer model classic 150 skimmer.
The pump I replaced was a bubble blaster hy-2000s. Excuse the build up in my picture. I run pumps until they die and I'm a slacker on pump maintenance.
The replacement pump I bought on ebay listed as a jebao 4000 skimmer pump but I don't think there is any difference from any normal jebao 4000.
Replacing the impeller is simple enough. Remove the bubble blaster intake and the needle wheel impeller pulls right off. The jebao green impeller was a little more difficult. Had to remove the whole impeller assembly and use a nail punch to beat the wheel off. Be careful not to damage anything. It will not pry off the stem so don't try to do that or you'll damage it. If you hold the green impeller in one hand and give it a couple whacks upside down with the punch on the stem it will loosen and pop off. I didn't think to take any pics of that.
But here is the green jebao impeller wheel side by side with the bubble blaster needle wheel.
The hole is the same size although it does not have the notch. I tried first sliding it on with nothing just putting it on. It worked for a while but eventually popped off. I then used a couple drops of acrylic reef glue to tighten it up and hold it in place. That has done the trick and it hasn't come loose again since.
Now place the assembly back on the pump. There is a couple notches that need to align or you won't get the cover on properly.
Now the fittings to get the jebao to the skimmer. For the pump outlet you can simply reuse the fitting from the bubble blaster pump. It threads right onto the jebao.
For the intake I had to get creative. I'm a hacker sometimes. You need to use the bubble blaster fitting to connect the air line. I was able to use one of the jebao fittings and cut off the barb fitting side so the whole fitting would fit inside the bubble blaster fitting. The jebao fitting has a flange for a wrench just barely too large to fit in the bubble blaster fitting. I used a bench grinder and carefully ground the corners of the wrench flange until I could press that fitting into the bubble blaster female threads. You need that to hold tight but obviously does not need to be water tight since it's operating under water in the end. You may have to look close at the pic to see what I did if you can't follow the written explanation.
In this next photo you can see the wrench flange where it's ground down and now threaded into the bubble blaster fitting.
Now your in business. Just hook up to your skimmer and start the fine tuning.
For me it works best at about level 3. What's odd it that when I turn it higher I get more bubbles and less water height. I don't really understand that but I guess it just sucks more air the faster you have it pumping. 3rd setting is right in the middle so I figure that's a win. It's been about a week running now and I haven't had to make any adjustments whatsoever. Here is right after turning it on and next pic is a week later. Ignore the messy basement setup. Being in the basement I'm not all about cleaning the salt creep.
The lack of skimmate isn't because it's dry, the skimmer drains directly into my basement sump area. So the cup never fills.
The pump I replaced was a bubble blaster hy-2000s. Excuse the build up in my picture. I run pumps until they die and I'm a slacker on pump maintenance.
The replacement pump I bought on ebay listed as a jebao 4000 skimmer pump but I don't think there is any difference from any normal jebao 4000.
Replacing the impeller is simple enough. Remove the bubble blaster intake and the needle wheel impeller pulls right off. The jebao green impeller was a little more difficult. Had to remove the whole impeller assembly and use a nail punch to beat the wheel off. Be careful not to damage anything. It will not pry off the stem so don't try to do that or you'll damage it. If you hold the green impeller in one hand and give it a couple whacks upside down with the punch on the stem it will loosen and pop off. I didn't think to take any pics of that.
But here is the green jebao impeller wheel side by side with the bubble blaster needle wheel.
The hole is the same size although it does not have the notch. I tried first sliding it on with nothing just putting it on. It worked for a while but eventually popped off. I then used a couple drops of acrylic reef glue to tighten it up and hold it in place. That has done the trick and it hasn't come loose again since.
Now place the assembly back on the pump. There is a couple notches that need to align or you won't get the cover on properly.
Now the fittings to get the jebao to the skimmer. For the pump outlet you can simply reuse the fitting from the bubble blaster pump. It threads right onto the jebao.
For the intake I had to get creative. I'm a hacker sometimes. You need to use the bubble blaster fitting to connect the air line. I was able to use one of the jebao fittings and cut off the barb fitting side so the whole fitting would fit inside the bubble blaster fitting. The jebao fitting has a flange for a wrench just barely too large to fit in the bubble blaster fitting. I used a bench grinder and carefully ground the corners of the wrench flange until I could press that fitting into the bubble blaster female threads. You need that to hold tight but obviously does not need to be water tight since it's operating under water in the end. You may have to look close at the pic to see what I did if you can't follow the written explanation.
In this next photo you can see the wrench flange where it's ground down and now threaded into the bubble blaster fitting.
Now your in business. Just hook up to your skimmer and start the fine tuning.
For me it works best at about level 3. What's odd it that when I turn it higher I get more bubbles and less water height. I don't really understand that but I guess it just sucks more air the faster you have it pumping. 3rd setting is right in the middle so I figure that's a win. It's been about a week running now and I haven't had to make any adjustments whatsoever. Here is right after turning it on and next pic is a week later. Ignore the messy basement setup. Being in the basement I'm not all about cleaning the salt creep.
The lack of skimmate isn't because it's dry, the skimmer drains directly into my basement sump area. So the cup never fills.
