Reef Octopus SRO 3000SSS Acting up

[BReefer13]

Hey guys, I have had this skimmer for about 7-8 years now and it has always been a workhorse. However, around 3-4 months ago I noticed it became very inconsistent, the bubbles specifically are no longer going upwards in the direction of the collection cup, instead, they just swirl around everywhere (see attached video). Currently, the only way I can get it to skim anything, is by having the gate almost closed so the water level is really close to the end of the skimmer body. However, doing it like that has made my skimmer very unreliable and it overflows quite often (thank god I have a shut off valve). I have cleaned it and disassembled the pump, everything looks normal. I wonder if it is time to replace the impeller? Not sure what else could be… Let me know what would you do and if you have had a similar problem… thank you!

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

Have you taken the pump apart to look at the impeller? and clean the airline

 

[Useful_Idiot]

My SRO xp2000 with the bubble blaster had the impeller come unglued from the rotor. So it looked fine in hand but and when running would spin but not at the right rpm. If you took the impeller assembly out you could hold the magnet part still and spin the impeller blade part.

 

[BReefer13]

Have you taken the pump apart to look at the impeller? and clean the airline

Yes I have, everything looks normal.

 

[BReefer13]

My SRO xp2000 with the bubble blaster had the impeller come unglued from the rotor. So it looked fine in hand but and when running would spin but not at the right rpm. If you took the impeller assembly out you could hold the magnet part still and spin the impeller blade part.

So are you suggesting my impeller could be bad?

 

[Useful_Idiot]

So are you suggesting my impeller could be bad?

Could be. Mine was physically broken and doing something similar but also making a sound like it was stalling every couple minutes. Although with the age of that motor I would buy a new pump not just the impeller. My bubble blaster 2000’s never lasted 8 years. I bought the skimmer in 2010 and now the body is crazing also.