OctoXtreme

I have a question the Sicce pumps are not pumping, when I first hooked them up for a test run they ran great, unplugged them for a week or so until I could get back to finishing up the build today I plug them in and nothing. I can hear the motors turning but other than that I'm getting nothing out of either one. I should mention this is the second time it has happened. The first time it took one of the pumps several minutes and it started up, the second one never did. I took it off the skimmer and filled the sink up with water (easier to test) plugged it in and it took off without a problem. Put it back on the skimmer and nothing for a few seconds then it started up. At that time I unplugged everything and let it sit for a week while I was busy with work. Brings me to today, trying to finish everything up with the tank and nothing out of either pump except noise. What seems to be the problem? can someone help me with this?

 

Is there a bunch of other stuff plugged into the circuit? I'm no electrician but it sounds like maybe the motors are "freezing" cause they aren't getting enough power initially to start up? Maybe Reefsparky can help out with this one?

Jake

 

Sometimes if the spindle which holds the impeller in place isn't straight and can jam the impeller. Just my experience of pumps and powerheads. Opening the pump and then closing it or give it a tap usually sorts out this problem.

 

thanks for the quick responses and I did unplug everything and tried to plug in one at a time and nothing. I've also tapped on them moved them side to side and I'm stumped. Again thanks for the quick replies, hopefully someone has other suggestions.

 

first sorry for posting in the wrong spot. And thanks for the info but I guess the pumps weren't pulling enough air so I took the hoses' off the silencer and blew into them and they took off. all is better now, just got one leak to fix and I set.

 

K+ Excellent, glad you got it sorted

 

I credit this response to Powerman, one of our excellent in-house skimmer techs! The Sicce has a directional volute, and occasionally upon startup, they start spinning in the reverse direction. When this happens, you get the symptom you describe above.

Powerman states that as time goes by, the problem may occur with less frequency.

When it does happen, unplug, and replug as many times as necessary to correct.