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View Full Version : Finally figured out why I had HLLE in my tank...


ironwill723
03/30/2011, 09:06 PM
A few of my fish in the last four or so months had developed some HLLE in my 220g. No stress, no overcrowding/over feeding, parameters within range. I couldn't figure it out...added selcon to food, varied their diet, added a ground probe and a nitrate reactor...still no noticeable difference. Well today I go to my sump room and discover my skimmer and half of my reactors and heaters are off. I have a Vertex IN-280 that I got from marinedepot last fall and the thing skims like a champ. Never any complaints. Anyways, check the plug and reset the power strip. Turns back on and works for about 30 seconds before shutting off again along with flipping the breaker to the whole room. This can't be good...Pull the pump out, clean it off, reassemble, works for 2 minutes and shuts off. Can not figure out why...finally I pull off the plastic pump cover with a screw driver and find this...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/TZPT2YBCJOI/AAAAAAAADFg/t8Cm4phDaOE/s800/P1050252.JPG (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oVPcu-sOyGNSJUU0Uxifj2_Q3m3fH5EhXKiLOqrCBoQ?feat=embedwebsite)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/TZPT5ZhyhCI/AAAAAAAADFk/2Y8fxMLPnb8/s800/P1050250.JPG (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PHXpRY42RhWHA8VETRKc22_Q3m3fH5EhXKiLOqrCBoQ?feat=embedwebsite)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_gYlUjvbQmnM/TZPTxlztxGI/AAAAAAAADFc/hRqQKDZImmQ/s800/P1050254.JPG (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/k8JTPTDTKxDJ2G6rJHsatm_Q3m3fH5EhXKiLOqrCBoQ?feat=embedwebsite)

So anyways now my skimmer is down until I get a new pump. I believe this pump is a Sedra 5000 but I need to look it up on the Vertex website. Any suggestions for a replacement pump? I was thinking a BubbleBlaster maybe? I called marinedepot and they put me in touch with the supplier for a replacement but I am not holding my breath. So anyways current has been leaking into my system for who knows how long at this point. Just glad I caught it before anything more serious happened.

Correction...looks like the original pump is a King 3 water pump by Resun?? Never heard of them...looks like they are some cheap chinese manufacturer.

http://www.aquacave.com/king-3-subme...resun-558.html (http://www.aquacave.com/king-3-submersible-waterbr-pump-by-resun-558.html)

I especially like the part about the pump not being for Saltwater use!

For some reason I thought Vertex ran Sedra pumps...

sjm817
03/30/2011, 09:23 PM
Resun pumps are terrible and always have been. Rust, noise, all out failures are nothing new. As soon as I saw that the Vertex skimmers used Resun pumps, I immediately lost interest. I would go with a Bubble Baster 3000 or maybe 5000.

ironwill723
03/30/2011, 09:29 PM
Scott,
Thanks for the info...yeah I thought Vertex skimmers ran Sedra pumps for some reason so I never thought twice about it until now. Funny thing is that it never gave me any problems (that I knew about) until today. Super quiet and reliable up until this point when it just stopped altogether. Now I'm just wondering how much damage was done by having current leaking into my tank all these months.

alton
03/31/2011, 06:43 AM
Just checking did you have this on a GFCI receptacle?