cmross13
Active Member
so while preparing for my $800 Red Seal Reefer 350 to arrive, i have trying to be "frugal" about my shopping for support gear as well. Current USA Orbit Pro DUAL 48" LED light bar setup with one used and one NIB lamp, brand new dual brackets, three used 1050GPH wavemakers, brand new 1900gph return pump, Loop controller/manifold/etc, $425... DEAL! spare 48" used light bar for $30, i'll take it!. Kessil H80 Tuna Flora refugium light for $60 with gooseneck, check! custom cut refugium section for V2 sump for $65, its in the works!
so I recently find a Reef Octopus Classic 202-S skimmer at yard sale. aside from a TON of salt/calcium build up, it looks to be in pretty good shape. no algae in it(and was clearly put away wet), plius it has the V2 silencer, so im guessing not too old or used. $50 and its a deal. i get it home and put a 25/75 mixture of distilled white vinegar and tap water in a rubbermaid tote in my bathtub and fire 'er up with the gate valve wide open. OK, so the drain plug is missing from the collector cup. no big deal, $3-4. suction hose seems awful noisy. the silencer has cracked and been siliconed together. no biggie, $25 for a new one or im sure i can fab up a solution for a couple bucks. problem is, foam is just building in cup and nothing coming out gate valve unless i disconnect venturi hose and cap it off, so i unplug and let it soak in 8.25" of vinegar/water solution(assembled) while im off at work for 10 hours.
i get home, try again, same results, only this time theres a lot more white crap floating in water, so i let it run for a half hour or so knowing i will be tearing down. this time when i started, the water was still and i could see it spraying out from between the screws between the body and base. full disassembly and cleaning with a terrycloth rag, and it looks brand new. the impeller "fingers" are all mint, the gate valve is functioning properly again, and so i wipe down the armature shaft or whatever it is and start reassembling. i notice theres no gasket or o-ring between the body and base, but theres clearly a channel for it.
am i missing something?
so I recently find a Reef Octopus Classic 202-S skimmer at yard sale. aside from a TON of salt/calcium build up, it looks to be in pretty good shape. no algae in it(and was clearly put away wet), plius it has the V2 silencer, so im guessing not too old or used. $50 and its a deal. i get it home and put a 25/75 mixture of distilled white vinegar and tap water in a rubbermaid tote in my bathtub and fire 'er up with the gate valve wide open. OK, so the drain plug is missing from the collector cup. no big deal, $3-4. suction hose seems awful noisy. the silencer has cracked and been siliconed together. no biggie, $25 for a new one or im sure i can fab up a solution for a couple bucks. problem is, foam is just building in cup and nothing coming out gate valve unless i disconnect venturi hose and cap it off, so i unplug and let it soak in 8.25" of vinegar/water solution(assembled) while im off at work for 10 hours.
i get home, try again, same results, only this time theres a lot more white crap floating in water, so i let it run for a half hour or so knowing i will be tearing down. this time when i started, the water was still and i could see it spraying out from between the screws between the body and base. full disassembly and cleaning with a terrycloth rag, and it looks brand new. the impeller "fingers" are all mint, the gate valve is functioning properly again, and so i wipe down the armature shaft or whatever it is and start reassembling. i notice theres no gasket or o-ring between the body and base, but theres clearly a channel for it.
am i missing something?
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