[Joel]

I have a Sealife Systems NV-150 venturi skimmer with a Cap 2200 pump (1 year old). The pump seldom restarts without coaxing (taking out of water and banging on it) I have disassembled and cleaned it several times but nothing seems to help. Can I put a Mag 7 on it and be ok or would that be too much pump. Or should I just replace it with another Cap 2200? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Doug1]

Joel, I am not sure about the flow rates of the Cap pumps, I thought they were better than that. Have you contacted the mfgr/supplier, sometimes if you emmail and complain(nicely) and mention you are a member of a reef board it wakes em up, If not you need to find a Mag (or sub) thats close and try it
I would ask the skimmer manufacturer

 

[Joel]

Thanks Doug. I just e-mailed Sealife Systems asking if there was a Danner replacement pump that would work as well or better. We'll see what the response is.

 

[Joel]

I got a reply from Sealife Systems and they said that a Danner Mag drive pump is not compatible with the skimmer. They said I could use a RIO 2500 if I want, or stay with the Cap 2200. Any thoughts on this, buy a new Cap or RIO?

 

[Doug1]

whats the flow rate on the Cap2200 or the Rio 2500, theres gotta be a better choice. Its about matching flow rates, I can't imagine whats so "special" about the skimmer that a Mag won't work

 

[thefatman]

the cap2200 is SUPPOSED to be 684 at 0' head and 495 at 4' head..

i use a 2200 for my return pump, and have never had any problems with it, but it is a bit "hummy"

http://www.aquaclearaquatics.com/cap_pumps_pwr_heads.htm

 

[Joel]

UPDATE: While I was away on a work trip for 2 weeks my wife called me, told me there was all the corals were closed, the skimmer wasn't working, there was a lot of "black stuff" floating on the water surface in the sump and the temp was 86 degrees. I immediately had her unplug the skimmer pump and remove the skimmer. She said it smelled awful like it was in a fire. I had her pick up a new cap 2200 the next day ($70 at a lfs), she installed it scouped the "black stuff" off the water with a net and now all is well. That was at the beginning of last week, I got home last night and the tank has never looked better and the new 2200 on the skimmer develops a lot more skimmate. Maybe I just got a bad pump I guess time will tell.