Reef octopus 3000 INT keeps turning on and off

[1mbrews8]

OK, so time for my yearly refresh lol! My skimmers been messed up for a while so rather than hopefully buy a new one, I was going to try to figure out what is wrong with it

It’s a Reef octopus 3000 INT in my basement sump. Prob 5-6 years old. Red Dragon pump I believe.

I had it connected to my Apex and noticed it would just keep randomly turning on and off. Anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute kind of constantly. So to make sure it was nothing to do with the Apex, I unplugged it from that eb832 outlet and plugged it into a regular wall outlet and it does the same thing.

Water comes out of the exit of the protein skimmer while it is on, which means the pump is working. No bubbles to speak of though the entire time.

The last time I took off the pinwheel, it looked overall fine with only maybe one or two broken off pegs

I’ve done it with different water levels and that doesn’t seem to change anything to do with bubbles

Ideas?

 

[ecoreefguy]

If no bubbles are form, probably a broken Venturi. If it’s a red dragon, something is stuck. Probably snail or coralline build up and it’s shutting off for safety. Clean the pump. But I don’t think it’s a red dragon. Probably a bubble blaster. But same issues apply

 

[1mbrews8]

If no bubbles are form, probably a broken Venturi. If it’s a red dragon, something is stuck. Probably snail or coralline build up and it’s shutting off for safety. Clean the pump. But I don’t think it’s a red dragon. Probably a bubble blaster. But same issues apply

bubble blaster is it! Couldn't remember that name, so red dragon popped into my head lol!

So if it's a safety thing, would it keep restarting every 30 sec to a min or just shut off completely til fixed? Pinwheel spins freely and I don't see any snail/etc... maybe I do a vinegar soak just in case?

 

[ecoreefguy]

bubble blaster is it! Couldn't remember that name, so red dragon popped into my head lol!

So if it's a safety thing, would it keep restarting every 30 sec to a min or just shut off completely til fixed? Pinwheel spins freely and I don't see any snail/etc... maybe I do a vinegar soak just in case?

Yes. It’ll a current thing. It’ll restart after x amount of time. If it’s stuck and pulling more than safe amounts of power it’ll shut off again. Soak it in. Citric acid for a few house and wash it. Assuming it’s just that it’ll work fine. If it’s a faulty unit you might need a replacement.

 

[1mbrews8]

thanks! I'll give it a go

 

[1mbrews8]

Soaking it currently. Double checked and can’t really see at first glance any pin wheel needles that have broken off, little bit dirty, but nothing crazy.

I also tested it in the little soaking container and does the same thing as in the sump, which is runs good for like 30 seconds, then shuts off. Pin will still spins freely, so maybe just a bad pump is about only thing I can figure out?

 

[1mbrews8]

Just updating for my records. Talking with Reef octopus, but took it apart and looks fine to me so guessing it’s probably just something to do with the actual pump itself.

 

[hiimsean]

have you fired it up after cleaning? Just curious if it’s still acting up. Did you clean the Venturi and air line? If you got water in there it should have a salt buildup

 

[1mbrews8]

have you fired it up after cleaning? Just curious if it’s still acting up. Did you clean the Venturi and air line? If you got water in there it should have a salt buildup

Yessir! It still does the 30 sec on, then 1 min off... repeating for a bit..

took the air line off and can blow through hose as well as intake on pump "venturi part".. plus don't think that would cause pump to shut off if issue with that (but would impact bubbles of course?)