I am using the Deltec APF600 and had been getting some vibration in the pump. I took the Aquabee pump apart removed the needle wheel and noticed the rubber grommet on the end of the ceramic shaft had worn a hole on one side. On further inspection I noticed rust in the chamber. Seems the impeller started to operate/spin "off center" and has worn away one side of the chamber through the plastic coating and exposed the metal casing. End result skimmer not working and pump now kaput. Any other Deltec owners/users experience this. I love this skimmer when it works but boy my experience is the pumps suck.
Deltec skimmer users
- Thread starter fishywoo
- Start date
- Location
- Marine Park
It's also been my experience that the 2001 aquabee sucks. I think there has been a bad batch of them as there were no complaints about this pump for a decade and then all of a sudden a bunch of complaints. Doug at deltec said the average life span for one of their aquabees is about 15 years.
I'd call Doug up and explain the situation to him. I've had to deal with him a few times and deltec service is a notch above icecap believe it or not.
1-877-DELTEC1
(1-877-335-8321)
I'd call Doug up and explain the situation to him. I've had to deal with him a few times and deltec service is a notch above icecap believe it or not.
1-877-DELTEC1
(1-877-335-8321)
- Location
- Marine Park
(Hijack)
Fritz thanks for the info. I do have a call into Doug and I have dealt with him before as you said with good service. I also wanted to use this as a warning to Deltec users. Rust is not good for reef tanks as you know. So as an added check when you clean your Deltec look at the chamber walls the needle wheel seats in. It should be all black (plastic) if you see any signs of silver the plastic coating has worn away. Warning signs that the needle wheel is starting to run off center can be vibration noise and the wearing on one side of the rubber grommit
- Location
- BROOKLYN NY 11214
I did notice the plastic coating lost the black color abit but didn't see any rust when I clean the pump few months ago. I'll see what happen this weekend Thanks for the heads up...
Okay chatted to Doug. Here is the what causes the problem. The impeller should run independently of the shaft. If they run as a unit it will result in the problem I explained above. Calcium buildup on that ceramic shaft causes the needle wheel to stop running independently. So as part of the Maintainence you should clean the Ceramic shaft to remove any kind of deposit.
- Location
- BROOKLYN NY 11214
Is Doug going to replace ur pump? if u don't mind I ask.
- Location
- Marine Park
Moidol you should call up and ask Doug for the red gromets. They've been using them for awhile now and they are much larger (and last longer? I believe). Who knows you might get them free or it might be a $20 plane ticket from Germany. 
- Location
- BROOKLYN NY 11214
Thanks Fred.
- Location
- Marine Park
As I understood it muriatic and sulphuric were pretty close. Muriatic is some scary stuff, I use vinegar or EZ Clean.
yeah muriatic is pretty scary lol but nothing works like it...I just tried it out for the first time recently during the upgrade. Put all pumps, skimmer, everything in a tub w/ water. Added a dash of muriatic and when i woke up everything was brand new looking! The stuff literally smokes when you take the cap off though. Raw cleansing power lol
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
