Sicce psk 2500 needle wheel

[BCT182]

Alright, I am done with mesh modding. I have the MSX250 with two sicce pumps. I have seen the regular pinwheel, and then I've seen some fancy ones promising more LPH. Anyone recommend which pinwheel I should use?

 

[ac7av]

I think you should use the pinwheel impeller not the mesh mod impeller. I have herd from more then one place including the place I purchased mine from that the mesh mod impeller causes a much higher startup failure and much shorter pump life. I just use the pinwheel in mine and it seem to work more that adequately.

 

[BCT182]

I don't have any needle wheels right now. I saw fancy ones and was wondering if I should order one instead?


http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6297

or

http://www.reefspecialty.com/p407/ATB-Sicce-Pinwheel/product_info.html

 

[returnofsid]

I don't know about your particular skimmer, but I have the MiniS Cone, with the Sicce pump. I was told that it actually runs better with the regular Pinwheel than with a Meshmod. This came from Luke.

 

[ac7av]

Herd that form Luke too.
I only know of one pinwheel impeller.
The other one they talk about is the mesh mod impeller.
If there is another one I have not herd anyone talking about it.

 

[roscoe]

Check out these pin wheel made by Warner Marine. They made one simular for the Sedra 9000 that I had for the WM S200. It produced some tiny bubbles.


http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6297

 

[ac7av]

I guess I should pull mine out and look at it. It looks the same from memory as the one with the red impeller in the ad.

Since it’s a pinwheel and you don’t have one at all I say give it a try. Let us know how it does. Those numbers are much like the numbers clamed with the mesh mod impellers.

 

[Skimmy]

WM red demon pinwheel is best, by a hair...
and the SWC and ATB purple pinwheels are about the same.
SWC has a new reducer too, that increases the performance as well(it's the one marinesolutions sells)

 

[BCT182]

Hey Mark, should I pick up one of the collection cups with the 4" longer neck?

I was thinking about doing that at the same time as new wheels.

 

[Skimmy]

dont bother if your switching to pinwheels...
the extra neck would be more for if you slapped an askoll on the 250.

 

[mfinn]

dont bother if your switching to pinwheels...
the extra neck would be more for if you slapped an askoll on the 250.

You could replace the sicce pumps on a body like this with a single askoll?

How about a BM 250 body?

 

[BCT182]

Could I get the askoll pump on my 250 or would it be worth the effort?

 

[fatboyt123]

The askoll are way better pumps. Dont have the start up issues you get with these crappy sicce pumps. I would say get the pump as that one will replace your 2 pumps.

So yes it would be way worth it in MHO. Quieter to.

I belive they just fit right on to no modding needed.

 

[Skimmy]

luke33 even put one on an extreme 200 w/ the extended neck, so you might not even need the extended neck on an extreme 250

 

[BCT182]

So is the askol a direct replacement?

 

[Skimmy]

there's 2 ways you can go....just use an existing hole for one of the sicce pumps and then cover the other one (there are caps),

or drill a new, larger hole in the skimmer body and bubble plate to accomodate the larger askoll pump.

I think if you use the existing sicce hole, you are limited to getting like -65-75 scfh, as opposed to the 90scfh that pump getsz unrestricted....
but either way you slice it, yes, it's a huge improvement over the sicce pumps, no start up issues, less noise, more power.

 

[lizardarm]

If you use the existing Sicce holes, do you have to raise the level of the skimmer body though? On my cone, the holes were about 3/4" to low to line up perfectly with the output of the LA pump; I built a ring out of PVC for the skimmer to sit on to make the adjustment.
The LA pump is hands down better than the SIcces. As far as I could tell, even with the restriction from not making a bigger hole, it was still outperforming two Sicces. Quieter too.

 

[roscoe]

Well my old CNC 300A I got from Luke did just fine with the askoll pump which is the same body is the SWC 200 or 250 I can't remember.. You seen it in action Bret.