Smoke coming out of my skimmer!!!

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#1
What a week for equipment. Tonight I smell burning and look over to see smoke coming out of my skimmer. Nothing was caught in the propeller, I had cleaned the pump a few weeks ago...I have no idea what happened.

My mp10, radion and now my IM skimmer. It’s going to be an expensive week!

I caught it right away and everything looks ok but should I be checking the water for something?
 
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#2
Look for any sign of cracking in the power cord or body on the pump. Also take the back plate of the power head and see if the epoxy cracked
 
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#4
The Innovative Marine Desktop Skimmer. There’s not really anything to take pics of. It looks normal but I could try to upload something if you’re looking for something in particular
 

bvysochin

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#8
Power supplies and now a skimmer? You might want to check the incoming voltage to your place. When I was installing our AC system, I discovered we were over-voltage'd. An SCE guy came out promptly and said the substation needed to be adjusted and thanked me for the heads up. Especially with all the power usage lately with the heat, I wouldn't be surprised.
 

DETANE

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#10
High voltage from ur power supplier can cause this. Had the same issue until LADWP came to check and found out the voltage from their grid was too high. It’s supposed to be between 112-118 but mine was incoming at 128-134
 
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Update and need help:

Obviously took skimmer out of tank, did a water change last night just in case.

Today, almost everything looks bad. Zoas, GSP, Anenome, torches, zoas...everything is closed up. I checked the things I thought could make things go bad overnight and all the parameters are within range. Alkalinity was a little low (7.3 compared to 7.7 last week). I’ve been monitoring to adjust dosage. Got a new thermometer to make sure temp was ok. It was a bit cold actually but I’ve brought it back up to temp.

I also put carbon into the reactor.

Fish, snails and shrimp all seem okay.

Could the skimmer have released something toxic into the tank? Should I do a really large water change?
 
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#12
Did you check the motor block of the skimmer for any signs of damage. Let’s say the motor block is ok then I would not do a large water change cause you could cause a large swing in parameters. But let say the motor block was cracked and the magnetic drive has been exposed to saltwater and started rusting. Then yes you want to do a large water change.

Can the pump come out of the skimmer body frame? If so in the opposite side of the impeller head there should be a plate that comes off. This is where you want to look for signs of damage in the epoxy. Like this

Or even inside the impeller hole for any hairline cracking or rust.
 
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#13
Thanks. There was no rust and no damage I could find. Other than the burnt smell and residue from the smoke on the inside of the skimmer body. I’ll wait on the water change until the lights come on and see how things look this morning.
 

five.five-six

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#14
Update and need help:

Obviously took skimmer out of tank, did a water change last night just in case.

Today, almost everything looks bad. Zoas, GSP, Anenome, torches, zoas...everything is closed up. I checked the things I thought could make things go bad overnight and all the parameters are within range. Alkalinity was a little low (7.3 compared to 7.7 last week). I’ve been monitoring to adjust dosage. Got a new thermometer to make sure temp was ok. It was a bit cold actually but I’ve brought it back up to temp.

I also put carbon into the reactor.

Fish, snails and shrimp all seem okay.

Could the skimmer have released something toxic into the tank? Should I do a really large water change?

Moist things that Zoa’s are sensitive to, shrimp and snails will be sensitive to as well. I’d let the carbon do it’s job and do a regular water change. Massive water changes are damaging on their own and should only be used when absolutely necessary IMO.
 

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