Skimmer problem... again.

Where is that "chamber" getting its water from?



Luna

 

Does that answer? It comes from the bottom which is coming from the middle chamber.

 

No, Im sorry I didnt ask the right ?. What is feeding that skimmer(assuming that is a skimmer)?

Now that I saw the skimmer, try installing a sponge that has is denser(smaller holes) and that is a tighter fit.



luna

 

I guess I don't really understand your question then... it's HOB so it gets the water straight out of the DT.

That last chamber is getting so many bubbles the middle chamber is not, so it is not foaming and therefore not doing anything at all but circulating water and making it bubbly. There is no skimming going on.


That chamber really shouldn't be getting many bubbles at all. There was a time it worked... I'm probably going to order an AquaCRemora this week. This thread is my last ditch effort to save this skimmer.

 

Those bubbles don't look very dense at all. I could see some getting into the last chamber, but if those are all that's getting produced - seems like either it's not getting enough air or there is something seriously wrong with the pump. Seems like a simple design where not much can go wrong. I'm betting air restriction / pump issue.

Edit - I see you replaced the pump - was it with a brand new pump, or used? If used, was it known good?

 

Does the pump that feeds the skimmer have an air intake tube?


luna

 

Looks like it's the grey tube to the right - pulls water from the surface skim cup into the skimmer and the white valve at the top looks like an air valve?

It just really looks like an air restriction somehow to me - my skimmer pulls so much air that the clear acrylic looks like white PVC.

 

not to sound rude, if the bubbles don't look dense, then you're just not seeing it. It's an iPod nano video camera... so the quality isn't exactly HD


But the point is that a high enough percentage of them are on this side so they don't accumulate and foam in the middle.

the replacement pump was a new one from the reef octopus folks.

the white valve's purpose is related to gaining siphon. once siphon is gained, this valve is closed 100%. if you look closely to the right edge, you can see airline tubing running out.

I have replaced this tubing several times recently to no avail. The pump was soaked in a vinegar water solution a week ago (and 3 weeks before that or so).

I feel there are enough bubbles they are just not concentrating in one chamber anymore. This sort of behavior is why I replaced the pump, so it was doing this with the last one too. But for the first 8 or 9 months of having this skimmer it worked really well. Very little bubbles at all (comparatively) made it to the return chamber and thus into the DT.

Previously, a good sponge or something on the return would clear up these bubbles, but now, they just pour right through them (I have a second sponge that I tried on the outlet in the DT).

I'm going to take it apart again tomorrow... but unless I get any good ideas or somehow get it going again, I'll order a different skimmer tomorrow night.

 

When I used to have a venturi style skimmer the pump had a part that the air intake tube was attached to. I had to scrape of the crystalized salt from it so it could work properly. The same thing happened to the air intake tube. Thats why I was asking if your skimmer's pump had a air intake tube. Your problem is something that a regular maint. would take care off. The trick is that you have to find it.


luna

 

I do agree with this. I know the part you speak of. I have soaked this thing and cleaned it 3 times in the past 3 months... I'm thinking I really shouldn't have to do this more than once every 3-4 months... not monthly and it still not work... I mean, a new pump (including air intake attachment) didn't resolve it, I don't see how it's a maintenance thing ya know?