Bullet 1 issues

So I'm hooking up my Bullet 1 tonight and I'm running into some issues.

I'm using a Mag 12 for the pump. Well, first issue with that is I couldn't find a fitting that's threaded to fit the pump with a hose barb the same size as what's on the bullet injector. I cobbled together a fitting by going to Home Depot and getting a thread fitting and sizing up to the proper hose barb. Worked nicely.

Now, fitting it into the sump is interesting. I'm limited to a 20 gallon tall due to space issues. When I connect the pump to the skimmer, the vinyl tubing is rather tight and seems to make the skimmer want to tip over. This applies pressure to the bullet injector and it leaks a tiny bit around the elbow (hose barb) fitting. The fitting is as tight as an be and I can't move it at all. But it seems to dribble around the elbow a bit. OK, I can get over that if it's not going to affect the skimmer, but it might be Suggestions ... ?

Now, when I fire up the pump, I turn off the air valve. I adjust the water to 1" inside the riser. I turn the air on. It doesn't seem to do very much, however, you can hear it sucking air (dang, it's loud, even with the muffler). The air line and speed fittings are connected properly, and all the plumbing on the skimmer is new. The water is bubbly and frothy inside the skimmer no matter if the air is on or not. Turning air on and off has absolutely no visible effects.

Am I missing something very academic or doing something wrong?

 

You know I don't know from experience, but that top of the injector is the new screw type. The elbow in the top of the injector lid. Is there some sort of o-ring or some seal that looks like it is missing. If water is leakingout, air can't get in, but is the air being sucked in throught the top of the injector lid?

 

So its an easy fix but what are you fixing? the skimmer is an easy one for the bullet one. I first off recomend the gate valve rather then the adjustible pipe. Yes the muffler is loud. So its an easy fix and not two skimmers are the same I personally find my skimmer at the 1 in that pm recomends is way to low. I set mine at about 4 inches and then adjust the air to match. There is no science in this sport so its trial and error. I am a pm dealer and still try to find that balance. Still in my oppenion the best skimmer but always wondering if im doing it right. Let us know how your making out with it.

 

I think it's a slip - at least the one they sent me as a spare was in the plumbing kit. I tried to replace the barb, and it will not come off. The entire bullet injector assembly requires a half twist and the entire piece comes off. I'm thinking the same thing, the air valve isn't working because it's sucking air around the seam of the elbow.

 

I think it will be an easy fix - how do you replace the elbow (hose barb) piece that feeds into the bullet injector. I can't get the one that's in there off to replace (water leaking around it, probably sucking air through there vs. the air valve), the one PM sent me is slip, is it glued in??

Also I'm using a ball valve I had temporarily - I have a gate valve on the way, but the ball is adjusting the water level nicely. I can raise or lower easily. It's just the air valve is doing nothing. Water constantly has bubbles in there, and is very frothy, with or without adjusting the air.

 

What seals the half twist body to lid interface?

 

It seems to leak around the top of the elbow / hose barb base.



All seals seem intact.

 

I could be wrong.... The black o-ring looks like it seals water. The outter, light grey ring... is that an o-ring, or does it look like one goes there?

I understand, you have a water leak, but since you can't stop the air, you have an air leak. What is sealing off out side air, from the body and air valve doing it's job?

 

There's nothing there. You know, I think that may be the problem. Good eye dude! When you give it a half twist it's still kind of loose after it is turned. So that may be the air leak there. Not sure if it's supposed to have an O ring there or not. Anyone with a bullet know if there's supposed to be a second o-ring on that piece?

 

yeah.. seems like it would have to have a rubber washer there in the half twist. I have a bullet 2 so mine doesn't have that style.