Reef Octopus skimmer problem

could you take a pic of the pump....also is the pump venturi style, you may not have the venturi piece all the way in..if it has one..not real sure, but your not getting air..

 

I'm not sure what you mean by venturi style. pic coming up shortly

 

are these pictures good enough?

 

Muskrat

the procedure I used after clearing the pipework was

fill the skimmer up with water
clamp the air line - I just folded it over and held it tight
plugged in unit- this then pumps just water around the skimmer
then once the water is seen to increase in level and start cascading over the return tube back into the tank, release the grip you have on the air line

Steve

 

Muskrat

was the fish causing the obstruction?
did you remove a full fish ? as the impeller may have chopped it and any remaining parts could return and block the unit again

the procedure I used after clearing the pipework was

fill the skimmer up with water
clamp the air line - I just folded it over and held it tight
plugged in unit- this then pumps just water around the skimmer
then once the water is seen to increase in level and start cascading over the return tube back into the tank, release the grip you have on the air line

Steve

 

the fish made it to the second turn just before the pump but not in it. I can't take the motor apart but all looks clear.
I did try you strategy but it did not work, although I didn't fill the skimmer completely. Should I do that or just the 8 inches in the piss poor manual that comes with?
Thanks.

 

I would fill the skimmer to the point it starts overflowing
clamp the air line
plug in the pump
water level should increase
when it does release the airline

if it does not, I would remove the pipework again and double check for other obstructions in there

Steve

 

Will do in the morning. Using my other skimmer in the meantime.
I did blow out the lines with my air hose

 

Houston we have lift off! It works now. Thank you all for your input. Now to set this thing again - UGH.