Skimmer on the fritz

Yesterday after I finished a routine filter media change (Filter sock, Poly-Filter) and turned my pump back on my skimmer no longer was skimming. It still produced micro bubbles but not nearly as many and the water levels had not changed. The skimmer never actually moved I did empty the collection cup but thats it. So I unplugged it emptied it and cleaned out the intake filter for the skimmers pump. It had so gunk in there but not alot. I turned it back on, still nothing. I played around with the height in the tank, still nothing. So finally I just hooked a spare air pump up to the intake air line that feeds the pump intake, this helped some. Im surrently barely skimming for now. So what else could I try? Do these things have a short life span?

 

sounds like u may have something in your venturi if hooking another air pump to it helped. kinda hard to say, and i may be wrong , but its still an avenue to explore

 

How would I solve a prob with the venturi

 

If u connect an airline to the inlet or outlet of ur skimmer pump, take a toothpick and make sure that hole is fully clear. I have seen salt creep into my old one and clog it causing the skimmer not to function just like u have described.

 

Ok Ill try that

 

Oh. Just saw ur siggy. It is the venturi on ur pump. I had the exact skimmer just a smaller version.

 

Not sure, is that inside the pump if so how do I open the pump without braeking it

 

Take pump off the skimmer and you should see the little nipple the hose attaches to. Clean that out with the toothpick. U don't need to dissamble it. Soak it in fresh water for a few mins will soften it up. Those pumps are easy maintenance. U will be fine. I had to clean mine out every few months. The sw sorta splatters in it and causes salt creep. Easy fix

 

awesome

 

Did this help? Shoulda been a 10 min fix.