Bubble magus not skimming

[scotty333]

Guys,
I noticed the foam was only half way up the neck with the valve fully open so set about cleaning it
When I put it back together it was not spinning the needle wheel , after a bit of probing around I got it spinning again ( snapped the rod though)
Right now it’s skimming half way up the neck and may bed in again but failing that I can drop it 6” as it’s sat on a frame
Is it that the motors give up , time for a change perhaps? You can get the motor for like 30e of aliexxpress

 

[ScottJ]

Maybe more information would be helpful? Model of skimmer? Did it used to skim well? What rod did you break? Tank info, white light pictures.

 

[scotty333]

It’s an A9 , always skimmed well
Emptied it twice a week
I broke the rod that houses the. Magnet

 

[scotty333]

380 ltr tank

 

[scotty333]

Pic

 

[reeftivo]

Guys,
I noticed the foam was only half way up the neck with the valve fully open so set about cleaning it
When I put it back together it was not spinning the needle wheel , after a bit of probing around I got it spinning again ( snapped the rod though)
Right now it’s skimming half way up the neck and may bed in again but failing that I can drop it 6” as it’s sat on a frame
Is it that the motors give up , time for a change perhaps? You can get the motor for like 30e of aliexxpress

Is it a curve 5?

Just get a new SP pump. the Rock SP pumps are hit or miss when it comes to reliability and longevity but they are inexpensive to replace. good overall design though and they skim well.

 

[reeftivo]

another thing you may want to consider is to keep the air intake nipple on the venturi clear of salt build up and calcification. those air intake nipples on the BM are pretty small for the amount of air that skimmer produces and can clog up quick.

best way is to periodically pull the air line off and use a tiny pipe cleaner to ream it out. I use both a pipe cleaner and a bamboo chopstick on mine if there is heavy calcified build up. if that clogs too much it will completely choke off the air and can cause water in the skimmer to rise and dump skimmate back into the system.

 

[scotty333]

This do the job?

 

[scotty333]

another thing you may want to consider is to keep the air intake nipple on the venturi clear of salt build up and calcification. those air intake nipples on the BM are pretty small for the amount of air that skimmer produces and can clog up quick.

best way is to periodically pull the air line off and use a tiny pipe cleaner to ream it out. I use both a pipe cleaner and a bamboo chopstick on mine if there is heavy calcified build up. if that clogs too much it will completely choke off the air and can cause water in the skimmer to rise and dump skimmate back into the system.

It had a full service a week ago

 

[reeftivo]

This do the job?

yes ;)

 

[scotty333]

Dc2000 on route , might be a week to deliver
Water changes or it’ll be ok?

 

[Reef.]

Dc2000 on route , might be a week to deliver
Water changes or it’ll be ok?

Check your nutrients, if they start going up maybe worth doing a water change.

 

[scotty333]

That’s the problem because I’m running vodka and LC in the skimmer so it won’t be effective

 

[reeftivo]

That’s the problem because I’m running vodka and LC in the skimmer so it won’t be effective

i would hold off or cut back on carbon dosing until the skimmer is back up. if you still dose and the skimmer has been offline for a while the bacterial biomass from dosing may build up a bit too much and create a bacterial bloom. Happened to me when water clouded up and there was slime coating all over. I stopped carbon dosing a few years ago after getting my paxbellum chaeto rx and my bigger Akula skimmer. now i have to dose to keep nutrients up.

 

[scotty333]

i would hold off or cut back on carbon dosing until the skimmer is back up. if you still dose and the skimmer has been offline for a while the bacterial biomass from dosing may build up a bit too much and create a bacterial bloom. Happened to me when water clouded up and there was slime coating all over. I stopped carbon dosing a few years ago after getting my paxbellum chaeto rx and my bigger Akula skimmer. now i have to dose to keep nutrients up.

Gonna see if my lfs has a spare until my pump arrives but good advice cheers

 

[scotty333]

150 ltr water ready if needed but levels are .01 po4 and 8.4 no3 unusually
Last check Monday was .04 and 8

So far no need to wc

 

[scotty333]

Very strange how the lack of skimmer is not affecting nutrient levels
In fact they’re going down , now .02 and 6.7
I guess the LC is in the filter wool instead of being skimmed but without the vodka being removed I’d of expected a rise or a bacterial bloom but nothing

 

[scotty333]

Skimmer back online , no doubt a full cup in the morning!

Funny how nutrients weren’t affected