HELP ... Protein Skimmer Acting Funny

[specialk]

you can blow air easily into the air tube (no force at all)?

Extremely easily. ... no problems at all. Air bubble flow right into the main chamber when I do it

 

[specialk]

Cleaned the pump .. seems to be fine. Its obviously moving water into the chamber, just not the super fine bubbles anymore

 

[twilliard]

Cleaned the pump .. seems to be fine. Its obviously moving water into the chamber, just not the super fine bubbles anymore

That now is sounding like pump speed.

 

[jenreefer]

Have you added anything to the tank in last 24 hours? additives, hands, supplements?

 

[specialk]

So I took the pump off and took the venturi off as well .. put it in a bucket to make sure it was still moving some water -- it for sure is. So there is nothing wrong with the pump. It clearly has something to do with the venturi I would think because the minute I put the venturi on and put the pump itself back into the bucket of water, I notice that the air bubbles are larger and not like they should be and have been in the skimmer when it was working. (I am hoping this is logical thinking in trying to figure this out)

 

[specialk]

Have you added anything to the tank in last 24 hours? additives, hands, supplements?

Did not do anything differently ... maybe my hands were in the tank very briefly, but that is nothing new. Otherwise nothing else new

 

[specialk]

That now is sounding like pump speed.

I have another pump .. should I try it with another pump.

And although I said in my last post that it was still moving water, I must say that I dont have anything to compare it to in terms of how fast or how much water it WAS moving before as this is the first time I have the pump in water by itself and have felt the flow. So while it MAY seem like it is moving water, it may in fact be slower then it was working before -- I just dont know

 

[jenreefer]

Did not do anything differently ... maybe my hands were in the tank very briefly, but that is nothing new. Otherwise nothing else new

In that case, I would soak skimmer pump in vinegar, clean entire skimmer and work on it at sink to try to determine where the issue is. whole skimmer needs to be cleaned in vinegar in my opinion.

 

[specialk]

In that case, I would soak skimmer pump in vinegar, clean entire skimmer and work on it at sink to try to determine where the issue is. whole skimmer needs to be cleaned in vinegar in my opinion.

Ok, if I go ahead and do this (and I probably should have anyways a long time ago) will my tank be good without a skimmer for 2 days? (I have a 125 gallon with 45 gal sump)

 

[twilliard]

I have another pump .. should I try it with another pump.

And although I said in my last post that it was still moving water, I must say that I dont have anything to compare it to in terms of how fast or how much water it WAS moving before as this is the first time I have the pump in water by itself and have felt the flow. So while it MAY seem like it is moving water, it may in fact be slower then it was working before -- I just dont know

Did the magnet look ok? No swelling or visible signs of rubbing?

 

[twilliard]

Ok, if I go ahead and do this (and I probably should have anyways a long time ago) will my tank be good without a skimmer for 2 days? (I have a 125 gallon with 45 gal sump)

This is a tough call depending on how much the skimmer was providing for O2 exchange.

 

[specialk]

This is what I'm looking at

 

[twilliard]

Ya that is not acting right

 

[specialk]

This may be a dumb question ....but where the male piece for the pump goes into the female pice on the body of the skimmer ...if this is not ULTRA TIGHT will this effect anything? (Right now it slides in and out without having to put a ton of muscle into it)

 

[specialk]

Ya that is not acting right

Yah and Im at a loss ....cant seem to crack this

 

[twilliard]

This may be a dumb question ....but where the male piece for the pump goes into the female pice on the body of the skimmer ...if this is not ULTRA TIGHT will this effect anything? (Right now it slides in and out without having to put a ton of muscle into it)

No that will not affect much. Pump speed is still what I am thinking.

 

[kashman100]

Have you checked salinty. Low salinty can cause less bubbles

 

[twilliard]

Also might want to check that the magnet spins freely on the shaft

 

[jenreefer]

You should be able to complete cleaning in a couple hours. Place an air stone in the tank to help with O2 during this time if you are worried about it. I would not leave it out for two days though.

 

[specialk]

Have you checked salinty. Low salinty can cause less bubbles

Salinity is solid and good