MTC Skimmer Problem

[Muttley000]

Since Jeff at MTC hasn't been able to get back to me for going on 2 years for a spare part I wanted I am assuming the business is shuttered and looking for help. This is an HSA 1000 run by an Iwaki 55 pump. I have been skimming my 500 gallon skimmer for a few years with this and been very happy. In fact when I add a big plywood tank to the system I planned on another matching skimmer. Last night I noticed the water level a little higher than I like in the neck. I adjusted the gate valve but it didn't react correctly. I opened the valve and the skimmer body drained, but when I started to close the gate valve the water didn't climb the body. I kept closing until water began shooting out of the air intake, at this point the water entering the skimmer base ran clear as no air was entering the Venturi. I opened the valve and got air in the water again but still couldn't get water to climb the body. The water from the pump shoots up the skimmer body a few inches but it does not fill the base enough to have the water level climb like it should. The Venturi looked clean as I had just vinegar soaked it a month or so ago, but I soaked it again to be sure, and I have the same result. Any ideas anyone? There really doesn't appear to be anything to break here so I'm sure I am missing something simple.
TIA
Matt

P.S. If anyone knows the part number and a source of a spare Venturi please tell me!

 

[dwest]

Since Jeff at MTC hasn't been able to get back to me for going on 2 years for a spare part I wanted I am assuming the business is shuttered and looking for help. This is an HSA 1000 run by an Iwaki 55 pump. I have been skimming my 500 gallon skimmer for a few years with this and been very happy. In fact when I add a big plywood tank to the system I planned on another matching skimmer. Last night I noticed the water level a little higher than I like in the neck. I adjusted the gate valve but it didn't react correctly. I opened the valve and the skimmer body drained, but when I started to close the gate valve the water didn't climb the body. I kept closing until water began shooting out of the air intake, at this point the water entering the skimmer base ran clear as no air was entering the Venturi. I opened the valve and got air in the water again but still couldn't get water to climb the body. The water from the pump shoots up the skimmer body a few inches but it does not fill the base enough to have the water level climb like it should. The Venturi looked clean as I had just vinegar soaked it a month or so ago, but I soaked it again to be sure, and I have the same result. Any ideas anyone? There really doesn't appear to be anything to break here so I'm sure I am missing something simple.
TIA
Matt

P.S. If anyone knows the part number and a source of a spare Venturi please tell me!

This is a stretch, but I had part of a snail shell block a venturi once. You said you soaked it in vinegar, but is there a way to remove and check the venturi for a physical blockage?

 

[Muttley000]

This is a stretch, but I had part of a snail shell block a venturi once. You said you soaked it in vinegar, but is there a way to remove and check the venturi for a physical blockage?

Thanks for the reply! I too have seen that, but I am able to remove it and no such luck this time. It's clean as a whistle and all ports are clear

 

[Water Dog]

Simon runs an MTC skimmer and I actually think he just picked one of those HSAs up to play with. Perhaps he can lend some of his wisdom... @ca1ore ?

 

[Muttley000]

Solved it! I took my collection cup lid loose and it started building up the tube. I run into a skimmate locker and at the top of it there is a couple of pieces of foam in there on either side of a space for carbon. The foam was completely bunked up, which made too much back pressure in the body. All cleaned up and rocking out again! Thanks!

 

[ca1ore]

Yes, cleaning the carbon chamber on skimmate containers is good periodic practice. I recently did it on my MTC PowerPro and it made a sizable difference.