Protein skimmer not bubbling

[LizB]

I've had this skimmer for only four months, and it's stopped working properly. I clean it once a week on the dot, and I soaked it vinegar, but it still won't work. It "filters" water, but is not sucking in any air. When I blow in the tube, it works for a short time, then stops producing bubbles. I don't know what to do.

 

[Jd120988]

Maybe plug the airline tubing into an air pump to get some bubbles since you said blowing in it makes it work.

 

[Salty1962]

Something must be plugging up the air line. Try blowing into the intake and see if bubble come out. If they do then your impeller make be bad.

 

[LizB]

Maybe plug the airline tubing into an air pump to get some bubbles since you said blowing in it makes it work.

Thank you, that is a good idea

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Something is either blocking the air intake, or blocking the venturi not letting enough water flow to actually pull the air in. Or, the impeller or pump is bad. I've had a snail get is shell stuck to the inlet and it couldn't pull enough water in.

 

[Mal11224]

I agree with the Venturi blockage. You can look inside the part that connects to the hose and make sure there is no debris in it or something blocking the air from flowing.

 

[EW_Fish]

Does the tube fit snug? If not it could be pulling water and not air.