Protein skimmer issues...

18 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to saltwater / reef tanks.


jweb
 
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:45 am

Protein skimmer issues...

by jweb

I have a coralife protein skimmer, the smallest one I believe. It is operating in the sump. For some reason I cannot figure out what the problem is. There are no tiny microbubbles. It is like the powerhead just isn't pushing enough or something. In the main chamber there are medium sized bubbles coming out of the tube in the chamber and it really isn't doing anything more than bubbling. The pump is sideways (so the tube is straight vertical) and I am not sure if this is what is causing it. The picture of the protein skimmer shows the pump like this so I assume it can be set up this way. Please help...


newbie916
 
Posts: 375
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:12 pm

by newbie916

Are there any Open and Close valve adjustments?


gonzaimaki7563
 
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:25 pm

by gonzaimaki7563

check if it has an air inlet hose, my skimmer has one, and i forgot to put in in the first time, it cannot suck air in the system so it cant create enough bubbles.


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

Dude mine did the same thing......and I was mad at myself. Make sure the valve is open. I dont have it anymore.....but...I just installed one at the lfs with the owner and I did it again. Its easy to do. Make sure that valve is open or nothing happens.


jweb
 
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:45 am

by jweb

All the valves are open that i know of. I have checked everything and disassembled and reassembled probably 4 times. I still cannot fix the issue.... Any ideas?


saltwaterpimp
 
Posts: 1307
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:22 am

by saltwaterpimp

You might have to force it to start, blow down the air inlet see if that helps.


jweb
 
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:45 am

by jweb

When I do that the air bubbles just come out of the intake...


saltwaterpimp
 
Posts: 1307
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:22 am

by saltwaterpimp

while the pump is on ?


gdeeber
 
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 12:27 pm

by gdeeber

jweb:

If you look at my recent post, you will notice I have a coralife skimmer (super Skimmer 65) and I had a similar problem. What I did was pull the pump apart and cleaned every removable piece then I cleaned the air intake tube which had some dried salt in it. This was preventing air from entering the pin wheel pump and creating micro bubbles in the skimmer. Make sure the adjustment valve just above the pump is straight up and down (meaning fully open) than the red knob on the skimmer should be at the lowest indicator mark and then gradually open it until the bubbles move half way up the collection cup cone.


jweb
 
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:45 am

by jweb

Okay I took a pic of it running and posted it. I took it all apart again and checked everything. It is all clean. I have no idea what it is i have started and restarted it a billion times, repositioned the pump to every which way, done everything i can come up with.

Here:
http://www.gomezcoral.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=178

Please help!

Protein skimmer issues...

18 posts • Page 1 of 2

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