Skimmer acting weird
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: General Help
Forum Description: The place to ask about pest, problems, hitchhikers, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60804
Printed Date: August 25 2025 at 11:21am
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Topic: Skimmer acting weird
Posted By: Moosetang
Subject: Skimmer acting weird
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 9:22pm
| I have a Percision Marine 150 skimmer and just today I've noticed, there are no bubbles in the chamber like usual. It's almost clear. I haven't changed or done anything to anything. I've tried restarting it and it still the same. Did my skimmer just crap out? |
Replies:
Posted By: jeromy
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 9:31pm
| Check the air inlet hose they clog up from time to time. |
Posted By: Elite-Aquatics
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 9:59pm
|
Check the venturi as well, a soak in vinegar will help clean it up. ------------- Premium aquarium filtration! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 10:11pm
| Well I cleared the air tube (I think) seems better but not optimum. I'll have to pull it apart tomorrow when I have more time. |
Posted By: Elite-Aquatics
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 10:23pm
|
Usually the airline doesn't get clogged, its usually the venturi. The venturi is the nozzle on the front of the pump. There should be a large hole in the front (were it sucks water) and a small nipple where the airline attaches to. This is where it mixes air and water and usually where it builds up salt creep. When it does this its starts to act exactly as you described. The salt creep slowly builds and closes up the airline nipple and makes it so it can't suck in as much air as usual. ------------- Premium aquarium filtration! |
Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 10:36pm
+1 i usually clean mine every month or two ------------- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60612&title=kody72-fishroom" rel="nofollow - KODY72 FISHROOM BUILD 281g DT 187g Rimless Frag ATI PM lighting SRO DSCR-300ext 8013908179 |
Elite-Aquatics wrote:Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 8:03am
The whole skimmer or just the venturi?
|
Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 8:50am
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Clean the whole thing while you have it out. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: 96slowbra
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 9:29am
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I dose quite a bit so I have been cleaning my skimmer about 3 times a year. Keeps my skimmer running like new. Usually run the pump in 2:1 vinegar to water for over 24 hours then take it apart and scrub all the parts with a tooth brush. ------------- 105 rimless |
Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 9:43am
The venturi and the skimmer every 3 to 4 months ------------- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60612&title=kody72-fishroom" rel="nofollow - KODY72 FISHROOM BUILD 281g DT 187g Rimless Frag ATI PM lighting SRO DSCR-300ext 8013908179 |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 9:56am
| That's exactly it. It's just not mixing air and water. I'll give the old vinegar/water cleaning. Thank you so so much! |
Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 10:21am
Phew. I just did the 3-4 month whole skimmer cleaning, and was a bit terrified of thinking of doing that every month...
|
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 14 2012 at 9:15pm
| Ok made a few minor adjustments and skimmer is doing so much better. Any tips on fine tuning the darn thing? |
Posted By: Elite-Aquatics
Date Posted: December 14 2012 at 10:28pm
|
There isn't much tuning to the Red Line series skimmers. What are you having problems with? Is the skimmer in a chamber where it isn't bothered by water height fluctuation due to evaporation? Is the skimate dark or light colored? ------------- Premium aquarium filtration! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 14 2012 at 11:56pm
| The problems are in the previous posting with air mixture. Skimmate is white in color and it is in its own chamber. |
Posted By: Dionysus
Date Posted: December 15 2012 at 12:05am
|
How big of tank are you running it on?
------------- AquaMedic 250 Watt XM 20k 2 420s Vhos 29 DT SPS Dominant 20 G Long Frag http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56607&title=dionysus-tank-build" rel="nofollow - My Tank Progress =) |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 15 2012 at 12:28am
| 120g |
Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: December 15 2012 at 1:04am
|
Is the collection cup filling up fast? ------------- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60612&title=kody72-fishroom" rel="nofollow - KODY72 FISHROOM BUILD 281g DT 187g Rimless Frag ATI PM lighting SRO DSCR-300ext 8013908179 |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 15 2012 at 6:50am
| Not fast at all. But bubbles are coming up petty steadily. |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 17 2012 at 7:59am
|
Update. Now that my skimmer in is proper water depth, it has been running better than ever! I've also noticed that my coral is starting to look better. Coming out a lot more than it had! I assume this is normal? :) Thanks for your help all!! |
Posted By: Elite-Aquatics
Date Posted: December 17 2012 at 8:11am
|
Water depth is VERY important on a lot of skimmers. Glad its working better for ya. ------------- Premium aquarium filtration! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 17 2012 at 6:31pm
| Elite, can you give me a better understanding what makes a skimmer important? What it helps? What it does? Like I said, just curious on what it's actually doing doing the system. Thanks!! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 18 2012 at 8:08pm
| ^ |