BakPak Skimmer Weak

[bromion]

Anyone use the CPR BakPak? Mine never produced much skimmate with the Rio, so I changed to the MaxiJet 1200. Still no skimmate! There are tons of bubbles in the column, moving very quickly. The powerhead intake is about 2-inches below the water level in my sump.

Any suggestions to get this thing going?

 

[818]

You may need to place the skimmer cup a little higher. If it came with an O-ring put it around the cup and adust it so you can produce some better skimmate.

These are good skimmers as I had one. Only thing that doesnt make them efficient is when the user doesnt know how to use them.

I was using a Jebo pump, so if you cant get anything with a Rio or a MJ you definatley need alot of tweaking on that skimmer.

Sam

 

[bromion]

Well, I've tried a number of cup heights. How high do you suggest? CPR recommended the bottom be about 1/8-in below the water height in the column. Higher?

 

[818]

The pump, has an airline tube, with a needle adjuster. That determines how much air will be coming in through the airline tube. If you have the needle closed pretty much all the way you wont get any skimmate. you need it pretty much open all the way. You'll see alot more bubbles coming in as you mess around with it. Just play with it a little more. Youll need bubbles comin in so just play with the air needle wheel cap for now.

Sam

 

[818]

If the output of teh skimmer is coming out with fast moving water that means you need to loosen the needle valve. Water should be coming out of the skimmer very slow.

 

[d0cdave]

They also take time to "break-in". How long has it been running?

I have a backpak on my 26 gallon with no fish and its pulling a full cup out of the tank in about 3-5 days. I dont have the air valve on the airhose, and only one airhose is plugged into the rio pump (there are two venturi inputs). The Maxi has its venturi on the output of the unit correct? I think Rio has a better design (did I just type that?!) with the air mixing at the inlet. It uses the impeller to produce a finer bubble mixture.

 

[wsun083]

have you played w/ the valve that controls the amount of bubbles produced?

 

[Charles99]

I threw one of those little silencers that come w/ Rios onto the airline. It worked great on my BakPak.