Coralife 220 skimmer problems

[spudsonthejob247]

I have a coralife 220 protein skimmer running on my 135 gallon FOWLR system and the skimmer will produce micro bubbles only for a short minute then will stop producing bubbles completely. It has just recently begun doing this, but if I blow into the air tubing it will begin to produce bubbles again, but again only for about a minute or so then the bubbles will stop. I've had the skimmer for about 3 years now and do monthly maintenance as needed. The skimmer is located on the side of the tank, not in a sump and the pump sits about 3" below the water level. Any suggestions would help????

 

[fishieness]

Clean out the pump and especially the venturi. It will get clogged with salt and calcium deposits.

 

[becact]

Is the silencer (the plastic piece on the end of the air tube) clogged?

 

[spudsonthejob247]

I've cleaned out the pump, the silencer, and the venturi, I know the venturi does get calcium deposits, but I usually take care of that by cleaning it out with a needle. Any other suggestions?

 

[becact]

maybe air is trapped in the pump, causing cavitation? When you install the pump next time, shake it and roll it under water first to release all the air bubbles inside of it.

 

[spudsonthejob247]

Okay so I figured out that when I cover the intake on the pump with my hand it begins to start producing bubbles again. So I covered the intake with a piece of filter materal pad and now it's working. Anyone have any ideas why this has become the problem?

 

[chilwil84]

sounds like the venturi is partially blocked, when u clean it with a pin do you make sure it is scraped conpletely clean, my cs 60 venturi hole is larger than a toothpick so your 220 should be larger than that. what about blockages in the air tube between the silencer and the pump.

 

[125G Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15006783#post15006783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishieness
Clean out the pump and especially the venturi. It will get clogged with salt and calcium deposits.

^^ I second the motion.