Dead Skimmer

[Sheol]

Well, the hobgoblins who possessed my skimmer have won. The thing gave up the ghost a week or two ago.
The bad news is its going to be awhile before I have suffcient funds for a new QUALITY skimmer..
Any one else ever encountered this problem? Is it just 2 months of weekly water changes ( which I need to do anyway) or what?

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[Steven Pro]

What kind of skimmer is it?

 

[Keiths_Reefs]

What kind of skimmer is it and what's not working on it? They're actually pretty simply devices so it can't be impossible to fix.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

No, you'll be fine with your regular schedule. If you do bi-weekly water changes (as recommended), then just keep up with that routine. No need to stress out your livestock because your skimmer went down.

So, what happened to the skimmer and what type was it?

 

[Sheol]

Venturi type I think. Not really sure. Its HOB so I guess I can take it apart piece by piece & find out. Basically, no bubbles & foam is where I'm at now.
Possible sediment in it after the move 3 months ago? is my current theory.
Fortunately, the LR is an effective bio-filter right now..

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[Keiths_Reefs]

clean out the venturi valve itsef and the airline leading to it. That's about the only thing that affects the air bubbles (or really weak water pressure on the input).

 

[Steven Pro]

One of the easiest ways to clean a pump or skimmer is a series of baths. Take the skimmers, hang it off of a bucket, fill the bucket with hot tapwater and some bleach (one cup bleach to five gallons water), and then plug in the skimmer and let it run for a half hour. Afterwards, repeat the above procedure but use vinegar this time instead of bleach. The bleach will remove built up organics while the vinegar will take care of calcium deposits. Then rinse well.

 

[Sheol]

Steve,

Thanks! I'll do it, nothing to lose at this point anyway. I'm guessing sludge from the move as I said before. Though it seems strange that it took two months to crash..
The pump still is sucking water, so it must be in the valves somewhere..

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8606193#post8606193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sheol
Steve,

Thanks! I'll do it, nothing to lose at this point anyway. I'm guessing sludge from the move as I said before. Though it seems strange that it took two months to crash..
The pump still is sucking water, so it must be in the valves somewhere..

Sincerely,
Matthew

The air line or ventury is cloged with salt creep, just rinse it in fresh water or vinegar if necessary, that is all there is to it.
By the way this maintenance shall be done once a month.

 

[Sheol]

Yeah, I guess my bad, but no instructions were included at purchase, so..

Matthew

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8611187#post8611187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sheol
Yeah, I guess my bad, but no instructions were included at purchase, so..

Matthew

Is it working now?