ER skimmer need cleaning?

[ReefTourist]

I've been running my 90g tank for 1 year this month. Last month the EuroReef skimmer (CS6-1) started acting strange. It's running in my sump w/o a return mod and w/o a sponge, and has been running great since I bought it.
Last month the output flow began to mushroom out the outlet instead of flowing nicely down the sides and it stopped producing efluent. So I pulled out the pump and ran it in a mix of hot water and vinegar to clean it out. Hooked it up, and all was well once again. One month later it's doing it again. Am I missing something in cleaning this thing out, or is it another problem? Suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

Yea I would clean it out. Somtimes the venturi can get plugged and not put out enough air.

 

[SaltyMember]

I agree with Boxfish, it sounds like your air intake is clogged. I have to clean mine on my ER skimmer once a month or so. Just pull off the tubing clean out the built up crud with a toothpick or thin screw or nail. It should work good as new again.

 

[ReefTourist]

Thanks, but it didn't work.
I tried cleaning out the air tube, but it was already pretty clear. The out-flow is still "mushrooming" out from the pipe, and I haven't collected any waste for a week.
Perhaps there's something in the ER manual that describes how to clean it best that I'm missing. I'll look it over again.
Any other suggestions?

 

[melev]

If you don't have airflow going in, so the body is full of air bubbles, take the venturi tube an immerse it in a cup of hot water. With the skimmer running, it will suck all that water out of the cup and rinse out the tubing.

Could you raise the output tubing a little to raise the internal water level? This is how you adjust it to get the skimmate you want (wet or dry).

Cleaning the pumps monthly is a good plan.

 

[ReefTourist]

Thanks for the input melev.
I'm pretty sure the tube is clear, but I'll try the in-operation immersion and see what happens this evening.
The tank actually runs so well that I keep the riser tube just about as high as it will go to pull out as much as possible. It used to result in me needing to clean it once every 1-2 weeks.

 

[Kip]

where the tube connects to the volute... that plastic nipple the hose slides over... bore it out a tad.... and keep it cleaned out (every 6-8wks).... make sure there is no debris caught in the needlewheel.... and also be sure the impeller spins freely around the impeller spindle.

sometimes i have to (gently) tap my spindle outta the impeller, soak it, scrape it, and scrub it to get it clean. if the spindle is "glued" inside the impeller, it will kill performance too.

 

[melev]

ReefTourist, keep in mind that as your water gets more clean each day, you'll see a decline in the amount of skimmate production. Mine is barely doing anything the past few days and I'm over here wondering if it is working right or not.

 

[dkh0331]

I've found small snails in the needle wheel as well that effects the performance.

 

[ReefTourist]

I took the pump out today and found that a sponge had taken up residence blocking the venturi tube inlet (not in the tube itself). Exactly what Kip mentioned.
Now that it's out the skimmer quickly started pulling out gunk. I'll probably have to empty it tomorrow since it's been a couple of weeks at least of sub-par to zero function.

Thank you all for your help!!