FRUSTRATED....Remora users-assemble!!

[fish 511]

Haha, had to put that title. Anyways, I am getting very frustrated with my Aqua C Remora HOB skimmer. Every time I do a water change, add top off water, or stir up a little bit of sand my remora goes crazy. It starts spitting out bubbles, filling up the collection cup with water. Then it spews microbubbles into my tank. Is this typical? Is there any way to fix this? Or do I need to sell this POJ and get a different HOB skimmer??? THANKS

 

[HBtank]

They are hit or miss unit by unit from what I have read.

I recommend a CSS if you do give up on it. Cheap and effective IME. Not nearly as touchy as that.

 

[fish 511]

Ok, cool. I will look into one of those skimmers. THANKS

 

[fish 511]

Any links to one of those skimmers??

 

[HBtank]

Check for a "Coralife Super Skimmer".

Here are the RC sposers. I know Dr. Fosters and Smith carries them....

http://www.reefcentral.com/sponsors/

 

[fish 511]

Haha, that almost makes me laugh. The guy at the LFS showed me that one, but said it wasnt a HOB. So he showed me a used remora and sold me that. O well, Ill figure it out :lol:

 

[The0wn4g3]

Hmm, odd I have a Remora also and I don't have near that much trouble with it. I do have tiny micro bubbles, but I placed a peice of sponge infront of the return. No more bubbles now.

Have you tried playing with the leveling screws on the back?
When is the last time you cleaned it really well in clorox or vinegar?

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9578867#post9578867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The0wn4g3
Hmm, odd I have a Remora also and I don't have near that much trouble with it. I do have tiny micro bubbles, but I placed a peice of sponge infront of the return. No more bubbles now.

Have you tried playing with the leveling screws on the back?
When is the last time you cleaned it really well in clorox or vinegar?

Good point about the cleaning, my skimmer will stop producing bubbles and run weird after 4-6 months. Works perfect after a night in vinegar water (running) though....

 

[HBtank]

the CSS works though Best $160 ever put into my aquarium.

 

[fish 511]

You know what, i should clean it. When I bought it used, the guy said it could use a good cleaning. I will have to do that.

Also, I have not thought about the sponge in front idea. That is great. Thanks for all the help--reef central is the greatest!!

 

[FLReefGirl]

The only time mine fills up w/ water like that is if I stir thing ups too much. Like Saturday I dug a hole in the substrate for a new coral and it stirred up some detritus and then I moved a few things around. The cup filled up w/ water w/in the hour. It was dirty water but not like usual. I adjusted the cup a little higher for the rest of the day and it was fine. Sunday I put it back to the normal level and all is fine. 99% of the time it works great, this is just one of its quirks.

 

[fish 511]

Ok, just put in the sponge. It already looks like there are no more micro bubbles coming out. Awesome!! It also quieted down the skimmer as well. Do you think this could affect the performance??

Also, what do you think i shold clean the skimmer with?? THANKS

 

[The0wn4g3]

steps for an amazing cleaning job ^^ :
First remove the small white screw above the injection port. (Donnt lose it! haha) And clean out the injection port well with a toothbrush or such.

1 - take the skimmer outside and hit it with a really strong stream of water from the hose. break off any sediment that could have attached to the insides.
2 - Put it upside down in a 5 gallon bucket of tap water.
3 - Add 3-5 capfuls of clorox bleach into the bucket.
4 - wait a day
5 - poor water out of bucket, fill it back with tap water and let skimmer soak in it for 1 or 2 hours.
6 - rinse skimmer VERY well with tap water.

Ta Da! You have one AMAZINGLY clean skimmer! Hope it works for you. I just did that a week ago to my skimmer after a year of use and it's like it's brand new again.

 

[fish 511]

Ok, cool thanks. Appreciate the help...

 

[Lahn Doe]

Is it safe to wash supplies in bleach?

 

[drummereef]

I use the Remora and think it's a fine skimmer for smaller tanks. Are you adding anything to the waterchange/topoff water, like Stress Coat or other water conditioners?

Also the Remora, like other skimmers, need time to break in. The microbubbles will disipate as this process takes place. Mine puts out bubbles from time to time, but nothing like the first couple weeks.

 

[cragganmore]

I always wondered this, too, so I looked it up. Bleach is perfectly safe to use as long as you rinse the item with plain water (hot is best) afterwards. It turns out that bleach actually evaporates very quickly.

 

[The0wn4g3]

Bleach won't soak into/leech out of plastics, not that I know of at least. Vinegar would also work, but I think it's too smelly and clorox works fast IMO.

Just be sure to rinse it very well !