H&S Skimmer Club
- Thread starter javajaws
- Start date
- Status
djtodd
New member
OK, a couple of days ago I gave the body of my A150-F2001 a rinse out and decided that I'd had enough of leaking at the "T" on the output. So I cemented the thing in place at the bottom. No more leaks. I also took the Aquabee apart and gave it a quick toothbrush clean.
Since then though, it's been acting a little strange. I have to close the wedge pipe a LOT to get the bubble breaking point to the bottom of the cup! Every once and a while I hear the gurgling/sucking sound like a toilet flushing. It does it momentarily.
Here's some pix. The output is above the water line.
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-3.jpg">
What can I do to rectify this? Is it an issue with my feed pump? It's a Maxijet 900. Should I get a better one, like a Mag250? T-ing off the drain really isn't an option for me...
(Now I'm panicking because I may have ruined my expensive skimmer. Dammit, I should have just left it all alone. Sorry about the cross post.)
Since then though, it's been acting a little strange. I have to close the wedge pipe a LOT to get the bubble breaking point to the bottom of the cup! Every once and a while I hear the gurgling/sucking sound like a toilet flushing. It does it momentarily.
Here's some pix. The output is above the water line.
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.synthetic.org/lj/hs-3.jpg">
What can I do to rectify this? Is it an issue with my feed pump? It's a Maxijet 900. Should I get a better one, like a Mag250? T-ing off the drain really isn't an option for me...
(Now I'm panicking because I may have ruined my expensive skimmer. Dammit, I should have just left it all alone. Sorry about the cross post.)
scarletknight06
New member
Don't worry, I dont think you've ruined your expensive skimmer. Your problem seems to be back pressure from the skimmer's drain (this causes the surging and gurgling). I see 2 potential problems:
1) Its hard to tell but it seems like you reduced the diameter size of the piping coming out of the skimmer. A lot of people seem to solve this problem by putting a rubber coupler over the output TEE of the skimmer which allows them to have larger diamter piping on the output.
2) The skimmer drain line has to travel a distance horizontally before it exits, reduce the horizontal distance or raise the skimmer up some and use a 45 degree elbow to angle it down.
1) Its hard to tell but it seems like you reduced the diameter size of the piping coming out of the skimmer. A lot of people seem to solve this problem by putting a rubber coupler over the output TEE of the skimmer which allows them to have larger diamter piping on the output.
2) The skimmer drain line has to travel a distance horizontally before it exits, reduce the horizontal distance or raise the skimmer up some and use a 45 degree elbow to angle it down.
djtodd
New member
It's only going about 9" horizontally, and it's been reduced to 1". It's been like that since day 1 and hasn't given any problems...
Actually, when I first got it, the drain was about 2.5' horizontal! I quickly cut that down to the absolute bare minimum. I'd actually be more inclined to think that the 90 degree elbow is the issue. I'll get rid of that and see what happens.
scarletknight06
New member
you can try using a TEE instead of the 90 elbow, that might solve the problem.
djtodd
New member
Cross my fingers, but I think I may have found the solution. I realized that a couple of days ago when I cleaned it I accidentally forgot to turn off my auto top off, and essentially replaced the skimmer body contents with FW. Then I set up my new Denitrifier, which added another gallon or so.
I added about 2G of SW to bump my SG back up and went to bed. When I woke up the skimmer was operating much closer to "normal". It's odd that it would be so sensitive.
I'm still going to grab that rubber connector though. Gotta try and do *everything* right.
I added about 2G of SW to bump my SG back up and went to bed. When I woke up the skimmer was operating much closer to "normal". It's odd that it would be so sensitive.
I'm still going to grab that rubber connector though. Gotta try and do *everything* right.
Conceyted
Active member
adjust your wedge pipe. Just be sure that the output is OUT of the water completely. the T on the output that you have silencing the water fall effect should be almost 90% out of the water. if you have it submerged you are creating back pressure and surging the skimmer. once you are sure that the output is out of the water slowly adjust the wedge pipe until the bubble level is close to where youd like it. then check back in a day and see if its consistent with where you left it and adjust accordingly. this skimmer is honestly the easiest to dial in for the type of skimmer it is.
djtodd
New member
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=989618
My second post explains it all. Looks like it was/is the Aquabee.
My second post explains it all. Looks like it was/is the Aquabee.
UCanDoIt
In Memoriam
Check the flow through rate. Maybe something has changed with your Maxijet and you are not getting at least 150gph-200gph anymore. Should be less than 20 seconds to fill a 1g jug. Also, check if there's any leaks on the unions where the pump attaches to the skimmer body (this is just a stab in the dark).
Filling a 1g milk jug from the T off the drain of your skimmer:
150gph takes approximately 24secs to fill 1g
175gph takes approximately 21secs to fill 1g
200gph takes approximately 18secs to fill 1g
225gph takes approximately 16secs to fill 1g
250gph takes approximately 14secs to fill 1g
275gph takes approximately 13secs to fill 1g
300gph takes approximately 12secs to fill 1g
325gph takes approximately 11secs to fill 1g
350gph takes approximately 10secs to fill 1g
Filling a 1g milk jug from the T off the drain of your skimmer:
150gph takes approximately 24secs to fill 1g
175gph takes approximately 21secs to fill 1g
200gph takes approximately 18secs to fill 1g
225gph takes approximately 16secs to fill 1g
250gph takes approximately 14secs to fill 1g
275gph takes approximately 13secs to fill 1g
300gph takes approximately 12secs to fill 1g
325gph takes approximately 11secs to fill 1g
350gph takes approximately 10secs to fill 1g
- Status
Similar threads
