protein skimmer acting funny? Is it dead?

[rjmayes34]

so yesterday i noticed my in sump protein skimmer was not making bubbles but just moving water. Then i noticed that where the air gets sucked to make the bubles their is water coming from their???? Is my skimmer shot? IS it time to get a new one? I bought my set up used so i cant say how old it is? I have a 120 ( 5 foot) tank not sure what size i would need to get if it is a goner. any input would help....

 

[spinoleo]

have you cleaned it recently?

 

[daveml]

What kind of skimmer? What pump?

 

[Capt_Cully]

What Skimmer is it?

 

[rjmayes34]

No i have not cleaned it recently, and im not sure of the brand of skimmer. Ill take it out of my sump and let you know. It looks like you typical skimmer. Collection cup on the top and what not butt ill let ya know brands if i can find them

 

[faze07hd]

This happened to me before... When it happened to me, i took out the pump and seen that there was a build up in the air duct on the pump. I got a tooth pic and scraped it out and hooked at back up and it was like brand new!... Might wanna check that.

 

[rjmayes34]

so i removed my skimmer and gave it and the pump a good cleaning and hooked it back up and its a bubble making fool again thanks guys!! Guess i will take it out and clean it a lil more often!!! Still unsure of brand though, skimmer nor the pump has a brand name on it. My next step is getting a real sump, now i have a 30 gallon normal tank under their(30" long x 19tall x 12.5" wide) and it is tight at the top getting things in and out!! I just bought a hang on back refugium (for cheato mangroves and other plants/algea) but i think i would rather have a legit sump then i wont need the HOB refugium!!!
Thanks for the input guys!!! I thought i had a catastrophic even happening

 

[tmz]

When the air intake get's blocked with organics or precipitant the skimmer takes in less to no air and more water. Just cleaning the airhole from time to time makes a big difference. Sometimes you can clear it by taking a cup of warm fresh water and letting the air intake hose suck it through. Pulling it out and cleaning it off with a toothpick is also fine.