skimmer isn't skimming

[IvyInCanada]

Hello, I'm a newb with a new 33g tank. I've just bought a 2nd hand skimmer (aqua c remora) and set it up. It pulled about 1/4 the collection cup of brownish water over the first two days and has now stopped collecting foam in the cup. It's been over 24 hours now with no collection. The foam rises up in the chamber but doesn't make it up even to the bottom of the collection cup. I haven't done anything to the skimmer, though I did rearrange the rock once. I've poked around and the pump is firmly seated in the clear tube. There aren't any clamps. The cup is sitting in the body of the skimmer. I haven't put the rubber ring thing on the cup because it doesn't seem possible to fit. Any advice? There surely is organic matter in the water; I'm cycling with 10lbs of uncured rock. Today's about day 13.

My tank is just weird. The ammonia spike and drop took about 48 hours, and now it's been sitting with nitrites at 3ppm for 10 days. Nitrates rising veeeeery slowly to about 5.

thanks in advance
ivy

 

[Daytymer]

I've never used your brand of skimmer but is there any way to adjust it? I had a sea clone awhile back and I was always having to adjust the airflow. It didn't make sense to me why it always needed adjusted and maintained but I finally got tired of it and I now have a ASM G4 which is a set it and forget it.

 

[CaptainCoral]

You can read through this thread and or post for advise, and someone successsfully using a Ramora should help you. I'll say that AquaC's take a performace hit when used with their lowest rated pumps. When used with the highest rated pumps, they work very well. They are also very sensitive to oils (from hands, and frozen food) and new plastic (pumps, tubing, etc). They make up for any downtime rapidly because they inject so much air. They can keep up with pollution fluxuations very well. (my aquac pulled out twice as much as normal for a couple days, after not running during a 2 day Red Bugs treatment. That shows that they can handle unnexpected nutrient load fluctuations)

FWIW, I've had my skimmers shut down for a day from air contaminates as well. When I was a smoker, all my skimmers worked poorly.

 

[jerm290atlc]

On my Remora I clean the "throat" on the cup every 3-4 days to make sure it skims well. I find if I let it go more than that I don't get as much skimmate.

The O ring is made to be tight on the collection cup. If I have my collection cup sitting like yours I'll have skimmate like mad! I have to use the O ring on mine. I also have the upgraded pump in my Remora, works alot better then the "regular" pump.

 

[Ti]

check the injector

 

[jerm290atlc]

Oh yeah forgot that. The Remora Pro should of come with a brush to clean out the injector. Make sure the unit is off when you unscrew the plug to clean it out, if not you will get a faceful of water (did that once, wife was laughing and crying...I was trying to figure out where the little plug went!)

 

[chip721]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7089680#post7089680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
check the injector

I agree with Ti. *Unplug the skimmer* and remove the collection cup. Looking down into the skimmer body you'll see a white plastic screw. Remove it. This screw is not an adjustment of any kind. It's simply an access point allowing you to "rod" the injector port with the brush provided. Replace the plastic screw. No need to overtighten it. Replace the collection cup and plug it back up.

Also the position of the black rubberband on the collection cup determines whether you're skimming "wet" or "dry." With the band up high (or in your case - not being used), the cup will sit low in the skimmer body to skim wet. If the band is down low, the cup will sit higher in the skimmer body to skim dry. HTH.

 

[IvyInCanada]

Thanks for the fast advice.

Unfortunately I seem to have made things worse. I took the white screw thing off and cleaned the impeller, and gave the collection cup tube a wipe. The inside of the skimmer looks very slimy, but I didn't clean it. It was used, so probably I should. That'll be the next project I suppose. Now the water in the skimmer is barely rising at all and it's back to microbubble city. Hum.

thanks again
ivy

 

[jerm290atlc]

What I would do is take it off the tank and clean it real well. Clean out the injector, cup, the main body and the pump. Once dry put it back on the tank and start it up.

Every so often I do this to my skimmer to clean out all the gunk that builds up.

 

[IvyInCanada]

Aw, man. The white screw leaks, that's probably been the problem all along.

 

[chip721]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7093377#post7093377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IvyInCanada
Aw, man. The white screw leaks

You can probably find a suitable replacement at your local harware store. Otherwise email Aqua-C. They have great customer support. Since its a small item, they might send you one free of charge.