Skimmer issue

whyamisofly

whyamisofly

New member
I have a msx160 that has been running for over a year now and just upgraded tanks (was on a 65g). I have it running on a 180g with 3 fish for the mean time and cannot get any foam production. I have it sitting in 8" of water. Should I submerge it more or less? (Manufacture suggests 8-10") I have it sitting on a table in the 75g sump. I throughly cleaned the skimmer before putting it in the 180g and now I can't get it to pull any skimmate! I have checked all the connections and pump and everything seems to be running as normal.

Suggestions?? My tank is sitting skimmerless at the moment!

Skimmer -
http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/p131/MSX160/product_info.html
 
No bubbles or foam at all? Perhaps the venturi is clogged? I am sure you checked but...
 
Last edited:
How long has it been running on the 180? Maybe its going through another break-in period after thouroghly cleaning it.
Maybe it just needs a bit to build up the film again...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15593194#post15593194 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sus
How long has it been running on the 180? Maybe its going through another break-in period after thouroghly cleaning it.
Maybe it just needs a bit to build up the film again...
Click to expand...

almost 3 months
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15592851#post15592851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LooseHip
No bubbles or foam at all? Perhaps the venturi is clogged? I am sure you checked but...
Click to expand...

Lots of micro bubbles and a COUPLE larger bubbles, but nothing like I am used to seeing. I currently have it setup in my water mixing bucket with tank water to see if I can get anything to change.

venturi is clean as a whistle
 
Negative. Everything checks out 100%. The only thing that I can think of is that the water level is affecting the foam.

:shrug:
 
Could it be that I have such a small bioload and a large water / live rock volume to dillute the proteins?

I just tried rasing the skimmer and lowering it, to no change.
 
three months on any tank with no skimmate...there is definitely something wrong...hmmmm? this sounds stupid, but what is your salinity? throwing it at the wall to see if something sticks.
 
Colin you know all your paremeters are good and you must be missing something. Time to go back to the drawing board take it all apart and figure out what you missed. My skimmer will pull skimate out of the cleanest tanks right away. If you want to bring it by we can figure out together.
 
Have you soaked the pump/impellar in vinegar? Is there any noticeable calcium build up? I would try raising the skimmer or water level in the sump, but its probably something that you are going to have to leave for several days to notice an improvement in operation. Could also be an issue with the pump. Might look at borrowing one from someone elses skimmer to see if there is any change.

There is no way that on that size of the tank your skimmer wouldnt be pulling anything out. When i first set my frag tank up before having any livestock in the thing, my skimmer would still pull crap out of the water.

If you want me to drop by some time and check it out, let me know!

Cheers~!
Jon
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15594582#post15594582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zombiereef
three months on any tank with no skimmate...there is definitely something wrong...hmmmm? this sounds stupid, but what is your salinity? throwing it at the wall to see if something sticks.
Click to expand...

1.026

I'm not saying it doesn't pull ANYTHING, I am saying that when it does pull it is just green water, (nothing like I am used to smelling either!) not dry skimmate. I realize this is running it wet, but if I try to run it dry the skimmate just collects in the neck. I can leave the skimmer alone for a full 2 weeks and still don't have much to empty.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15595363#post15595363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jonthefb
Have you soaked the pump/impellar in vinegar? Is there any noticeable calcium build up? I would try raising the skimmer or water level in the sump, but its probably something that you are going to have to leave for several days to notice an improvement in operation. Could also be an issue with the pump. Might look at borrowing one from someone elses skimmer to see if there is any change.

There is no way that on that size of the tank your skimmer wouldnt be pulling anything out. When i first set my frag tank up before having any livestock in the thing, my skimmer would still pull crap out of the water.

If you want me to drop by some time and check it out, let me know!

Cheers~!
Jon
Click to expand...

Yes, vinegar was the first step I took. No calcium build up at all. I currently have the skimmer in more water than I did before, but haven't seen any improvement as of this morning.

I will give you a call later today to try and set something up for Friday or this weekend.
 
I just checked level and the bubble is still within the "level" range.

Hoping Jon can figure something out as I have no hair to pull out!
 
I would play with the depth in the sump.

My Vertex was very tempermental until I got it to just the right height.

Hope that helps.
 
Appreciate the post John, hopefully Jon and I can get it functioning as it should. When I had it on my 65g, it was the best skimmer I had ever used in my life!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
New- skimmer question
Replies
3
Views
1K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
Brian60077
Anyone know anything about the Sicce in tank skimmers?
Replies
9
Views
283
Brian60077
Brian60077
Ab129
TTM issue
Replies
4
Views
1K
griss
griss
C
Maxspect jump led issue
Replies
0
Views
1K
Cruzersmith
C
W
HOB Skimmer
Replies
5
Views
808
herostar
H
Back
Top