Skimmer stopped working

M

msn711

New member
I run a CSS 125 on my 30 breeder sps tank. Today I noticed that in the body of the skimmer, there were no bubbles. I emptied the cup, cleaned the skimmer, restarted everything, blew into the airline tube to get the bubbles going and still nothing. I used to swear by this thing, especially now that it's running in a sump. And then all of a sudden, I can't get it running to save my life. Any ideas? More importantly, is my tank completely screwed? Anybody running an sps tank with no skimmer? Any ideas on how to fix the skimmer? Any ideas for a skimmer upgrade?

Thanks for the help!
 
Mine will do that some times the impeller is stuck try tapping the pump when it is running.
 
Is the pump moving water or is the pump dead? If the pump is working can you feel a suction on the air inlet line? If not try cleaning the small hole that the line connects to, also take a look at the line itself down near the pump and see if it is clogged with salt deposit. If that hole is clogged I would give the pump a vinegar soak as Covey had asked. If the venturi is dirty so is the rest of the pump most likely.
 
Sorry, but when I said I cleaned everything, I meant the vinegar soak. And still nothing. The pump is moving water, but I can't get any air bubbles. Any other ideas???
 
BEAT THE **** OUT OF THE PUMP..I MEAN IT ..THIS IS NOT A JOKE..

SOMETIMES THE IMPELLOR WILL LOCK UP AND A GOOD BEATING WILL FREE IT UP...BANG ON ALL SIDES OF THE PUMP PRETTY HARD WITHOUT BREAKING IT WITH YOUR HAND A FEW TIMES AND THEN TRY TO START IT UP


DO YOU HAVE SNAILS OR HERMITS THAT COULD HAVE GONE IN THE PUMP?
 
As crazy as it sounds, I'll give it a shot snaps. I do have snails and hermits but I've never caught any in the overflow, much less down in the sump. But would the impeller be locked up if the pump is pumping water?
 
I think your venturi is clogged up, try running a peice of wire through it. I have to do this with my turbofloater every month due to salt creap, the freshwater soak never seens to remove the clog.

Whiskey
 
Ok, I've beaten it, cleaned it, soaked in vinegar, scrubbed it with a toothbrush, and still can't get any damn air bubbles. I've had this thing for a little over a year probably and this is the first time I haven't been able to get it working. Any other ideas? Or is it just time for an upgrade? Would any of you consider running skimmerless?
 
I get some RO water and heat to boiling and then run it through the air lines and all other parts. This gets rid of verything that will not be removed by any other means.

I run it through the air lines while the pump is running.
 
Yes, I also took the pump apart. Like I said, the pump will pump water, but the venturi isn't working. It's not clogged (vinegar soak, ran wire through it, and when I blow into it I can feel the air on the other end), but it's not working either.

The reason I'm neverous about going skimmerless is because I have a bad habit of overstocking my tank, and chaeto did nothing in my fuge. In fact, I've got this red cotton-like algae that completely took over. I could probably make room for an old aquaclear to run carbon. I don't know...any ideas for a) fixing this thing, b) upgrading, c) what to do until I get the money to upgrade (i.e. run carbon, bigger water changes, etc.)???
 
i have the same f'in problem with this skimmer. it annoys the heck outta me. so far, my solution has been to power cycle it, or beat the pump with a wooden stick (i'm not kidding). altho i guess that duz make no sense since the pump is pumping water just no bubbles. problem must be in venturi then....
 
If you blow into the tubing really hard, you should at least get the air bubbles from you doing it although larger and not foaming. Unless you have one heck of a lung capacity! :lol: If it does go through then the only reason you wouldn't get any bubbles is the water level is too high to allow it to pull air on it's own or the water velocity is too slow to create the suction. If the velocity is too slow then it's the pump.
 
Yeah it sounds like you need a new pump....if it is pumping water but not making bubbles it likely wont be fixed by beating it due to a jammed impellor. Sounds like the venturi is not taking air in...either that or the air isnt being chopped up which is more likely IMO.
 
Ok, so it sounds like a problem with the pump. Does anyone know what size pump the CSS 125 uses? Coralife saw fit to stick in a huge pump with no labelling. So I'm not sure what to replace it with. Thanks for all your help guys.

I know the water level isn't too high because it was working before and the water level in that area of the sump doesn't change. But it would make sense if the pump has just gotten old, is slowing down, and doesn't suck air through the venturi like it's supposed to. I'll look around...somebody has to sell replacement parts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Back up power supply
2
Replies
22
Views
376
Reefing102
Reefing102
P
Skimmer or No Skimmer in AIO 120 gl
Replies
5
Views
336
hvcreefer
hvcreefer
Radicaljbr
ID?
Replies
2
Views
159
Reefing102
Reefing102
G
Extremely low ORP
Replies
3
Views
233
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
ClownBubbaJoe
Skimmer, TALL skimmer vs short under cabinet type ?
Replies
13
Views
354
BeanAnimal
B
Back
Top