Skimmer Help

[sstraub5150]

I just bought a CPR bakpak of ebay and recieved it. My question is how long before the cup starts filling up?

 

[dakota9]

Theres a break-in period. There's probably not going to be anything in the collection cup for a day or two, and you might have A LOT of micro bubles in the tank....

Give it a few days

 

[jennm]

Also, if you've had your hands in the tank, or have fed the fish recently, it may not fractionate right away. The oils on your hands and/or in the food, will break the surface tension and stop the unit from foaming.

Set it fairly dry (low) to start - wait a while and once you start seeing some foam, you can adjust it then. It will take a little bit to get it dialed in to where you want it to be but once you're there, that's a decent skimmer.

Cheers,
Jenn

 

[sstraub5150]

Alright. Had it for a week or so and I am getting very little waste in the cup. Any ideas?

 

[dakota9]

Adjust the cup lower

Make sure your powerhead is strong enough

 

[mufret]

Ditto.

Which pump did it come with? Check the pump and impeller to make sure there aren't any issues.

 

[dakota9]

sometimes an ebay seller will jip you on the pump.... Keep the good pump that came with the skimmer, and give you a crappy one w/ the skimmer

 

[sstraub5150]

mufret;356497 wrote: Ditto.

Which pump did it come with? Check the pump and impeller to make sure there aren't any issues.

rio 600.

 

[dakota9]

sstraub5150;356521 wrote: rio 600.

They still make those? Aren't those the powerheads that catch on fire or something?

Get a Maxi-Jet 1200, you'll be happier with the preformance, with less heat going in your tank.

 

[mufret]

The Rio 600 is definitely underpowered. If you have a MJ 1200 laying around, you will need to get the inlet venturi for it to operate properly on the Bak Pak.

 

[sstraub5150]

Dakota9;356620 wrote: They still make those? Aren't those the powerheads that catch on fire or something?

I would pay a shiny nickel to see a powerhead catch fire underwater.

 

[dakota9]

sstraub5150;357174 wrote: I would pay a shiny nickel to see a powerhead catch fire underwater.

I deserved that.......

Seriously, I think it was a problem with them shorting out, or the seals failing and leaking voltage in the tank.

 

[drnecropolis]

I thought it was the seals failing and leaking oil into the water...

 

[sstraub5150]

Dakota9;357194 wrote: I deserved that.......

Seriously, I think it was a problem with them shorting out, or the seals failing and leaking voltage in the tank.

If I get a maxi do I have to order a venturi kit or something?

 

[dakota9]

DrNecropolis;357197 wrote: I thought it was the seals failing and leaking oil into the water...

I though it was tapping them on the bumper and them going up in flames...... No wait a minute..... that was the '74 Ford Pinto

That may have very well been the issue Dr....

 

[mufret]

Here's what you need:

 

[dakota9]

sstraub5150;357201 wrote: If I get a maxi do I have to order a venturi kit or something?

Maybe Mike Ufret can better illuminate on the topic...

Unfortunately, the Bak Pak skimmer is one skimmer that I have very limited knowledge of (owned a used one a few days, sold on CL in favor of the Aqua Remora C). I thought you only needed the stock pump parts to operate the skimmer. Airline tubing goes in the uptake and the hole intended for the airline on the output gets covered with the cap that comes with the MJ.

 

[dakota9]

mufret;357209 wrote: Here's what you need:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/thestore/prods/MJ-VENT.html">http://www.premiumaquatics.com/thestore/prods/MJ-VENT.html</a>[/QUOTE]



Ah! How clever! no more fumbling to keep the airline in place........