what could cause skimmer to suck?

[tdam]

My octopus skimmer, about 3 or 4 years old, doesn't seem to be performing too well lately. skimming nothing but water.

i tried cleaning it. but other than that, i don't know what else to do. It just seems to be not working well. any thoughts?

 

[wbrown]

could be the pump magnet (impeller) has degenerated, you could try replacing it.
there's a handful of reasons besides the impeller, if you know the model or can post a pic that could be helpful in getting you a resolution.

 

[tdam]

Looks alot like this one. only an older model.

 

[wbrown]

is it making foam? and if so, how much?
The pumps on these are pretty good, first I would look to the air intake line, muffler, and inlet at pump and make certain they are not clogged with salt.
Next would be to check the impeller for crud or obstructions. you can unscrew the inlet and remove the airline and muffler and inspect/ wash easily.

 

[tdam]

making foam. just not much. not filling up the cup. and when i barely adjust it, next thing i know he cup is full of clear water.

i guess i could try cleaning it better.

 

[wbrown]

I'd definitely look into the air lines and inlet for salt encrusting and obstructions.
If the flow through the skimmer is good, then the problem will lie in the air intake.
I've found that the airlines break down if it's the surgical tubing type, you can retrofit 1/4" tubing if you find this is the case. Scraps from an RO/DI system work great.
If you dont have any, 1/4" vinyl line from the home center will work just fine.

 

[tdam]

will do. thanks.

 

[ichthyoid]

If you have cleaned it, and adjusted it, and it still doesn't make much foam, then maybe you just have a pretty clean tank. (?)

 

[tdam]

i was thinking the same thing at first. but i'm pretty sure i don't have a clean tank (since nothing has changed from before). it's just not performing well.

it's annoying though. i barely close it, and i get no skim. then i barely barely, and i mean barely open it, and i get a cup full of water.

 

[chemically_balanced]

Maybe you have it set to deep in the water if it is a in sump model. If you have it in 10" of water mov it to 8" or less if it's already at 8". The other thing to check is to make sure you are doing a hug water change or have your handsin the tank a lot. oil from your hands in the water can screw up a skimmer.

 

[snowmansnow]

check the impeller to make sure the pins aren't broken off or clogged with something. Those pumps aren't too hard to service.

B

 

[serpent]

I have that same skimmer, Octopus Extreme 160. It ran a Sicce PSK-2500 and I was having problems with it too. I was so fed up that I took the plunge and put a Bubble Blaster 2000 on it. This thing skims like a monster now, but that is a different story.

The one thing about this skimmer is that it likes to be in 7-9" of water. You need to find the sweet spot for it to skim. You also want to make sure there is no back pressure on the outlet by removing the "B" pipe. If you do these things and it is still not performing, look into upgrading the pump.

Nathan

 

[tdam]

i don't think it's the water line. b/c it was working just fine for a year. and my water line has remained the same.

 

[wbrown]

still putting my money on the airlines or impeller.

 

[ichthyoid]

wbrown;720671 wrote: still putting my money on the airlines or impeller.

+1 ^

Sounds like it may be either-
-starved for air, or
-insufficient turbulence in the pump.

 

[dawgface]

Does it have any o-rings? If so make sure they are on it and are still functional.

 

[smallblock]

Long shot but check the salinity in your tank.

 

[jennm]

My first thought was clogged venturi hose... but everybody's suggestions are worth investigating.

Smallblock - good point too...

Further - have you used anything in the tank recently that might alter the surface tension? Putting hands or food in the tank will stop a skimmer from fractionating for a while as the oils break the surface tension.

Epoxy to fasten down corals can make a skimmer overflow with "clean" water instead of skimmate.

Prazi-Pro has polymers that can make a skimmer go ape...

Some dechlorinators do likewise.

So have you changed your routine or anything or begun using any chemicals that might be the cause?

Jenn

 

[tdam]

no parameters have changed. my rountines have stayed the same. I guess by just looking at the skimmer, it just seems a little weaker in the spinning. something must be clogged and maybe it's time for a deep cleaning.

 

[snowmansnow]

tdam;720911 wrote: no parameters have changed. my rountines have stayed the same. I guess by just looking at the skimmer, it just seems a little weaker in the spinning. something must be clogged and maybe it's time for a deep cleaning.

about every year it has been operational I take my bubble king apart, soak everything in vinegar solution, scrub it, put it back together, then let it run in the sink with hot water and vinegar for about 3 or 4 hours. It has to break in again over a few days, but it down't take long and I KNOW everything is in fine order.

Edit: oh and doing this also gets you really familiar with how things work its like a soldier being able to troubleshoot and fix his M16 in the field!

If you're uncomfortable doing it take pics as you disassemble things so you can make sure it all goes back right (but it won't be rocket science).

b