ASM skimmer problem

[thegrog]

I have an ASM G4 skimmer and have been having problems lately with the venturi air intake line geting clogged with salt creep. Never been a problem in the 9+ months that it has been running until the last few weeks.
Tried flushing the line with water, took it off and cleaned it, cleaned the pump, but it still happens on a near daily basis.
There have been no changes to the tank in the last several months so I have no idea what is going on. :notsure: :notsure:

Any ideas?? :help:

 

[bellanavis]

Has the temp of your house changed at all? Maybe that has caused it. Just an idea, I realized it was getting colder in the house, and I checked the tank, and sure enough, I had to turn the heater up.

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by BellaNavis
Has the temp of your house changed at all? Maybe that has caused it. Just an idea, I realized it was getting colder in the house, and I checked the tank, and sure enough, I had to turn the heater up.
Not a bad idea, but it has not changed much. My tank temp has remained stable as I have three heaters that keep it at 79 degrees.

 

[ct_vol]

Check to see if you are having any spatter from your over flow or from your riser??? If you use the Gate Valve mod, position the return away from the air line... Pics always help to understand your situation...

 

[rrundle77]

Have you added any buffers(Kalkwasser B ionic) in excess

 

[thegrog]

Thanks for the input.
The salt creep is not at the intake part of the hose but right where it connects to the pump. Not a bad idea though and I thought of that. I do have the gate valve mod.
I don't use any calcium additives as I have a CA reactor. No settings have changed on that lately.

I am going to be doing a water change & tank cleaning today. I think I may take the entire skimmer appart and clean it. Perhaps that will shed some light on things. :thinking:
Stay tuned and if there are any more who have ideas, I would love to hear them. :help:

 

[zman1]

Grog, I run warm water through my hose once in a while. While the skimmer is running I dip the top of the hose in a cup of microwaved RO water and let it pull the water through the hose. How dusty is your house/ HVAC filter. Also, run a pipe cleaner tthough the air port of the venturi. I have a g-4x as you know they pull a lot of air.

 

[thegrog]

GOT IT!!!!

:jumping:

I took it all appart and found that a little tubeworm (the white ones with the calcium skeletons) had took up residence in the venturi intake port of the pump. The little bugger had about 75% of the opening closed off!! Had to use a small screwdiver to get it opened all the way as the pipe cleaner just did not cut it. Once it was all hooked up again, I could hear the difference!! Got TONS of foam right off the bat too!!
Thanks for all the input!!

 

[zman1]

Excellent!