CPR backpak help

[buzzword]

My wifes CPR backpak RR has worked well for about 4 months, now the last month or two I can not get it to make enough bubbles and or not have the water level high enough for the skim to form. What can I do to make it work again? I have taken it apart twice and it will work for a week or two then back to this problem.
I had read about people putting an airstone in but can't figure out how to do that. The skimmer is about 6 months old. Has the Rio PH on it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wangotango]

is the impeller dirty, or the intake plugged with something? are the air tubes tight? i have the CPR sr2 and it sounds like it was doing the same thing as yours.

 

[divetroop]

Have you taken the tubing off and flushed it hot water? Have you adjusted the black air nozzle? Sometimes salt creep gets into the airline tubing.

 

[pallan]

as to adding an airstone. i added a air pump and ran the tubing strait down the collection cup hole. right to the bottom. i then placed the colection cup back on. it crimps it some but not enough to restrict airflow. i used a coralife limwood air stone made for skimmers.
as to you problem. clean the pump real well including the little plastic L shaped pieces that attatch the pump to the airline. salt gets stuck in there. use a clean drill bit to get the salt out. (warning. do not run it strait through the plastic back, just use it enough to scrape the sides and punch a hole through the salt. a good drill bit will go right thru it without much force. I know)
also replace air tubes
the pump should not be worn out yet but as a last resort replace the pump with a new rio or even upgrade to the maxijet that is also designed for it.
hope this helps

 

[buzzword]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will put them to use in the AM. And I looked and it is a Maxijet pump.