My coralife super skimmer 220 just stopped making bubbles

[biggredd]

I can't seem to figure out what is going on. My skimmer stopped making bubbles all of a sudden, nothing has changed in the last 4 months with anything. It is still swirling the water and water goes up and down as I adjust the control knob but it won't convert to bubbles.
Any trouble shooting advice?

 

[nereef]

have you cleaned it lately. possibly something is plugged somewhere. the air intake didn't fall into the water did it?

 

[stanlalee]

detach the pump from the skimmer (with the air intake attached and out of water like it normally would be) and see what it does (in saltwater). This should at least make it obvious if the pump or skimmer itself is in need of service.

 

[aw2x3]

For best performance, you need to take the pump off at least once a month and clean it out.
Dismantle the pump, pulling out everything including the needle wheel, etc. and give them a good cleaning.
Also, make sure your air intake tube is not clogged with salt creep.

 

[biggredd]

I'll try messing with the pump, I'll follow up.

 

[wwfstyle]

Nah no need in taking the pump out once a month to clean. I've had mine in for over a year and no problems. Most likely you have salt build up in you air intake valve. Even if you have an air tube hooked up to it, it could still happen. I use my air compressor and do a short spray of air in the air valve. Watch out cause it will shoot water out the top of your skimmer if held to long. After that you should be fine.

 

[michael_t]

The corallife skimmers are very sensitive. If the intake tube is too long it can cause the chamber to stop making bubbles even though it made bubbles before. Coral Life instructions state you want it about 3” from the water line.
You can test this by turning on your skimmer and then bring the pump up higher to the water line by bending the intake tube. If it starts making bubbles again you know your intake tube is too long.
Hope this works for you.

 

[titan]

I'd suggest as well to clean the pump monthly due to any Ca build-up. I actually did the exact opposite of michael_t and the results..well the pic tells the story. It sounds to me like an air issue, whether something on the pump is loose, creep, etc.

 

[michael_t]

Titan,
Did you make your intake tube longer?
Also I should say I have a CL Skimmer 125.
There could be something blocking the air-in-take tubing? You can detatch the air in take and blow thru it.

 

[seannmelly]

I had the same problem with my CL super skimmer 65. All of a sudden it just stopped working. Took the pump apart, and the pump was spotless and pumping fine. Turns out it was the venturi valve that was somehow deffective. I know that Coralife has a great customer service when you call them.

 

[titan]

That I did, the pump is a near 12" under the water line, I'm not saying this is the answer, but my CSS220 just went from a datsun to vette. I can't wait to get my AP701 running on the new 210

 

[michael_t]

I would love to have my pump towards the bottom of the tank. I mean, come on, the heavier/larger particals end up there.