Powerhead with skimmer - use air tube?

[mimo]

This is a stupid question. I'm setting up my Remora Urcvhin with a Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead. Does the powerhead need the air intake tube? :notsure:
I tried hooking it up and it shoots out water. I guess from the back pressure from the skimmer?

 

[stacyt]

If I'm understanding the question properly, I would say yes you need the air tube. The way the skimmer works is by chooting air bubles into the water column, as the air bubles travel to the top they collect organic materials, the air bubbles should go into a collection cup, where they deposit the collected organics.

 

[mimo]

I mean the air tube that goes into the powerhead and goes outside the tank and sucks in air.

 

[bildotang]

If I understand correctly, the air tube inlet for the powerhead is squirting out water. Your probably correct, it's due to the back pressure of the protein skimmer. The powerheads are not designed to deal with back pressure. You might want to try using just a pump to power the protein skimmer.

 

[stacyt]

I know that on the sea clone skimmers that they use the maxijet powerhead. I would think that if the pump came with the skimmer then there is something not setup/working properly. So you are saying that the water is shooting out of the airline tubing? On my old sea clone, if I remeber correctly, the air hose plugged into the inlet of the pump with a special adapter, so that it would suck in air, as well as water.

 

[mimo]

StacyT, that would make much more sense but the MaxiJet doesnt have that option. Do I definitely need to use the airline tube? The place where I bought it said not to use it. I thought skimmers needed air?

 

[stacyt]

Did the maxijet come with the skimmer? If not I would check with the skimmer manufacturer to find out what pump they recommend. A skimmer does need air to work properly.

 

[schneidts]

My Aqua C Remora came with a maxi jet 1200, and I think it works exceptionally.

 

[mimo]

Stacy, yes it came with it.
schneidts, are you using the air tube or just running the whole pump underwater??

 

[schneidts]

I have the ph in the water.

 

[mimo]

Originally posted by schneidts
I have the ph in the water.
Ok, so no air tube and your skimmer is working properly? Thanks! :happy:

 

[wid]

my skimmer pump stop working, then I tried the MaxiJet pump, same problem (water coming out of the air tube), then, I use the same original pump model, RIO 800, then it work. wid