Protein Skimmer not bubbling-HELP!!

[fishmom]

Can someone please advise me on what to do with my protein skimmer that has stopped bubbling?
I have a 150 gallon tank, and when I did a water change a few days ago, when I restarted the tank and cleaned the resevoir cup on the skimmer, I noticed that although water came up to the water line, there were no bubbles whatsoever. After restarting the tank, when I adjusted the water level on the skimmer, glumps of light colored waste of some kind rose above the water, which I removed. If I turn the tank off, and cut off the water supply to the protein skimmer, as soon as I turn it on, it bubbles fine, but within seconds stops bubbling completely. I have tried this several times with the same result.
Please advise, as the skimmer has never done this before. Is it clogged somewhere? What can I do? Or is my skimmer on its way out?
Is this an emergency situation to correct? How long can the skimmer run without bubbling before harming the tank/fish?
I don't know what I should do.
Please help me.
Thank you.
Fishmom:help:

 

[squidd]

The clog will most likely be found in the 'air inlet" line at or near the "venturi" where it mixes with the water ...(either before or after your pump, depending on the model)
When you turn the skimmer off it "backwashes" the obstruction out...and then when you turn it on it gets sucked back in clogging the flow...
Remove the line and blow through it,also checking the air "valve"for proper operation...
And run a wire or toothpick into the venturi hole to clear calcium buildup or other obstruction...
Reassemble and you should be good to go...
HTH

 

[fishmom]

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, the air hose was blocked at the end that hangs over my reserve tank. I removed the buildup (obstruction), however, it did not solve the problem. I also tried turning off the skimmer, then turning it on and blowing air through the clear air tube. While I was blowing air through the tube, the skimmer would bubble, but as soon as I stopped, so did the bubbles. At the end of the air tube (at the base of the unit), a small amount of water had accumulated. I don't know for sure, but I don't think this is normal. Over the last year, sometimes the skimmer would stop working completely, and I would have to 'jump start it' by cupping the air hose opening with my mouth and blowing air through (not an easy or enjoyable task), and I know that you should feel the air suction if you cup the end of the hose when you cut off the air supply. There is no suction due to the water in the hose. I also tried removing the hose and taking the end of a paper clip to try to clear the stem of the skimmer that the air hose is attached to. I couldn't tell if there is a buildup at the stem base or not, as it is not easily accessable.
It is a Top Fathom TF 200 skimmer.
What can I do now to try to correct this? There are no bubbles happening at all.
It is very frustrating to say the least.
Any advice would be appreciated as I am very stressed out about this.
Thank you.
Fishmom

 

[squidd]

Is this an "in sump" skimmer...?
It may be that the skimmer and or pump are set too deep in the sump water level...and the water pressure over rides the vacuum in the air tube pushing water up the air inlet tube...
Try raising the skimmer/pump a few inches toward the surface...
I have seen this effect when using a basic powerhead with an airline...near the surface it worked fine,blowing bubbles...but as I lowered the powerhead deeper in the tank ,the bubbles became less, until they stooped completely and water came back in the air inlet tube due to the water pressure/density at lower levels...

 

[fishmom]

It's working!!!!
I tried again to clear the stem, then started playing with the water valve controls, and it started bubbling. Guess for some reason one of the valves controlling the water flow was too low.
Thank you for your help. I don't know what I'd do without this website!! I'm sure that my LFS would have told me that I needed a new skimmer.
:joy: