Protein Skimmer Problem

seanothon

seanothon

Member
I recently got an Aquariums Systems protein skimmer from a friend. Initially, it was foaming a lot and I was getting a bunch of the brown-protein stuff but they have considerably decreased. I tried raising the water level and messing with how much air is let in and that helped but it is still not working as well as when I started. Any other suggestions?
I don't want to raise the water level much higher because then my wet-dry's bio balls will start to get covered.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You said you had tried adjusting the air and the water depth, but did you try cleaning the pump and they are infamous or the air line leading to the pump to get clogged? It might seem or appear to be clear, but try soaking it in a little vinegar and putting it back together and see what happens.
 
seanothon

seanothon

Member
I washed it out yesterday with really hot water and it started working great but then it was back to nearly nothing this morning
 
seanothon

seanothon

Member
I rinsed it out with really hot water and it was running great but the next day it slowed back down. Would vinegar be more effective?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The air venturis on these skimmers are horrible.....Vinegar will dissolve more than what hot, scolding water will. You could always DIY a new air venturi, that you can adjust with a bigger airline. I would probably opt to build my own, but I do know they are problematic.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You could soak it for a couple hours would be good, but I honestly think the thing will clog again. They are prone to that, the other suggestion would be to fab up something similar, with adjust air and you could use a carbon intake system. One with the carbon intake added it would help the efficiency of the skimmer skimming and you can better tune the air injection into the skimmer.
 
seanothon

seanothon

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3269274
what makes you think the decrees in skimate is a problem
are you suggesting that there is just less for it to skim off since i have been running it. I am pretty positive it is a clogging issue because after I clean tube it always foams a lot more and gives more skimmate
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You have to be kidding if you believe the skimmer has completely skimmed the tank curious of the comment as well myself????? I was referring to the more pure air the skimmer pulls the efficience or ability could increase. Look at your Beckett style skimmers they use a prefilter on lines drawing air. The clog due to air quality and such and watch the skimmer drop off.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Florida Joe, the problem noted was it was skimming and good bubble production and then it dropped off. This is a noted issue with this skimmer. The OP also stated that when he pulled it apart and cleaned the production had increased, but dropped off again.....So it's obvious that is where the issue is with the pump pulling air. If we look at a lot of the "better" produced skimmers we do see some sort of induction filter or such, and if we do some searching you see where the filter I'm describing has been used and has shown an increase and more stable foam head. And yes air quality will affect the foam head in a skimmer.
The pics I posted are from my MRC dual beckett skimmer but you can see a pic of the skimmer and if you look down in the front of the skimmer you will see 2 gray caps in the front just below or to the right or left of the "black" water feed pipe. This is where air is drawn into the skimmer and behind the caps I use cotton to filter the air. The cotton does clog very easily and is a hassle, and a good indication is the skimmer bubble production and sizing will vary. Pulling the cotton out again returns the skimmer to "mad" but then the foam head and sizing will vary. You could also fab a carbon chamber to pull air though and the carbon will filter out small minute particles and work just as well.



 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3269351
You have to be kidding if you believe the skimmer has completely skimmed the tank curious of the comment as well myself????? I was referring to the more pure air the skimmer pulls the efficience or ability could increase. Look at your Beckett style skimmers they use a prefilter on lines drawing air. The clog due to air quality and such and watch the skimmer drop off.
You have to be kidding if you equate completely skimmed to considerably decreased as the OP stated. MY comment of why would you think a reduction in skimate is a problem. Are you saying that the amount of produce in a skimmers collection cup must remain the same at all times or there is something wrong with the skimmer ?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I am assuming the OP was talking about bubble production and it not skimming since he said once he cleaned the airline it took off again. And yes there is no way that skimmer completely skimmed the tank!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Again let me just say NO I was not kidding when I asked why someone would automatically assume that if here was a drop off of skimmate that there was a mechanical problem with their skimmer. You would I would think have to agree that other factors could be involved
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Your correct that just because a skimmer does slow prouduction it has reduced the amount needed to skim, but with these know skimmers it's very typical that if you know these skimmers they do slow, stop production of skimmate, but if you look closely at the skimmer body itself you will see the bubble production inside the body is nill to nothing and the common practice is to adjust the airflow and water level to the skimmer with no affect on production. I'm just stating the skimmer isn't nearly that efficient
 
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