Skimmer not producing any more waste why?

[wwfstyle]

I have a venturi skimmer on my 75. The skimmer is in my sump and one day it just stopped pushing the dark stuff into the collection cup. In my tank I have a bubble tip anemone, speggetti finger leather, hammer, torch, zoos, shrooms, and a couple of the smaller leathers. I do water changes every 3 weeks now. With this stuff in my tank does it not produce the waste that the skimmer takes out? All my readings are great just trying to figure out whats up with the skimmer. I took it out cleaned and yet no change. Starting to beleive that it doesn't need to be running with my stock that I have in my tank. Any info or comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kroch3rd]

do you have any fish?

 

[wwfstyle]

I have 3 drawf angels, 2 blennies, 4 green cromis, and a couple cardinals. Blue linka and various snails and drawf hermits.

 

[barchtruong]

3 dwarf Angels? interesting........

 

[wwfstyle]

Ya why is that interesting? I have a coral beauty, Eibli, and a flame angel. Oh and I forgot 2 clown fish as well with my tank list.

 

[barchtruong]

eh.......you are going to have lots of fun watching your angels killing each other.
It won't be pretty to see 'em killing it's own kind.
I suppose all your angels are juvenille.
When they get a lil bigger, that's when trouble comes.
And....2 Blennies....that's another interesting subject there.

 

[wwfstyle]

Well my angels are about 3" so they almost full grown. They have been in my tank for months ( at least 6 to 8 months) is the newest one. They all stay close to each other in a 75 tank. Fins are nice and clean. My blennies..... Lawn mower blenny and a sand sifting blenny (not sure of technical name). But I do think that the angels are almost full grown if not already there.

 

[sepulatian]

Back to your original question. It is normal that the skimmer not have anything to "skim" at some point. It will begin collecting again as more desolved organics are in the water.

 

[tome]

Maybe you need to clean the air line. Mine does that, and I suck some water up the airline and then blow it back out. I do this to clean out the salt build-up inside my air hose, and it starts to work perfectly again.

 

[wwfstyle]

ya I do something simular I guess LOL. I take my big air compressor and push oh about 80 to 100# of air through my line and spit some water through my collection cup. I try to wait till my nephews are around cause they like to see that. But it does the trick tho.

 

[tome]

This might sound a little gross but, I put my lips on the air line, and then suck up air, so some water comes up, but does not touch my lips. Then I blow the water back down the air line and it works fine for me. (It may be a little gross, but it works for me)

 

[lazypinoy]

Originally Posted by Tome
This might sound a little gross but, I put my lips on the air line, and then suck up air, so some water comes up, but does not touch my lips. Then I blow the water back down the air line and it works fine for me. (It may be a little gross, but it works for me)
i used to do that all the time!

 

[who dey]

Originally Posted by Tome
Maybe you need to clean the air line. Mine does that, and I suck some water up the airline and then blow it back out. I do this to clean out the salt build-up inside my air hose, and it starts to work perfectly again.

 

[phishface]

Either the air line or the venturi for salt creep. If clogged, soak in distilled vinegar for a few hours to loosen up. Good luck. :happyfish

 

[sepulatian]

Sorry, I thought the tank was new!!!!! You definately should check the line if this system has been running for awhile. Sorry, my bad.

 

[wwfstyle]

Just thought of this.......... You know those air pumps? What if I was to hook 1 up to the skimmer? It would force air through plus the salt wont clogg the tubing. :notsure: :notsure: :notsure:

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by wwfstyle
Just thought of this.......... You know those air pumps? What if I was to hook 1 up to the skimmer? It would force air through plus the salt wont clogg the tubing. :notsure: :notsure: :notsure:
NO, you should not have to pump anything. How long ago did you buy this skimmer? Is the bubbles still going and everything seem to be working as it was before?

 

[kiddie lala]

Looks like you out skimmed your tank

. I had a problem like that and found out it was the tube leading to my collection cup. it was filled with skimmate that wouldn'e let the bubbles go up. just my 2 cents

 

[wwfstyle]

skimmer (Venturi) is only about 2 yrs old. The bubbles dont seem to be as great as when it was first bought but there is a good movement in there. I thought just keeping a forced air with the air pump would keep it going good and create the bubbles. You cann't really skim your tank dry can you? There is always going to be waste right?