skimmer not skimming (aqua C remora)

[kablamo]

hey all, I have a 75 gallon oceanic RR tank with an Aqua C Remora. I set up the 75 gallon one month ago from a 29 that was about 8 months old. From then on, the skimmer stopped working, just putting microbubbles in the tank, without skimming anything. My question is this, is there a way to adjust the Aqua C remora? I noticed the little flathead plastic screw on the intake hose inside under the collection cup, anyway, before the move, it was working fine. I know it should be skimming, because i have lots of fish and they are dirty!
Or is it possible that it is broken somewhere?

 

[rwood]

I had the same thing happen to me, I have a different protein skimmer but I did a move from an old tank to a new tank and for some reason my protein skimmer stopped working and just put out micro bubbles which made me very frusterated. I asked around what I should do and they told me to run vinager through it so I did and bamm it worked skimmer runs awesome. They told me some build up in my skimmer caused it.

 

[maurice]

That would be the first thing on my list is a good cleaning also.

 

[thegrog]

You may have something clogging the injector. Unscrew the little plastic screw (careful not to drop it into the skimmer) and get a small brush and clean out the injector with it through the screw hole. Then give the pump a good cleaning as wellas the collection cup. Should do this monthly to keep it working optimally.

 

[kablamo]

I actually did this last night after I posted, cleaned it inside and out with RO water and the wire brush they included, normally I expect a few days at least for the skimmer to break in, but the second I plugged the thing in, BAM, foam everywhere, the cup is half full and my fish's colors are all brighter and corals are open wider now!
Thanks for the replies, problem solved!

 

[thegrog]

Glad to hear it!

Get in the habit of regular cleanings and you won't get to this point again.

 

[hurt]

TheGrog, where is the plastic screw on the injector? I'm in the process of cleaning mine in vinegar, but I can't seem to find the screw?

 

[hurt]

Bump;
TheGrog- :help:

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by Hurt
TheGrog, where is the plastic screw on the injector? I'm in the process of cleaning mine in vinegar, but I can't seem to find the screw?
Srry,
If you take the collection cup off and look down, you will see it on the top of the intake tube.
If you have a very early model, it may not have one. You will just have to turn it upside down and pour vinegar/water solution down the intake and let it flow out the injector. AquaC quickly noticed this inconvenience and added the screw.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could drill a hole, tap it and put in a nylon screw to make your own cleaning port.