skimmer output VERY low - is it my unit , my pump , or ........

3bavboys

3bavboys

Member
just the fact that i have no waste ?
lfs owner says not to worry , don't upgrade - i just have no waste - my venturi is open and clean - i am concerned with my high bio-load i am not skimming enough
90G fowlr
125 # LR
80 # LS
proclear wet/dry amd skimmer
4 units of chemi pure in the sump
tank up 1 yr in march
amonia and trites are zero , ph 8.2 , specifc gravity 1.023, trates 50 + ,
ALL fish are in there at least 6 weeks
pr of clowns
diamond goby
royal gramma
yellow tang
racoon btrfly
6 line wrasse
coral beauty
pj cardinal
blue green chromis
lyrtail anthais
 
3bavboys

3bavboys

Member
plenty of bubbles at the bottom and in the tube , just no or very little foam and output in collection cup
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
post a pic of setup? you should get SOMETHING with all those fish and especially any LR in there.
 
quads4_lif

quads4_lif

Member
I had a skimmer that had lots of bubbles in the skimmer but it was not foaming the venturi line was to small so I hooked up a small air pump to it and it started foaming almost imediatly. You can try this or mabey try makeing your venturi line larger by makeing the hole bigger and getting a larger line. Do you have the air valve still on the vinture line? if so try removing it and just leave the vinture line open and see what it does.
 
taznut

taznut

Active Member
can u turn up the skimmer a little to raise where the bubbles are in the tube??? at the top of the bubble line is it collecting any buildup?? if not it sounds like your fine, if so i think turning up the skimmer so the water line in higher will do it...
 
3bavboys

3bavboys

Member
i actually did try that too , last night - taking off the venturi and leaving the airline open , i even blew into the line - all with no change -
btw , about 3 weeks i added 3 pieces of LR and skimmer went crazy for about 5 days - now - nothing
 
3bavboys

3bavboys

Member
not sure of size, but it is rated for my 90g -
no , i've have only cleaned the collection cup and output line -
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
If the pump is not operating at peak performance it may not be pushing enough pressure into the skimmer. I've noticed on my skimmer that it's time for cleaning any time my skimmate production goes down.
 
trippkid

trippkid

Active Member
try raising output tube a little at a time until you start getting some skimmate, you really should be getting something, unless the are never fed. I hope you get your problem resolved.
 
3bavboys

3bavboys

Member
using the above pic of the skimmer ,the white pvc part is up at its highest level in my sump , where it still can flow into the bioballs section -
what else can i do ?
 
quads4_lif

quads4_lif

Member
1journeyman is talking about the pump that puts water into the skimmer. Take it apart and clean it. Also I am unsure about how you adjust the water level in your skimmer. There should be like a valve or your riser tube moveing it up and down. but even with it down to low as long as the water level is at the bottom of the cup you should be getting some foam. Unless your skimmer is just supper awsome.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by 3bavboys
how to clean pump ?
or do you mean the tube , below the collection cup ?
No, the actual plugged in pump. Take it apart and soak it in vinegar and water for several hours. Then reassemble it and plug it in and let it run in vinegar and water for several hours. Rinse it off real good, run it in a tub of sw for a bit, then re-use it.
 
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