Skimmer?

[salisbury a d]

Is it possible there is nothing for my skimmer to remove or is it craping out on me?
My tank is 46 gallons, nitrite 0 nitrate 0 ammonia 0 ph 8.2 phosphate 0 alkalinity 2.
The skimmer is a Lees counter current run off an air pump. Well the thing is it is just removing water and at a fast rate too.
What should I do?
Does anyone have a skimmer they want to sell cheep? I would buy a new one but I do not have any money.
Adam

 

[@knight]

how new is your skimmer? it may still be in the break-in period.
[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: @knight ]

 

[salisbury a d]

I got it in November. I did just replace the air defuser but even before I did the stupid thing was still throwing out pure water.
Adam

 

[@knight]

i know where you can get a venturi style skimmer for about 50. or you can make one yourself for less than that. I got mine off an online auction. If interested, e-mail me (check my profile) and i'll put you in touch with the person I got mine from. The skimmer is rated for 100 gal.

 

[beth]

Lee's are not the best skimmer in the world, but the "throwing water out" is basically a symtom of having the water valve open too much. Adjust the value to the least water coming in and then, every 24 hrs, tweek it open in minute increments until you get the desired foam.
It is not the gph that matters with skimmers; sufficent contact time between water and air that is what is needed--enought time that the bubbles are formed which is what captures the organic waste in water. Enough of these organically ladden bubbles is what produces the foam, not water racing thru the skimmer.