bubbles coming from the elbow on Octopus skimmer pump

jennmac415 · 03/19/2008, 03:05 AM

I have the Pacific Coast Imports PS-3000 protein skimmer, basically the same as the Octopus NW200... anyway, took it apart and gave it a really good cleaning, put it all back together, now there are micro bubbles coming from right around the union connection on the pump...I think it is lowering the bubble production in the skimmer body... I have tightened the union as much as I can... bubbles still coming from it...they are NOT coming from the venturi... but from the union/elbow where the pump connects to the skimmer...did I forget a rubber gasket or something? I do not think I had one in this spot before and did not have these bubbles coming from it either...anyone know how to fix this?

dzeadow · 03/19/2008, 05:12 AM

is it hard to pull it apart? The O-ring on unions is actually on the face place part where the two faces touch, if you pulled it apart under water or weren't paying attention, you could have dropped it somwhere. I'd check that first.

psteeleb · 03/19/2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzeadow
is it hard to pull it apart? The O-ring on unions is actually on the face place part where the two faces touch, if you pulled it apart under water or weren't paying attention, you could have dropped it somwhere. I'd check that first.

Ditto, that's the first place to check, sounds like the o-ring fell out or is not seated right

jennmac415 · 03/19/2008, 01:21 PM

nope... O ring is still there...it is not coming from where the union actually screws onto the skimmer body in the front of the union,... but back at the back of the union where it connects to the elbow...towards the pump itself

jennmac415 · 03/19/2008, 02:40 PM

can anyone else give me some ideas on how to stop the bubbles?

jennmac415 · 03/19/2008, 09:13 PM

anyone??????

Gregsgsr · 03/19/2008, 10:39 PM

i had the same issues and i called and got a new one and it didnt make a difference. An o-ring is probaly not laid flat. It has to be layed flat. If you dont have one you need to put one there. it uses the thin o ring..

jennmac415 · 03/20/2008, 11:58 AM

ok... will check the O ring AGAIN... looked to be fine but I will look again

unbreakable · 03/20/2008, 12:09 PM

happened to me too but found out the bubbles were just coming from the nozzle. it went away on its on after a little while

jennmac415 · 03/20/2008, 12:11 PM

it seems to be affecting the bubble output going into the skimmer body....did it affect yours also? How long before it resolved itself?

unbreakable · 03/20/2008, 12:18 PM

from the pump into the body? make sure it is coming from there because i was going nuts removing the elbow and checking it out. did it a few times until i realized the bubbles were coming from the riser and the bubbles would swarm by the pump

i think it was an hour or half an hour before it stopped. i did the same thing you were doing, i had decided to clean the inside of the collection cup where all this thick junk collected and put it back and all the bubbles started

jennmac415 · 03/20/2008, 12:26 PM

oh well I re-set this thing up in the new sump... long story, 75 gallon sump cracked, 2 nights ago... the bubbles are definitely coming from right where the union on the pump that screws onto the skimmer body but right at the elbow part...

bradbury · 03/20/2008, 01:04 PM

I can't really figure out what you are really describing, but if the union has a leak in the connection, use a little vaseline around the o-ring. Essentially coat it a bit. Hope it works.

03/19/2008, 03:05 AM	#1
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	bubbles coming from the elbow on Octopus skimmer pump I have the Pacific Coast Imports PS-3000 protein skimmer, basically the same as the Octopus NW200... anyway, took it apart and gave it a really good cleaning, put it all back together, now there are micro bubbles coming from right around the union connection on the pump...I think it is lowering the bubble production in the skimmer body... I have tightened the union as much as I can... bubbles still coming from it...they are NOT coming from the venturi... but from the union/elbow where the pump connects to the skimmer...did I forget a rubber gasket or something? I do not think I had one in this spot before and did not have these bubbles coming from it either...anyone know how to fix this? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/19/2008, 05:12 AM	#2
dzeadow Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 2,589	is it hard to pull it apart? The O-ring on unions is actually on the face place part where the two faces touch, if you pulled it apart under water or weren't paying attention, you could have dropped it somwhere. I'd check that first. __________________ - Danny Current Tank Info: Dual 50 Breeder system, 30g custom sump/fuge, MSX200, Tank1-6x24T5 retro, Tank2-4x39T5 retro

03/19/2008, 01:21 PM	#4
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	nope... O ring is still there...it is not coming from where the union actually screws onto the skimmer body in the front of the union,... but back at the back of the union where it connects to the elbow...towards the pump itself __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/19/2008, 02:40 PM	#5
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	can anyone else give me some ideas on how to stop the bubbles? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/19/2008, 09:13 PM	#6
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	anyone?????? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/19/2008, 10:39 PM	#7
Gregsgsr Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 244	i had the same issues and i called and got a new one and it didnt make a difference. An o-ring is probaly not laid flat. It has to be layed flat. If you dont have one you need to put one there. it uses the thin o ring..

03/20/2008, 11:58 AM	#8
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	ok... will check the O ring AGAIN... looked to be fine but I will look again __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/20/2008, 12:09 PM	#9
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	happened to me too but found out the bubbles were just coming from the nozzle. it went away on its on after a little while __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

03/20/2008, 12:11 PM	#10
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	it seems to be affecting the bubble output going into the skimmer body....did it affect yours also? How long before it resolved itself? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/20/2008, 12:18 PM	#11
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	from the pump into the body? make sure it is coming from there because i was going nuts removing the elbow and checking it out. did it a few times until i realized the bubbles were coming from the riser and the bubbles would swarm by the pump i think it was an hour or half an hour before it stopped. i did the same thing you were doing, i had decided to clean the inside of the collection cup where all this thick junk collected and put it back and all the bubbles started __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

03/20/2008, 12:26 PM	#12
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	oh well I re-set this thing up in the new sump... long story, 75 gallon sump cracked, 2 nights ago... the bubbles are definitely coming from right where the union on the pump that screws onto the skimmer body but right at the elbow part... __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

03/20/2008, 01:04 PM	#13
bradbury Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St. Peters, MO Posts: 229	I can't really figure out what you are really describing, but if the union has a leak in the connection, use a little vaseline around the o-ring. Essentially coat it a bit. Hope it works.