Help with skimmer

2004jetta · 02/02/2011, 08:12 PM

Hey So I've had a skimmer in my sump for about 18 months now (long story) and when I try to turn it on it doesn't seem to be sucking in air. I completely disassembled it last week and did my best to clear out the intake tubes but I have yet to get it to work as it should. It's a Vertex Alpha 250. Any ideas?

tkeracer619 · 02/02/2011, 08:15 PM

You should remove the pumps and run them in fresh water with white vinegar to clean them up. There is probably something blocking the venturi.

2004jetta · 02/02/2011, 08:36 PM

I've taken apart the pump already (twice), When the pump turns on there is a small amount of bubbles but nothing of a significant amount. You're talking about the air intakes on the pump body?

tkeracer619 · 02/02/2011, 08:54 PM

Yes. If the air line is clear. The venturi (air intake on pump body) must be clogged.

Did it work before? When did it stop working?

2004jetta · 02/03/2011, 12:07 AM

I'll give it a shot tomorrow. The tank was set up in a vacant building with the skimmer in the sw for a few months before I was able to get the system running and when I plugged it in the whatever was blocking it was already there. I'll post the update, thanks for the help

tkeracer619 · 02/03/2011, 12:26 AM

Hmm, I think if the pumps were sitting there in water not plugged in you need to soak them in vinegar water. If you don't there might be something that has grown on the inside of the pump that could tear it up as it runs. They shouldn't be left in a tank without them running. They are too expensive of a pump not to clean in vinegar.

Vinny Kreyling · 02/03/2011, 09:35 AM

To clean a clogged venturi use a drill bit by hand.

chuckreef · 02/03/2011, 11:49 AM

Stick the ariline into a cup of vinegar. If it sucks in it will clean it out well.
If it does not, find the clog/obstrucon and clear it out by hand.

2004jetta · 02/03/2011, 04:45 PM

K so I took it out and put it in a 20g I had without cleaning, worked perfectly. I put it back in the sump and it stopped so I meesed with it. For some reason when I restricted the intake on the pump it would work so I positioned it to work for now. Any idea why it would only draw in air if there was a restriction in the line?

Ky1duck · 02/03/2011, 05:55 PM

i had the same problem with my new skimmer pump. after 2 days of pulling my hair out i ended up changing my air line (inside diameter was too small) and raised my pump closer to the surface of the water ( deeper in water less air ) don't know if this will help ya or not but it worked for me.

chuckreef · 02/03/2011, 06:08 PM

In a venturi, the influent fluid creates a suction as the fluid slows down through the restriction. If teh water level is way high and there is too much postive head pressure on the pump inlet, the fluid may simply be pushed through with out slowing down much. By restricting the inlet, you are changing that rate of velocity. as stated, Try raising the whole skimmer up to put less water pressure head on the pump inlet, or put a 90/elbow and short pipe on the inlet facing upward a few inches.

2004jetta · 02/03/2011, 08:02 PM

Cool, I'll rig up a stand. Funny, I planned this sump around this skimmer and this was the highest recommended water level, good thing I can bring it up

02/02/2011, 08:12 PM	#1
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	Help with skimmer Hey So I've had a skimmer in my sump for about 18 months now (long story) and when I try to turn it on it doesn't seem to be sucking in air. I completely disassembled it last week and did my best to clear out the intake tubes but I have yet to get it to work as it should. It's a Vertex Alpha 250. Any ideas?

02/02/2011, 08:15 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	You should remove the pumps and run them in fresh water with white vinegar to clean them up. There is probably something blocking the venturi. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/02/2011, 08:54 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Yes. If the air line is clear. The venturi (air intake on pump body) must be clogged. Did it work before? When did it stop working? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/03/2011, 12:26 AM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Hmm, I think if the pumps were sitting there in water not plugged in you need to soak them in vinegar water. If you don't there might be something that has grown on the inside of the pump that could tear it up as it runs. They shouldn't be left in a tank without them running. They are too expensive of a pump not to clean in vinegar. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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02/02/2011, 08:36 PM	#3
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	I've taken apart the pump already (twice), When the pump turns on there is a small amount of bubbles but nothing of a significant amount. You're talking about the air intakes on the pump body?

02/03/2011, 12:07 AM	#5
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	I'll give it a shot tomorrow. The tank was set up in a vacant building with the skimmer in the sw for a few months before I was able to get the system running and when I plugged it in the whatever was blocking it was already there. I'll post the update, thanks for the help

02/03/2011, 09:35 AM	#7
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	To clean a clogged venturi use a drill bit by hand.

02/03/2011, 11:49 AM	#8
chuckreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Davis, Ca. Posts: 816	Stick the ariline into a cup of vinegar. If it sucks in it will clean it out well. If it does not, find the clog/obstrucon and clear it out by hand.

02/03/2011, 04:45 PM	#9
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	K so I took it out and put it in a 20g I had without cleaning, worked perfectly. I put it back in the sump and it stopped so I meesed with it. For some reason when I restricted the intake on the pump it would work so I positioned it to work for now. Any idea why it would only draw in air if there was a restriction in the line?

02/03/2011, 05:55 PM	#10
Ky1duck Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: paducah,ky Posts: 88	i had the same problem with my new skimmer pump. after 2 days of pulling my hair out i ended up changing my air line (inside diameter was too small) and raised my pump closer to the surface of the water ( deeper in water less air ) don't know if this will help ya or not but it worked for me.

02/03/2011, 06:08 PM	#11
chuckreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Davis, Ca. Posts: 816	In a venturi, the influent fluid creates a suction as the fluid slows down through the restriction. If teh water level is way high and there is too much postive head pressure on the pump inlet, the fluid may simply be pushed through with out slowing down much. By restricting the inlet, you are changing that rate of velocity. as stated, Try raising the whole skimmer up to put less water pressure head on the pump inlet, or put a 90/elbow and short pipe on the inlet facing upward a few inches.

02/03/2011, 08:02 PM	#12
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	Cool, I'll rig up a stand. Funny, I planned this sump around this skimmer and this was the highest recommended water level, good thing I can bring it up