My protein skimmer broke! Will I be ok for a week?

[listerofsmeg]

My tank is 180litres plus a two foot sump.

I just did a water change, and when I switched my protein skimmer back on its not working! The motors working, but it's not taking in any air so there are no bubbles Help!!!

I'm getting a new tank next Sunday which comes with a protein skimmer so I don't want to buy a new one, obviously if I have to then I will... But do I need to?

If I do daily water changes will that be alright for a week if I cut down on feeding aswell?

How much water should I change daily?

[Steve Wright2]

what model protien skimmer is it listerofsmeg ( red dwarf fan?)

if the water is running through the pump but body of skimmer has no bubbles
you may have a blockage somewhere

if you can indicate skimmer type, someone with experience of that model, may be offer some troubleshooting tips

IMO running without a skimmer for a week is not a major disaster (depends on stocking levels etc ), but getting it working again if possible = best case scenario

[listerofsmeg]

Lol yeah red dwarf rocks!!

I'm not entirely sure what make it is, I got it second hand. It says 'wave' on the outside and it's red and black. I will take a photo, how do you get photos on here?

I thought it might be a blockage so I blew through the air intake. Lots of bubbles came out but not in the skimmer, in the sump where it's sitting. I've tried to get my fingers down to see if it's come unconnected but my fingers are too big :-(

[Steve Wright2]

It does indeed IMO ( Lister, Rimmer, Holly, The cat and Kryton, very good comedy series IMO)

Wave skimmers are a UK product I believe (had to Google)

I do not have one of those but I know from checking that they have a pin wheel in the pump and this pin wheel chops up the air being drawn in, into fine bubbles

I have a skimmer (Reef Octo) that also uses a pin wheel, and I have found that if small objects get in there, it does stop the pin wheel working properly and you get very little air in the skimmer body ( in my case it was from a leaking bag of Purigen and loads of those beads had got into the pump and effectively clogged the pin wheel)

photos - best method is to down load the images to a photo sharing site, and then attach the link on your post

alternatively - you can save the image as J peg on your computer, use the go advanced option next to post quick reply, and then use the paper clip icon to down load the selected image/ images from your computer to your post
with this option the images show up as thumbnails in the post, but they can be clicked on and enlarged

[Gary Majchrzak]

Yes. Even without changing water your aquarium will be fine while the skimmer is down. Your skimmer sounds like it needs repair- not replacing. Take your time and repair it.. your aquarium will be fine. In the meantime, don't overfeed the aquarium. Good luck!

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by Gary Majchrzak

Yes. Even without changing water your aquarium will be fine while the skimmer is down. Your skimmer sounds like it needs repair- not replacing. Take your time and repair it.. your aquarium will be fine. In the meantime, don't overfeed the aquarium. Good luck!

Of course. Skimming is a long-term process with long-term benefits; a week without is absolutely nothing to worry about.

[listerofsmeg]

Thank you thank you