skimmer body mostly full of water (no air)

rwb500 · 02/16/2015, 10:08 PM

I have just set up my Avast CS1 (pretty standard cone skimmer) and the pump (diablo DC skimmer pump) is not pulling enough air, so the skimmer body is about half full of just water with no air mixing in it. The pump is mounted below the skimmer.

If I move the pump out from under the skimmer I could move it closer to being just below the surface. This should help it suck more air, correct?

If I do that I could also lower the skimmer in the water so that the pump has less head pressure against it.

The pump is only running on speed 4/6 right now. I would like to turn it up to 5 or 6/6 but the air/water ratio will need to change for that to happen. If I do that now it will overflow immediately.

what should I do?

Percula9 · 02/16/2015, 10:12 PM

Check the venturi for a clog.

MidwesternTexan · 02/16/2015, 10:17 PM

It sounds like you don't even have a venturi.
Is there a hose coming up out of the water?

Could you please post some pics or a short video?

rwb500 · 02/16/2015, 10:32 PM

there is a venturi, i pulled it off to check for a clog and I didn't see anything. But I think it may have been clogged because I did notice that I could barely feel the air coming into the silencer. I remember when I first set it up I could definitely feel it. Also, i remember after the first day, the water level inside the skimmer jumped way up, suggesting venturi clog.

But while I fussing around with it I have discovered that the way I had the pump attached is not going to be sufficient (it fell off) so I'm going to have to make a trip to home depot before I play around with this any more.

azjohnny · 02/17/2015, 06:19 AM

remove and inspect the volute, it is common for dried salt to form there

Savant · 02/17/2015, 11:13 AM

Sounds similar to my situation with a lack of bubble production

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2481319

I did clean the venturi and it did have salt deposits, I also lraised the skimmer height and lowered to no avail. Im hopeing somebody can crack this issue

Indiana Reefin · 02/17/2015, 11:27 AM

Your pump could be starting up backwards. Try unplugging the pump and plugging it back in a couple of times. If the pump has no volute the imeller can rotate in the opposite direction that it is supposed to. If it is starting up backwards it will not have anywhere close to the same air draw

rwb500 · 02/17/2015, 09:02 PM

it's a DC pump, it doesn't start backwards. I ended up lowering the height of the skimmer output tube which effectively lowers the resistance on the skimmer outflow and allowed me to turn the pump way up. I think it was initially put together wrong.

curiously, submerging the end of the outflow also greatly reduces outflow resistance. I guess there is a siphon effect?

at higher speeds the pump seems to draw much more air:water so the issue is solved.

02/16/2015, 10:08 PM	#1
rwb500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,694	skimmer body mostly full of water (no air) I have just set up my Avast CS1 (pretty standard cone skimmer) and the pump (diablo DC skimmer pump) is not pulling enough air, so the skimmer body is about half full of just water with no air mixing in it. The pump is mounted below the skimmer. If I move the pump out from under the skimmer I could move it closer to being just below the surface. This should help it suck more air, correct? If I do that I could also lower the skimmer in the water so that the pump has less head pressure against it. The pump is only running on speed 4/6 right now. I would like to turn it up to 5 or 6/6 but the air/water ratio will need to change for that to happen. If I do that now it will overflow immediately. what should I do?

02/16/2015, 10:17 PM	#3
MidwesternTexan Average Joe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: A Texan, in Franklin, WI. Posts: 594	It sounds like you don't even have a venturi. Is there a hose coming up out of the water? Could you please post some pics or a short video? __________________ 180g Reef- 75+ different Corals; 14 fish; DIY Coast to Coast Overflow 3 x 120W Full Spectrum/Dimmable LED's 125g DIY sump- Reef Octopus nw200-6540B - 40B FT- ~320gallon system total DIY Large ATS Current Tank Info: 180g- C2C overflow- 125g sumpk 40B FT; Lots of Coral- mostly sps

02/17/2015, 11:13 AM	#6
Savant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: N.E. Pa Posts: 402	Sounds similar to my situation with a lack of bubble production http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2481319 I did clean the venturi and it did have salt deposits, I also lraised the skimmer height and lowered to no avail. Im hopeing somebody can crack this issue __________________ ____________ Will Tank Info: 105g DT l 100g sump l remote fuge 40g l Photon 48V2 LED l Diablo XS200 l APEX to run the show

02/16/2015, 10:12 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Check the venturi for a clog.

02/16/2015, 10:32 PM	#4
rwb500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,694	there is a venturi, i pulled it off to check for a clog and I didn't see anything. But I think it may have been clogged because I did notice that I could barely feel the air coming into the silencer. I remember when I first set it up I could definitely feel it. Also, i remember after the first day, the water level inside the skimmer jumped way up, suggesting venturi clog. But while I fussing around with it I have discovered that the way I had the pump attached is not going to be sufficient (it fell off) so I'm going to have to make a trip to home depot before I play around with this any more.

02/17/2015, 06:19 AM	#5
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	remove and inspect the volute, it is common for dried salt to form there

02/17/2015, 11:27 AM	#7
Indiana Reefin Garrett Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 847	Your pump could be starting up backwards. Try unplugging the pump and plugging it back in a couple of times. If the pump has no volute the imeller can rotate in the opposite direction that it is supposed to. If it is starting up backwards it will not have anywhere close to the same air draw

02/17/2015, 09:02 PM	#8
rwb500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,694	it's a DC pump, it doesn't start backwards. I ended up lowering the height of the skimmer output tube which effectively lowers the resistance on the skimmer outflow and allowed me to turn the pump way up. I think it was initially put together wrong. curiously, submerging the end of the outflow also greatly reduces outflow resistance. I guess there is a siphon effect? at higher speeds the pump seems to draw much more air:water so the issue is solved.