Urchin not skimming...

Dr. Chek · 02/22/2006, 10:20 AM

Hey all,

I got some great help from Melev about 6 months ago regarding the setup of my sump, which is was a wet/dry now without the bioballs, and has a Aqua C Urchin skimmer in it.
When originally installed, the skimmer was working great, but in the past 2 months or so it has stopped skimming...
Now, the sump only has a one wall, but not three to divide the water flow between the skimmer section and return section.
is this a big reason why it is not working great?
The drain line from the display overflow goes directly to the skimmer area first....
what do you think? Any modifications you would suggest?
when I get back home today I will post a picture...
Ever since my skimmer stopped skimming the nitrates have climbed like crazy and my BTA is looking very poor.

The wetdry is a Proclear, about 20" long, 9 inches wide.

Dr. Chek · 02/22/2006, 10:23 AM

Here's an older picture of the setup...

PiNaPLeX · 02/22/2006, 12:04 PM

my aquac remora stopped skimming a week ago, but I fixed the problem by pulling the entire thing, and cleaning everything out, (especially the injection nozzle). Now it works great again. The problem seemed to be the nozzle getting clogged with debris. The urchin and remora are the same basic internal design, so maybe you should try that and see if it works.

Dr. Chek · 02/22/2006, 12:28 PM

alright, thanks for the input.

I gave it a good cleaning three weeks ago, but I will have to do it again.
I see you have a 29gal? How much gunk are you pulling out with your remora?

PiNaPLeX · 02/22/2006, 03:49 PM

since i cleaned it, i'm pulling about half of the collection cup a week

Also, when you clean out the injection nozzle, take a disposable chopsick or something like that, and scrap away at the inside of the injection tube to remove any gunk that might be stuck in there, not just the injection hole itself.

Dr. Chek · 02/22/2006, 04:44 PM

thank you sir

Obi-dad · 02/22/2006, 04:49 PM

you can also get gunk and/or calcium build-up inside the pump which will slow it down enough to stop skimming. If that is the case a brush will remove gunk and vinegar will remove the calcium carbonate.

02/22/2006, 10:20 AM	#1
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	Urchin not skimming... Hey all, I got some great help from Melev about 6 months ago regarding the setup of my sump, which is was a wet/dry now without the bioballs, and has a Aqua C Urchin skimmer in it. When originally installed, the skimmer was working great, but in the past 2 months or so it has stopped skimming... Now, the sump only has a one wall, but not three to divide the water flow between the skimmer section and return section. is this a big reason why it is not working great? The drain line from the display overflow goes directly to the skimmer area first.... what do you think? Any modifications you would suggest? when I get back home today I will post a picture... Ever since my skimmer stopped skimming the nitrates have climbed like crazy and my BTA is looking very poor. The wetdry is a Proclear, about 20" long, 9 inches wide. __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

02/22/2006, 10:23 AM	#2
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	Here's an older picture of the setup... __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

02/22/2006, 12:04 PM	#3
PiNaPLeX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 439	my aquac remora stopped skimming a week ago, but I fixed the problem by pulling the entire thing, and cleaning everything out, (especially the injection nozzle). Now it works great again. The problem seemed to be the nozzle getting clogged with debris. The urchin and remora are the same basic internal design, so maybe you should try that and see if it works. __________________ PiNaPLe X - If fate really exsists, then it HATES my guts! Current Tank Info: 29g glass tank, Penguin 330 filter, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 2x65w PowerCompacts (10k & actinic), 90g RR AGA tank /w Megaflow(in progress), 40g Sump/Fuge, 2 x Seio 1500, Dolphin 800, 2x250W MH (XM 10k), 2x54W T5 (Actinic Plus + True Actinic)

02/22/2006, 12:28 PM	#4
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	alright, thanks for the input. I gave it a good cleaning three weeks ago, but I will have to do it again. I see you have a 29gal? How much gunk are you pulling out with your remora? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

02/22/2006, 03:49 PM	#5
PiNaPLeX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 439	since i cleaned it, i'm pulling about half of the collection cup a week Also, when you clean out the injection nozzle, take a disposable chopsick or something like that, and scrap away at the inside of the injection tube to remove any gunk that might be stuck in there, not just the injection hole itself. __________________ PiNaPLe X - If fate really exsists, then it HATES my guts! Current Tank Info: 29g glass tank, Penguin 330 filter, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 2x65w PowerCompacts (10k & actinic), 90g RR AGA tank /w Megaflow(in progress), 40g Sump/Fuge, 2 x Seio 1500, Dolphin 800, 2x250W MH (XM 10k), 2x54W T5 (Actinic Plus + True Actinic)

02/22/2006, 04:44 PM	#6
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	thank you sir __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

02/22/2006, 04:49 PM	#7
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	you can also get gunk and/or calcium build-up inside the pump which will slow it down enough to stop skimming. If that is the case a brush will remove gunk and vinegar will remove the calcium carbonate. __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer