Protein skimmer pump's venturi tube fills with water?

pbradley0 · 01/12/2008, 06:58 PM

I'm having trouble setting up my protein skimmer. No bubbles are being injected into the protein skimmer body. The Rio Plus 600 pump that comes with it has the attachment on the outlet for attaching air tubing. I have attached this part but the airtubing fills with water instead of sucking in air and injecting bubbles into the skimmer. I've tried blowing on the tube to try and eject the water but as soon as I stop blowing the tube refills again with water. Anyone have any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

reefergeorge · 01/12/2008, 07:06 PM

It sound like it is set up wrong. If you can get pics it will help. If not go over the directions carefully. The pump may be too deep. So check that out.

mfinn · 01/12/2008, 07:10 PM

Type of skimmer would help also.

bertoni · 01/12/2008, 07:37 PM

Is this a Rio RVT? If so, there should be two pieces of tubing. One leads from the pump to the air column. The other goes from the pump back to the output side of the plumbing, above the pump.

Percula9 · 01/12/2008, 07:37 PM

Is your skimmer a Bak Pak? Either the pump is too deep or it is not strong enough.

pbradley0 · 01/12/2008, 08:20 PM

It's a Eshopps in-sump protein skimmer. The pump that is pictured in the skimmers instructions appears to be as you described with two tubes but the pump that came with it is not this model. The air tube is essentially just attached to a hole on the side of the output line but water seems to be being forced by the pump into the airtubing instead of sucking in air. According to the Rio's directions, all I have to do is attach the 1" pipe with the airtubing nozzel to the outlet of the pump and the airtubing to the nozzel. I've tried operating it at different water level without success.

The pump seems to be functioning properly otherwise. It fills the skimmer body with water and water pours out of the skimmer output. Only problem is just no bubbles.

I'm working on getting some pictures.

Vinnie71975 · 01/12/2008, 08:27 PM

i have a Powerhead that has an air line and i know if its in water too deep it doesnt bubble, What you may try is Buy a long piece of airline hose and a Big air pump, i know its not ideal or how its suppose to work but hey its worth a shot!

Aquarist007 · 01/12/2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pbradley0
I'm having trouble setting up my protein skimmer. No bubbles are being injected into the protein skimmer body. The Rio Plus 600 pump that comes with it has the attachment on the outlet for attaching air tubing. I have attached this part but the airtubing fills with water instead of sucking in air and injecting bubbles into the skimmer. I've tried blowing on the tube to try and eject the water but as soon as I stop blowing the tube refills again with water. Anyone have any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

sorry I need to ask it--is the air tubing above the water line?

pbradley0 · 01/13/2008, 12:22 AM

yes airtubing is well above the waterline

bertoni · 01/13/2008, 04:08 PM

A link to the exact product you're using might help, as well. Does that vendor sell only one venturi skimmer?

ksouers · 01/13/2008, 05:01 PM

The air hose and venturis for skimmers is usually on the INLET side of the pump, not the output. Carefully look over the directions and diagrams. Are you sure you have it hooked up correctly?

I've tried to use the "venturi" on the output side of the Rio 600 pumps before and it ain't worth a tinkers damn. If they are trying to use a stock Rio then it probably won't work, and there is nothing on the stock inlet side to attach a venturi to. The output side is under pressure and simply will not suck air.

You could try gluing the "venturi" to the inlet side of the pump. Though you might be better off replacing the pump with an equivalent sized Maxi-Jet and venturi.

pbradley0 · 01/13/2008, 07:14 PM

Here are the pictures of the pump attached to the skimmer and the piece that the directions indicate should be in place for the venturi. The directions are pretty brief but do state that it sould be attach as I currently have it.

It makes sense that the airtube should be attached to the input side of the pump. Its doing just as you described since the output is under pressure. It just spits water into the tubing. From what I can tell, there's no way to attach the tubing to the input.

This is a picture of the pump attached to the skimmer

Picture of the piece.

Looking through the piece with the valve open

Looking through the piece with the valve partially closed.

Percula9 · 01/13/2008, 07:37 PM

This is why it doesn't work, the venturi needs to be on the input of the pump. The venturi on the output can work but it needs to be funneled shaped on the inside. You might try partially closing the valve to create a constriction. This might make it work. Go to your local fish store and see if they can get you the venturi hook up for the rio 600 pump. If you can't get it I have one I can send to you if you PM me with the particulars.

ksouers · 01/13/2008, 08:23 PM

pbradley -- That's what I was afraid of. It's just stock parts from the Rio. If you pull the cover off the Rio (it's a box-like "screen" with a bunch of slits in it) you will find that there is nothing to attach to on the inlet side. It's just flat with a short nub at the inlet and ribs flush with the nub. If they gave you all the parts with Rio you should also have other fittings for the output side of the pump. You may be able to glue this fitting with the valve to the input side of the pump, use one of the other fittings to hook to the hose for the skimmer.

This is not an ideal situation. I'm just trying to help get what you have to work. I've done some searching on Eshopps skimmer and what I found was a sump with a built-in skimmer. Is this what you have? From your description, and subsequent problems, this sounds like a poor piece of equipment. Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. The sump itself may be fine, but my guess is the skimmer was just something they tossed in to try to make the sump more attractive. The best advice I can give is bite the bullet and try to find a decent skimmer.

01/12/2008, 06:58 PM	#1
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	Protein skimmer pump's venturi tube fills with water? I'm having trouble setting up my protein skimmer. No bubbles are being injected into the protein skimmer body. The Rio Plus 600 pump that comes with it has the attachment on the outlet for attaching air tubing. I have attached this part but the airtubing fills with water instead of sucking in air and injecting bubbles into the skimmer. I've tried blowing on the tube to try and eject the water but as soon as I stop blowing the tube refills again with water. Anyone have any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

01/12/2008, 07:06 PM	#2
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	It sound like it is set up wrong. If you can get pics it will help. If not go over the directions carefully. The pump may be too deep. So check that out. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

01/12/2008, 07:10 PM	#3
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Type of skimmer would help also. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

01/12/2008, 07:37 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Is this a Rio RVT? If so, there should be two pieces of tubing. One leads from the pump to the air column. The other goes from the pump back to the output side of the plumbing, above the pump. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/12/2008, 08:27 PM	#7
Vinnie71975 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bryan Ohio Posts: 777	i have a Powerhead that has an air line and i know if its in water too deep it doesnt bubble, What you may try is Buy a long piece of airline hose and a Big air pump, i know its not ideal or how its suppose to work but hey its worth a shot! __________________ God will have Mercy Your SW tank WONT- Me Freedom Must occasionally be renewed with the blood of patriots-General Patton Current Tank Info: 55g reef to be(buying stuff now), 20g high Goldfish, 20g High FW Semi Aggressive, 35g hex Community tank, 10g SW Fowlr

01/12/2008, 07:37 PM	#5
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Is your skimmer a Bak Pak? Either the pump is too deep or it is not strong enough.

01/12/2008, 08:20 PM	#6
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	It's a Eshopps in-sump protein skimmer. The pump that is pictured in the skimmers instructions appears to be as you described with two tubes but the pump that came with it is not this model. The air tube is essentially just attached to a hole on the side of the output line but water seems to be being forced by the pump into the airtubing instead of sucking in air. According to the Rio's directions, all I have to do is attach the 1" pipe with the airtubing nozzel to the outlet of the pump and the airtubing to the nozzel. I've tried operating it at different water level without success. The pump seems to be functioning properly otherwise. It fills the skimmer body with water and water pours out of the skimmer output. Only problem is just no bubbles. I'm working on getting some pictures.

01/13/2008, 12:22 AM	#9
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	yes airtubing is well above the waterline

01/13/2008, 04:08 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A link to the exact product you're using might help, as well. Does that vendor sell only one venturi skimmer? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2008, 05:01 PM	#11
ksouers Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 153	The air hose and venturis for skimmers is usually on the INLET side of the pump, not the output. Carefully look over the directions and diagrams. Are you sure you have it hooked up correctly? I've tried to use the "venturi" on the output side of the Rio 600 pumps before and it ain't worth a tinkers damn. If they are trying to use a stock Rio then it probably won't work, and there is nothing on the stock inlet side to attach a venturi to. The output side is under pressure and simply will not suck air. You could try gluing the "venturi" to the inlet side of the pump. Though you might be better off replacing the pump with an equivalent sized Maxi-Jet and venturi. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef, 20g sump, GEO 612 Ca reactor, AC Jr., 1x150w, 2x250w mh

01/13/2008, 07:14 PM	#12
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	Here are the pictures of the pump attached to the skimmer and the piece that the directions indicate should be in place for the venturi. The directions are pretty brief but do state that it sould be attach as I currently have it. It makes sense that the airtube should be attached to the input side of the pump. Its doing just as you described since the output is under pressure. It just spits water into the tubing. From what I can tell, there's no way to attach the tubing to the input. This is a picture of the pump attached to the skimmer Picture of the piece. Looking through the piece with the valve open Looking through the piece with the valve partially closed.

01/13/2008, 07:37 PM	#13
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	This is why it doesn't work, the venturi needs to be on the input of the pump. The venturi on the output can work but it needs to be funneled shaped on the inside. You might try partially closing the valve to create a constriction. This might make it work. Go to your local fish store and see if they can get you the venturi hook up for the rio 600 pump. If you can't get it I have one I can send to you if you PM me with the particulars.

01/13/2008, 08:23 PM	#14
ksouers Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 153	pbradley -- That's what I was afraid of. It's just stock parts from the Rio. If you pull the cover off the Rio (it's a box-like "screen" with a bunch of slits in it) you will find that there is nothing to attach to on the inlet side. It's just flat with a short nub at the inlet and ribs flush with the nub. If they gave you all the parts with Rio you should also have other fittings for the output side of the pump. You may be able to glue this fitting with the valve to the input side of the pump, use one of the other fittings to hook to the hose for the skimmer. This is not an ideal situation. I'm just trying to help get what you have to work. I've done some searching on Eshopps skimmer and what I found was a sump with a built-in skimmer. Is this what you have? From your description, and subsequent problems, this sounds like a poor piece of equipment. Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. The sump itself may be fine, but my guess is the skimmer was just something they tossed in to try to make the sump more attractive. The best advice I can give is bite the bullet and try to find a decent skimmer. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef, 20g sump, GEO 612 Ca reactor, AC Jr., 1x150w, 2x250w mh