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07/22/2009, 01:03 PM
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#1 |
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Premium Member
 Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Sycamore, IL
Posts: 128
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PM Bullet not making many bubbles
I've been running a PM Bullet 1 beckett skimmer for over a year and recently it has stopped producing the thick foam it usually does in the lower reaction chamber. Usually that chamber is opaque white with lots of very tiny bubbles. Now, the chamber is sort of translucent with fewer larger bubbles and the skimmer output has dropped drastically.
The skimmer is on a GENX PCX-55HP pressure rated pump, which is the pump I've always used for it. I've cleaned the pump head, with no effect. The beckett gets cleaned every 2-3 weeks, with the collection cup and upper chamber cleaned weekly. I emptied the skimmer and cleaned everything, still with no effect. Any ideas? |
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07/22/2009, 02:25 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,515
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beckett air intake ... Is it clogged?
Either that, the beckett itself or the pump is dying. |
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07/22/2009, 02:30 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 571
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Soak the injector in vinegar or a muriatic acid/water solution. Probably a calcium build-up...
__________________
-Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD |
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07/22/2009, 03:21 PM
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#4 |
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Premium Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Sycamore, IL
Posts: 128
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Forgot to mention. Beckett is totally clean - it's been soaked in vinegar or hydrochloric acid when needed.
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07/22/2009, 03:51 PM
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#5 |
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Tankless!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 806
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Yeah but the air intake in the beckett housing gets cloged sometimes.
__________________
Mike _____________ Click the Homepage link for my (just another) 120g in wall thread. Current Tank Info: 40g Lizard tank |
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07/23/2009, 07:17 PM
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#6 |
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Premium Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Sycamore, IL
Posts: 128
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Mike, you're a genius. And I'm an idiot. I was about to order a new pump when I got your post. I'd already checked the air intake valve and the tubing between the valve and the port on the beckett chamber, but I hadn't checked the port. Sure enough, it was mostly blocked by a salt buildup. I cleared that out and it's making bubbles like normal. Thanks, Mike.
Joe |
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07/24/2009, 10:35 AM
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#7 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 1,067
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Quote:
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07/24/2009, 07:28 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lake Worth, Florida
Posts: 728
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Yep you have to pull that baby apart every now and then I found that out with mine. Sometimes little pieces of "junk" get caught in there and it has to be torn down and cleaned. I love my PM works like a bull!!!!
__________________
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby. |
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07/24/2009, 10:07 PM
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#9 | |
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Tankless!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 806
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Quote:
__________________
Mike _____________ Click the Homepage link for my (just another) 120g in wall thread. Current Tank Info: 40g Lizard tank |
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