Bak-Pak Skimmer not skimming

RedM3 · 11/01/2010, 04:00 PM

Hey everyone,

I was hoping you all may be able to shine some light on a possible issue I'm having with my skimmer. I have a 55 gallon set up with a CPR Bak-Pak 2 (full details below). My system has been up and running since early-mid May, so a shade under 6 months. For better or worse, I had the skim cup in while it was cycling. It produced plenty of skimmate. After that first cup, I have not been able to collect ANY more skimmate at all. I've tried adjusting the height of the cup throughout the range of the water column with no luck. I do have a light bio load still, but I still feel like I should be picking up something. I have gotten the outflow from the filter adjusted properly, so I'm getting water splashes on the top glass (covering the aquarium) which is causing skimmate-like material to build up on the glass until I scrape it off.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what might be going on, and why I'm not picking up any skimmate?

Tank details:
55g w/ CPR Bak-Pak 2 HOB
60 lbs live sand
~60 lbs live rock
2 Percula Clownfish
3 Blue Green Chromis
1 Banggai Cardinal
1 Royal Gramma
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Feather Duster
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Assortment of hermit crabs and turbo, nassarius, cerith, bumblebee, and astraea snails
1 Long Polyp Leather Coral
1 Taro Tree Coral
(I'm waiting until I invest in better lighting to really build my reef)

aleonn · 11/01/2010, 06:01 PM

It definitely should be producing something in all that time. Hmm, maybe something is clogged inside the skimmer? Did you try cleaning the entire unit in hot water?

E36328i · 11/01/2010, 06:27 PM

I have heard the Bak-Pak skimmers have a somewhat underrated pump, try replacing the pump with a more powerful unit. Another suggestion I have read about was adding a wood airstone in the bubble chamber helps with a more consistent skim production.

Finally, maybe a good soak in a hot water/vinegar bath could help.

RedM3 · 11/01/2010, 06:34 PM

aleonn - Fairly strange, no? I cleaned everything out very well maybe a little over a month ago. There wasn't anything noticeable and it still doesn't collect. The other bit of information that might help is that there is nearly no bubbling in the chamber for the skimmer, so there isn't much of an opportunity for any foam to develop. I would wonder if the powerhead that feeds the skimmer/filter is going bad, but it stopped collecting in less than a month after it was brand new.

E36 - I've thought about trying to put in an airstone, but logistically it is somewhat difficult to place all the equipment since the unit is hung on the back of the tank. I might give that a try if nothing else works. Do you happen to know offhand how easy it is to interchange the powerheads? Physically replacing it isn't the issue - I mean more along like finding ones that fit properly. I don't even know what the rating is on the stock one...

aleonn · 11/02/2010, 05:07 AM

I don't know much about the Bak Pak skimmer, but I'm looking at the instruction manual online. Could be an underpowered pump, or the plumbing inside the skimmer is leaky? I assumed you've played around with the outlet valve and the air valve on the airline. You probably have to contact customer service on their side (cprusa.com), or check out if they have a forum to get a much better reply

aleonn · 11/02/2010, 05:10 AM

Oh just noticed they have a video on outlet placement on their website. Could be relevant. G/L! Also found their protein skimmer support forum and phone # there too. HTH!

jwoyshnar · 11/02/2010, 05:17 AM

Try some mods. When i had mine i added an airstone to the bubble chamber and it made a huge difference. As others have said though yours should be pulling out something.

RedM3 · 11/02/2010, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I won't have a chance to spend much time with playing around with it / modding it until Thursday or Friday, but I will let you all know what I come up with if/when I have success.

pwa · 11/02/2010, 02:58 PM

Not sure with version you have but if you have the Accela power head, then I would suggest looking at the the impeller cover, were the air hose ties in they get clogged with salt build up. I've had to drill mine out before(using a drill bit and my hand no power tools) may also try installing a new air hose as they deteriorate over time and could have collapsed. If you need I can take a pic of the part I'm talking about.

As far as power heads you can use a Rio 600, MaxJet 1200, and an Accela 1000 pump. which ever you choose make sure it has the venture kit.

pwa

ihavtats29 · 11/02/2010, 06:47 PM

if it has the maxijet pump get rid of it the rio 800 pro is the direct replacement pump for the skimmer , they coul;d be bought with either pump i was given a bak-pak with the maxijet and it would not skim for nothing i replaced the maxijet with thee rio and it worked 100% better. if you have the rio pump remove the pump and clean it along with all the airline tubes and the small 90 degree elbows on the pump also clean the magnet and impeller it will work like new agian . i also found with the rio pump that a stainless steel shaft for a older style powerhead will improve its performance. if its the maxijet pump take it apart and clean it as well clean the airline tubing and make sure it is pulling in airyou should see micro bubbles in the chamber where the water is entering. if your still having problems get a better skimmer, i was running one on my 56 tall and to be honest i would not use it on a tank more than 20-30 gal , they are good skimmers but will not do what they are rated for . from what i have learned is to get a skimmer that is rated for twice you tank size , a octopus 110 would be a good size skimmer for your tank

RedM3 · 11/05/2010, 09:38 AM

So it turns out I never read the troubleshooting carefully enough. One of the statements is "Skimmer chamber is not filled with micro bubbles. Slowly close the air line valve until
the chamber is filled with bubbles."

My skimmer chamber was not filled with micro bubbles. I slowly closed the air line valve. There is now bubbles in the chamber. My skimmer is now skimming. Thanks for knocking some sense into me everyone!

allsps40 · 11/05/2010, 12:38 PM

I can believe some did see that you said you dont many bubbles in the skimmer. I saw it right away. I was going to say check the venturi and play with the air knob. Glad to hear you got it working. These are not the best skimmers for sure but they do work and are great for nano type reefs.

11/01/2010, 04:00 PM	#1
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	Bak-Pak Skimmer not skimming Hey everyone, I was hoping you all may be able to shine some light on a possible issue I'm having with my skimmer. I have a 55 gallon set up with a CPR Bak-Pak 2 (full details below). My system has been up and running since early-mid May, so a shade under 6 months. For better or worse, I had the skim cup in while it was cycling. It produced plenty of skimmate. After that first cup, I have not been able to collect ANY more skimmate at all. I've tried adjusting the height of the cup throughout the range of the water column with no luck. I do have a light bio load still, but I still feel like I should be picking up something. I have gotten the outflow from the filter adjusted properly, so I'm getting water splashes on the top glass (covering the aquarium) which is causing skimmate-like material to build up on the glass until I scrape it off. Any thoughts or suggestions on what might be going on, and why I'm not picking up any skimmate? Tank details: 55g w/ CPR Bak-Pak 2 HOB 60 lbs live sand ~60 lbs live rock 2 Percula Clownfish 3 Blue Green Chromis 1 Banggai Cardinal 1 Royal Gramma 1 Coral Beauty Angel 1 Feather Duster 2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp Assortment of hermit crabs and turbo, nassarius, cerith, bumblebee, and astraea snails 1 Long Polyp Leather Coral 1 Taro Tree Coral (I'm waiting until I invest in better lighting to really build my reef) __________________ Fish: 2 Percula Clownfish Inverts: 2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, CUC Corals: Kenya Tree, Long Polyp Leather Current Tank Info: 55g Reef

11/02/2010, 06:47 PM	#10
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	if it has the maxijet pump get rid of it the rio 800 pro is the direct replacement pump for the skimmer , they coul;d be bought with either pump i was given a bak-pak with the maxijet and it would not skim for nothing i replaced the maxijet with thee rio and it worked 100% better. if you have the rio pump remove the pump and clean it along with all the airline tubes and the small 90 degree elbows on the pump also clean the magnet and impeller it will work like new agian . i also found with the rio pump that a stainless steel shaft for a older style powerhead will improve its performance. if its the maxijet pump take it apart and clean it as well clean the airline tubing and make sure it is pulling in airyou should see micro bubbles in the chamber where the water is entering. if your still having problems get a better skimmer, i was running one on my 56 tall and to be honest i would not use it on a tank more than 20-30 gal , they are good skimmers but will not do what they are rated for . from what i have learned is to get a skimmer that is rated for twice you tank size , a octopus 110 would be a good size skimmer for your tank __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

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11/01/2010, 06:01 PM	#2
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	It definitely should be producing something in all that time. Hmm, maybe something is clogged inside the skimmer? Did you try cleaning the entire unit in hot water?

11/01/2010, 06:27 PM	#3
E36328i Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atascadero, California Posts: 241	I have heard the Bak-Pak skimmers have a somewhat underrated pump, try replacing the pump with a more powerful unit. Another suggestion I have read about was adding a wood airstone in the bubble chamber helps with a more consistent skim production. Finally, maybe a good soak in a hot water/vinegar bath could help.

11/01/2010, 06:34 PM	#4
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	aleonn - Fairly strange, no? I cleaned everything out very well maybe a little over a month ago. There wasn't anything noticeable and it still doesn't collect. The other bit of information that might help is that there is nearly no bubbling in the chamber for the skimmer, so there isn't much of an opportunity for any foam to develop. I would wonder if the powerhead that feeds the skimmer/filter is going bad, but it stopped collecting in less than a month after it was brand new. E36 - I've thought about trying to put in an airstone, but logistically it is somewhat difficult to place all the equipment since the unit is hung on the back of the tank. I might give that a try if nothing else works. Do you happen to know offhand how easy it is to interchange the powerheads? Physically replacing it isn't the issue - I mean more along like finding ones that fit properly. I don't even know what the rating is on the stock one...

11/02/2010, 05:07 AM	#5
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I don't know much about the Bak Pak skimmer, but I'm looking at the instruction manual online. Could be an underpowered pump, or the plumbing inside the skimmer is leaky? I assumed you've played around with the outlet valve and the air valve on the airline. You probably have to contact customer service on their side (cprusa.com), or check out if they have a forum to get a much better reply

11/02/2010, 05:10 AM	#6
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Oh just noticed they have a video on outlet placement on their website. Could be relevant. G/L! Also found their protein skimmer support forum and phone # there too. HTH!

11/02/2010, 05:17 AM	#7
jwoyshnar Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: 18441 Posts: 1,531	Try some mods. When i had mine i added an airstone to the bubble chamber and it made a huge difference. As others have said though yours should be pulling out something.

11/02/2010, 07:20 AM	#8
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	Thanks for the advice, everyone. I won't have a chance to spend much time with playing around with it / modding it until Thursday or Friday, but I will let you all know what I come up with if/when I have success.

11/02/2010, 02:58 PM	#9
pwa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Pole Alaska Posts: 42	Not sure with version you have but if you have the Accela power head, then I would suggest looking at the the impeller cover, were the air hose ties in they get clogged with salt build up. I've had to drill mine out before(using a drill bit and my hand no power tools) may also try installing a new air hose as they deteriorate over time and could have collapsed. If you need I can take a pic of the part I'm talking about. As far as power heads you can use a Rio 600, MaxJet 1200, and an Accela 1000 pump. which ever you choose make sure it has the venture kit. pwa

11/05/2010, 09:38 AM	#11
RedM3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 187	So it turns out I never read the troubleshooting carefully enough. One of the statements is "Skimmer chamber is not filled with micro bubbles. Slowly close the air line valve until the chamber is filled with bubbles." My skimmer chamber was not filled with micro bubbles. I slowly closed the air line valve. There is now bubbles in the chamber. My skimmer is now skimming. Thanks for knocking some sense into me everyone!

11/05/2010, 12:38 PM	#12
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I can believe some did see that you said you dont many bubbles in the skimmer. I saw it right away. I was going to say check the venturi and play with the air knob. Glad to hear you got it working. These are not the best skimmers for sure but they do work and are great for nano type reefs.