HELP!!! Skimmer quit working!

[mvreef]

I cleaned my skimmer tonight and now it is not working! How long can I go without a skimmer? My tank has been established over a year now.

PLEASE HELP!

[Reefmedic79]

It's not working how? The pump stopped working or is it just not producing skimmate?

If you did a "deep cleaning" of the skimmer, meaning you took it out of the tank and cleaned out the main bubble chamber and the pump and all pipes and such, then it could take a few days for it to start producing skimmate again. Most skimmers are more efficient when they've had time to grow a layer of bacterial film in the bubble chamber.

[mvreef]

This is crazy, but after cleaning it...its like the plastic shrunk! Nothing will fit together because the plastic "body" of the skimmer is too small.

Is it possible hot water could shrink parts?

[Reefmedic79]

Doubtful, can't really help you with that. Maybe try putting them together the other way.

[jarrett]

Every time I clean my skimmer I need to readjust it to produce again. And usually takes a few days to get back to normal so to speak. I'm not sure about it shrinking but if it's just a matter of bubbles climbing properly, you might need to wait a bit. You can run a tank without a skimmer, I wouldn't recommend it but as far as a couple days of down time you should be fine

[Playa-1]

Originally Posted by mvreef

This is crazy, but after cleaning it...its like the plastic shrunk! Nothing will fit together because the plastic "body" of the skimmer is too small.

Is it possible hot water could shrink parts?

That sounds delusional, I thing you may have been exposed to too much skimmer poo fumes during the cleaning process

[tkeracer619]

Do not use hot water. Use cold or room temp water.

No, hot water will not shrink anything.

You don't need a skimmer. They help keep the tank clean. This is not an emergency. I would revisit it tomorrow after some sleep.

[Ben_n_Em]

Originally Posted by Reefmedic79

Doubtful, can't really help you with that. Maybe try putting them together the other way.

By "the other way" i think he means to put it together the same way you took it apart .

In all seriousness, you could probably go weeks skimmerless with no major effect to the tank. Pictures might allow someone to give advice on reassembly.

Good luck, Ben

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by mvreef

This is crazy, but after cleaning it...its like the plastic shrunk! Nothing will fit together because the plastic "body" of the skimmer is too small.

Is it possible hot water could shrink parts?

If anything hot water would make everything expand not shrink. There is no possible way your stuff won't fit back together or shrunk if it fit together before you cleaned it..... and usually after you tear a skimmer down for a thorough cleaning it has to break-in again.

[ken1977]

Water changes will hold you off for now. Do some good quantity water changes until you can buy another one. Too hot water will warp the plastic not shrink it but reshape it.