skimmer producing large air pocket just below bubble plate...?

6Speed · 05/01/2012, 08:19 AM

Hey guys, been running this little cone skimmer for about a month or so now and it pulls great skimmate. Lately I've noticed that certain times of the day or night it has this air pocket that's formed just below the outer ring of the bubble plate. It's like all the microbubbles are combining and forming a pocket of air. In the below video you can see that I shake the skimmer a little and the air pocket releases but quickly starts to reform again.

I am going to take apart the whole thing and give it a good cleaning but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before?

click for vid:

sirreal63 · 05/01/2012, 10:45 AM

That's a new one, I have owned and played with many skimmers over the years, never saw one that did that. When you take it out to clean, take some good pics of the unit, something is causing that and I bet we can figure out what it is. :-)

6Speed · 05/01/2012, 05:31 PM

ok cool I'll def post up some pics once it's out and disassembled!

6Speed · 05/01/2012, 07:02 PM

I checked a bit ago and saw no air pocket...then fed the fish and checked it again a minute later and the air pocket was there. I let it go like that for about an hour then rechecked it and air pocket still there. tapped on the skimmer and the bubble released and hasn't returned. thinking somehow the food is the catalyst for the bubble and once it forms it stays awhile till something dislodges it.

sirreal63 · 05/01/2012, 07:14 PM

Possible, never seen it happen, I suspected to find it was not machined correctly and would allow bubbles to collect.

6Speed · 05/02/2012, 08:51 AM

It didn't start doing it until this week. Before that, never saw it happen. Course I've only had it a month or so. The pocket did not return last night after I dislodged it and it wasn't there this morning when I checked it. I'm going to look again tonight after I feed the fish and report back.

05/01/2012, 08:19 AM	#1
6Speed Zardoz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Posts: 1,036	skimmer producing large air pocket just below bubble plate...? Hey guys, been running this little cone skimmer for about a month or so now and it pulls great skimmate. Lately I've noticed that certain times of the day or night it has this air pocket that's formed just below the outer ring of the bubble plate. It's like all the microbubbles are combining and forming a pocket of air. In the below video you can see that I shake the skimmer a little and the air pocket releases but quickly starts to reform again. I am going to take apart the whole thing and give it a good cleaning but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this before? click for vid:

05/01/2012, 10:45 AM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	That's a new one, I have owned and played with many skimmers over the years, never saw one that did that. When you take it out to clean, take some good pics of the unit, something is causing that and I bet we can figure out what it is. :-) __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/01/2012, 07:14 PM	#5
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Possible, never seen it happen, I suspected to find it was not machined correctly and would allow bubbles to collect. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/01/2012, 05:31 PM	#3
6Speed Zardoz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Posts: 1,036	ok cool I'll def post up some pics once it's out and disassembled!

05/01/2012, 07:02 PM	#4
6Speed Zardoz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Posts: 1,036	I checked a bit ago and saw no air pocket...then fed the fish and checked it again a minute later and the air pocket was there. I let it go like that for about an hour then rechecked it and air pocket still there. tapped on the skimmer and the bubble released and hasn't returned. thinking somehow the food is the catalyst for the bubble and once it forms it stays awhile till something dislodges it.

05/02/2012, 08:51 AM	#6
6Speed Zardoz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Posts: 1,036	It didn't start doing it until this week. Before that, never saw it happen. Course I've only had it a month or so. The pocket did not return last night after I dislodged it and it wasn't there this morning when I checked it. I'm going to look again tonight after I feed the fish and report back.