Skimmer not skimming

ced · 02/04/2006, 06:23 PM

10 days ago, I acquired a 2 inch Tridacna maxima (a clam), and I decided to stop my skimmer for a few hours when pouring the live phytoplankton in the tank.
I stopped doing this after 2 days, as I noticed the skimmer was not skimming. So now the skimmer is running 24/7 again, but it hasn't skimmed for more than a week.
I cleaned it as well as the pump, but it didn't help.
Water params are fine and didn't change. Everybody is doing well (the RBTA, the brain, the spawnfrog, all other corals, the fishes, and of course the clam).

It's a remora urchin in-sump skimmer (tank 40G, sump/refugium 20G).

Any idea?
(don't tell me that the 2inch clam is filtering everything

)

jasonkola · 02/04/2006, 07:04 PM

it is possible you may have something stuck in the impeller. when you cleaned it did you check to make sure the impeller was free of any debris?

ced · 02/04/2006, 07:29 PM

Yes, I removed and cleaned the impeller.

In fact, when I say it is not skimming, I mean there's nothing in the collection cup (and I lowered it). I can see the water bubbling inside the skimmer though.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 02/04/2006, 07:30 PM

is the skimmer still producing bubbles in the main body? what about in neck?

jasonkola · 02/04/2006, 07:44 PM

did you check to make sure the air tube did not have salt build up in it or any other obstruction. other than that you got me. I can understand it not skimming for a couple of days after being cleaned but not a week.

ced · 02/04/2006, 08:30 PM

the skimmer produces bubbles in the main body, but not much in the neck.

there is no air tube, the remora urcin is only connected to the pump.

Jon Evans · 02/04/2006, 09:06 PM

I have a skimmer on a sump/fuge setup. it doesn't skim out anything either. The only time it skims is when I add supplements. The origional ecosystem method was designed to eliminate skimmers. If the water parameters are good, maybe you don't need one.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 02/04/2006, 09:10 PM

If you don't feed much, there may not always be organics to pull.

02/04/2006, 06:23 PM	#1
ced Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 90	Skimmer not skimming 10 days ago, I acquired a 2 inch Tridacna maxima (a clam), and I decided to stop my skimmer for a few hours when pouring the live phytoplankton in the tank. I stopped doing this after 2 days, as I noticed the skimmer was not skimming. So now the skimmer is running 24/7 again, but it hasn't skimmed for more than a week. I cleaned it as well as the pump, but it didn't help. Water params are fine and didn't change. Everybody is doing well (the RBTA, the brain, the spawnfrog, all other corals, the fishes, and of course the clam). It's a remora urchin in-sump skimmer (tank 40G, sump/refugium 20G). Any idea? (don't tell me that the 2inch clam is filtering everything )

02/04/2006, 07:30 PM	#4
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	is the skimmer still producing bubbles in the main body? what about in neck? __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/04/2006, 09:06 PM	#7
Jon Evans Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massillon, OH Posts: 297	I have a skimmer on a sump/fuge setup. it doesn't skim out anything either. The only time it skims is when I add supplements. The origional ecosystem method was designed to eliminate skimmers. If the water parameters are good, maybe you don't need one. __________________ If you are in the stock market, look to diversify your portfolio with global equities. Warren Buffett said so. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon FOWLR tank with 20 gal sump/fuge

02/04/2006, 09:10 PM	#8
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	If you don't feed much, there may not always be organics to pull. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/04/2006, 07:04 PM	#2
jasonkola Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 240	it is possible you may have something stuck in the impeller. when you cleaned it did you check to make sure the impeller was free of any debris?

02/04/2006, 07:29 PM	#3
ced Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 90	Yes, I removed and cleaned the impeller. In fact, when I say it is not skimming, I mean there's nothing in the collection cup (and I lowered it). I can see the water bubbling inside the skimmer though.

02/04/2006, 07:44 PM	#5
jasonkola Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 240	did you check to make sure the air tube did not have salt build up in it or any other obstruction. other than that you got me. I can understand it not skimming for a couple of days after being cleaned but not a week.

02/04/2006, 08:30 PM	#6
ced Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 90	the skimmer produces bubbles in the main body, but not much in the neck. there is no air tube, the remora urcin is only connected to the pump.