CSS 125 pump problem?

splateee · 10/03/2006, 03:34 PM

Hello,

I have been using this skimmer for about 6 months now and have had no problems. I have done the return with pvc pipe mod and has worked great. Now for some reason it is not making bubbles in the main chamber. I have taken the pump out and cleaned it and made sure that there was nothing blocking the venturi hole and airline. I first noticed it the other night when the bubbles in the collection would go up and down and the water would go from the milky color to clear. I am at a loss of what else could be the problem.

Thank you

splateee · 10/03/2006, 06:40 PM

TTT

Andrew · 10/03/2006, 07:19 PM

If the water level in the skimmer isn't staying at the same level than that sounds like the pump or "pulsing" and not giving a stready amount of flow through it. I would recommend cleaning the entire skimmer. Soaking it in a vinigar/water mxiture.

seattlerob · 10/03/2006, 07:24 PM

You mention the venturi hole and the airline. Did you also check the venturi silencer for salt build up, etc that could be blocking airflow? What you're describing about the level moving up & down sound to me like either the venturi is getting blocked, or the water level is changing, which is affecting the outflow pressure (i.e. outlet sometimes submerged, sometimes not).

Maybe test the pump & venturi by themselves in a bucket to make sure you're getting a lot of bubbles. If so, then I would look next to the outlet.

hth,
rob

splateee · 10/03/2006, 07:58 PM

I took the airline off the silencer and there still was no change. Tommorrow i am going to go through and clean the skimmer again.

Thanks

Liquid Hobby · 10/04/2006, 02:04 PM

Would this skimmer work better, in general, if it had an air pump pushing air into the venturi hole?

vanceny · 10/04/2006, 02:26 PM

I added an air pump and also a layer of gutter guard to the needle wheel. It looks like there are more bubbles in the chamber but I don't have anything to quantify it. The gutter guard idea was found on another thread here on RC.

10/03/2006, 03:34 PM	#1
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	CSS 125 pump problem? Hello, I have been using this skimmer for about 6 months now and have had no problems. I have done the return with pvc pipe mod and has worked great. Now for some reason it is not making bubbles in the main chamber. I have taken the pump out and cleaned it and made sure that there was nothing blocking the venturi hole and airline. I first noticed it the other night when the bubbles in the collection would go up and down and the water would go from the milky color to clear. I am at a loss of what else could be the problem. Thank you

10/04/2006, 02:04 PM	#6
Liquid Hobby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 810	Would this skimmer work better, in general, if it had an air pump pushing air into the venturi hole? __________________ 120 DT/200 G mixed reef: birthed on Dec 1, 2010 * Neptune Systems controller * 40G Sump + 40G Fuge which gravity feeds into DT * Huge Reef Octopus Skimmer * Calc, GFO and Carbon RXs * 2x250W 20K Radium MH with VHO supplement * 3600 GPH closed loop with OM 4 way * 1700 GPH return

10/03/2006, 06:40 PM	#2
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	TTT

10/03/2006, 07:19 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	If the water level in the skimmer isn't staying at the same level than that sounds like the pump or "pulsing" and not giving a stready amount of flow through it. I would recommend cleaning the entire skimmer. Soaking it in a vinigar/water mxiture.

10/03/2006, 07:24 PM	#4
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	You mention the venturi hole and the airline. Did you also check the venturi silencer for salt build up, etc that could be blocking airflow? What you're describing about the level moving up & down sound to me like either the venturi is getting blocked, or the water level is changing, which is affecting the outflow pressure (i.e. outlet sometimes submerged, sometimes not). Maybe test the pump & venturi by themselves in a bucket to make sure you're getting a lot of bubbles. If so, then I would look next to the outlet. hth, rob

10/03/2006, 07:58 PM	#5
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	I took the airline off the silencer and there still was no change. Tommorrow i am going to go through and clean the skimmer again. Thanks

10/04/2006, 02:26 PM	#7
vanceny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 287	I added an air pump and also a layer of gutter guard to the needle wheel. It looks like there are more bubbles in the chamber but I don't have anything to quantify it. The gutter guard idea was found on another thread here on RC.