Help, I Need A New Skimmer ?
 

So for the last few months I have noticed that my skimmer (Bubble Magus 220CS) hasn't quite been performing up to par. I've noticed that I just haven't been getting much in the collection cup, no mater what I do (wet skim, dry skim). I've tried adjusting the level of the water in the skimmer kneck/cup. I've even given the skimmer a thorough take-apart and vinagar bath. Another thing that is really aggrivating me is the fact that my skimmer seems to be ejecting a lot of micro bubbles out of it. Nothing has changed in the tank so I have no idea what could be causing this. I don't think it's the level of water that it is in because that hasn't changed in 5 years and I specifically designed the sump with the correct water height in mind for this skimmer.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1271478349

Anyway, I'm getting quite frustrated with it and am about to toss it into the recycling bin. I can't think of much that can go wrong with a skimmer other than a faulty pump/needle wheel? Which baffles me because clearly the needle wheel is functioning because it is generating a lot of bubbles and they are entering the skimmer column. For some reason a lot of these microbubbles seem to be escaping the skimmer (out of the outlet).

I'm pretty much ready to buy a new skimmer but I haven't kept up with skimmers for 5 years now so I don't really know what's out there. Suggestions? Or does someone have an idea of what to investigate to repair my skimmer? I thought about maybe tryingn to replace the needle wheel itself, or maybe the whole pump, but it seems to me like both are doing their job? So if I replace those components and find that the skimmer still sucks goat nads, well, then that's money wasted.

Oh, and the pump that it uses is an Eheim 1260 with a needle wheel impeller.

I see a poll coming!

Im absolutely LOVING my Vertex Omega 150. The build quality is Fan freeking tastic. I love the fact that the collection cup screws on so when opening it it doesn't get stuck and when it finally gives it doesn't go everywhere. I did have to build it up a couple inches but its still good. I think Wais had a bunch when i was last there. It even looks good.

That is a very nice skimmer. I know a few people who have that skimmer. HOwever, because I have a ridonkulously high bioload I'd like to have a skimmer that's rated for double my water volume. My current skimmer is currently rated for 315-450g ! I'd like to replace it with something of a similar rating :biggrin:

Have you emailed the company ? They might be able to help or replace or trouble shoot for you

AHhhhhhh Im sure Vertex has a skimmer thats much bigger with the same build quality.

That's probably no a bad idea if I can just find some contact info. I'll have to ask The Google..

Ya, i looked and the larger line of skimmers i the Alpha Cone. Unfortunately the model hat I'd like to get, Alpha Cone 250, won't fit in my sump. :cry:

EDIT: oh i just noticed there is an Alpha Cone 200 that will fit in my sump. I'll add that to my list of candidates.

Well for a BM that skimmer has done you well!! Are the air lines clear of salt buildup? Do you know if you can replace the venturi?

Id try to replace the impellor assembly first. Then id think of going new.

Id go vertex or skimz if I had to buy new.

Asking Google seems to turn up $120 to $150 replacement needle wheels and none locally. I'd have to order from the US and add shipping and duties etc. That's pricy for a fix that i'm not sure will guarantee a fix to my micro bubble problem.. I have no clue if the venturi is replaceable. Google isn't much help. In fact, there's not a lot of information on this skimmer. Seems people just toss it out :lol:

Eeww. Yeah that dosnt sound feasible.

Sounds like someone's got the upgrade itch! Not that I think you should do that though.......

..........DOOO IIIITTTTT

well, at this point I don't seem to have a lot of other options :-)

You can't go wrong with the Alpha-cone

I had a skimmer that just didn't seem to be performing the way it used to…. I couldn't figure it out until months later. It ended up being a bit of blockage on the intake side of things that just wasn't visible. It took me figuring it out and I had an "aha" moment and the skimmer resumed it's duties at full force once again. (previous to that I had taken the pump apart, vinegar. Taken the venturi off to clean it and cleaned basically everything else, but the blockage was in the silencer). Hopefully it's a simple fix for you.

I also went the Vertex Omega route and love it!



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Hmm.. Interesting! Is the silencer that tall pipe that adjusts the water flow ? Is it an air line or water line ?

How tall of a skimmer can you fit?

I have lots of height clearance, like 30". But the compartment in the sump is only 13" wide by 24" long.

AquaC EV240 would fit that space.

How about a Lifereef svs3-30 in sump skimmer. Rated for 350 gal. Any water depth up to 16 inches and will fit the footprint you need.

It was the air silencer (so basically where the air enters into a chamber to silence it). Hope this helps…..what I just typed out sounds like gibberish to me.

Hey I just measured my alphacone 250 and it'll fit in that space

ZOMG Dez you are my HERO!! So I unplugged my airline from the silencer and voila! No more micro bubbles! And since the skimmer wasn't ejecting microbubbles anymore they were actually going INTO the skimmer like they should be and the skimmer started to work like a champ again! ZOMG Dez !!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...psdcbq1789.jpg

I tried to shove a wire up the elbow that leads into the silencer and could not get it to go! I shoved a q-tip in there and ya it is pretty dirty. Something is clearly obstructing it. Probaby a snail wedged in there real good or just a comination of things maybe I dunno. I tried to get a coat hanger in here but it wouldn't budge. The silencer may be a write off. The skimmer sounds like meat grinder now without the silencer but at least it is skimming and not shooting microbubbles into my tank anymore! I may just save myself $1000+ dollars and MacGuyver my own silencer.


THANK YOU DEZ!

Maybe some more of those Darn Feather dusters ;-)

Congrats on finding the problem ;)

Do the two ends of the muffler come apart?
If not just try to unscrew/ pull out the 90 deg fitting. You have nothing to lose, its junk the way it is.

I tried, the 90 degree fitting is glued on. I may just cut it and make a new fitting.

Haha! Yay. As payment for my services, I will require a visit to your zen pond and sps garden the next time I'm in Calgary. I'm glad you found the problem. The whole time I was thinking to myself, he shouldn't buy a new skimmer, if it was working well before, then no need to change it. Soak that silencer in hot water. For me, the blockage was salt build up. It sort of made a crystal. So I just dissolved it with hot water.

My door is always open! Unless I'm not home.. :-)

Ya I'm guessing the exact same thing probably happened to me. This thing has been running for nearly 5 years now! The pump and impeller seem perfectly fine to me too so I had a hard time wrapping my head around having to replace them. Glad I didn't go down that route because clearly that would not have solved this problem. I will try soaking it. Thanks again! YAY no more micro bubbles!

Send me a txt dez. That's never been a deterrent for me.

I find I get a dust buildup in my air silencers. The bigger tank has one that comes apart so is easy to clean but my smaller tank has a BM skimmer as well and it doesn't come apart. So far I've been able to clean it well enough by soaking it in vinegar and shaking it and stuff but my backup plan is to use muriatic acid (diluted of course because I kind of like my skin not burned off and stuff) if that proved not to be good enough.

The venturi for my BM is a huge PITA to clean because the air comes in through a very thin ring all around the pipe and you have no idea just by eyeballing it if the thin layer calcium buildup is affecting things or if there is gunk in the air tube as it enters the venturi. So for that one it pretty much has to be a muriatic acid bath once or twice a year (vinegar would probably work but I'm far too impatient).

HTH

After reading this and noticing my skimmer skimming a little wet lately I figured if take get apart and look. Well what do you know, appears to be some salt build up

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...psxvbh39i8.jpg

Got Anthias ?
 

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...ps377f9191.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...psb89518b5.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...psd0c090e6.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4004406f.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...psb5fdabba.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...psd2c3403d.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6f7f10ae.jpg

Dang you and your supercalafragalistic photo skillz!!

Can u win the potm?? If so... the last pic has my vote lol

Thanks! But I dunno.. I don't think I'm popular enough to win POTM. I may have to consult Marko on that though.

Lol!

Beautiful tank

:mrgreen: And fish !

Thanks :-)

More Fish Pics.
 

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/...3ba066fd_o.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2917/...bff78a06_o.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/...ec58ca80_o.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/...11d3ba50_o.jpg

Great shots of your fishies! What kind of wrasse is this?

Thanks! That one is one of the Pylei fairy wrasses. I believe there are a few Pyleis. One of its common names is Sunset Fairy Wrasse. But not to be confused with the Sunset Wrasse (no fairy) :lol: This one is the female. I have a male too.

She is soooo sweet! Can we get a shot of her mate too? Pretty pls????