Skimmer Help

r212019 · #1 01-09-2016, 05:29 PM

my skimmer doesnt seem to be working anymore. I have been running the Cad Lights PLS-100 for about two years now and all of a sudent there are no bubbles in the body of the skimmer, the water is clear throughout the whole thing.

This is the skimmer i have:
https://reefbuilders.com/2012/12/04/...eless-skimmer/

I took apart the pump last week and gave it a decide clean. Im not sure if its the pump thats the issue, it seems to be pumping the water fine. I have a 60gal cube and this thing is rated for 70-100gal but i was told that its always better to get a skimmer that is a little bigger than your tank. The skimmer was kicking ass for a while but not anymore. In my 60 gal i have a yellow tang, 2 clown, a sixline and a damsel so i should have some sort of bioload. I read something about oily hands in the takes cause the skimmer to stop work. if this is the case, what can i do to get it back up and foaming again. please help

r212019 · #2 01-09-2016, 05:34 PM

my airline thing doesnt go above the skimmer cup, does that make a difference. It never has been above the skimmer cup so im not sure why it would need to now but in the pictures it show the airline going above the cup.

ColinD · #3 01-09-2016, 05:35 PM

is the air tube connected/clog free? Maybe its crimped against the skimmer body where it passes through the base? Silencer clogged? To me it sounds like its getting no air and those would be the first places I'd look.

Colin

r212019 · #4 01-09-2016, 07:26 PM

ive removed the air line tube and i can see thru it so it looks pretty clear. i will give the silencer thingy a good rinse

gregzz4 · #5 01-09-2016, 07:37 PM

Have a look in the volute area where the airline attaches to the pump.
Buildup in there is common with pretty much all air injection skimmers.
I clean mine out weekly. If I let it go 2-3 weeks it will start to plug up

gregzz4 · #6 01-09-2016, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Have a look in the volute area

Umm, meant venturi area

Aquattro · #7 01-09-2016, 08:22 PM

Try blowing through the tube. Disconnect from silencer. Check venturi as Greg mentioned. That's about all that can go wrong.

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #8 01-09-2016, 09:18 PM

I have a SWC skimmer that sometimes stops making bubbles (especially if turned off and then on again). I take the air line off the silencer and blow into the air line. Works every time. Knock on wood.

Anthony

r212019 · #9 01-09-2016, 10:27 PM

I gave it a good blow job and the skimmer is kickin ass again

Thanks for the help team