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fishyman19 
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Joined: September 05 2012
Location: Orem
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 Topic: Possible Skimmer Issue
Posted: July 30 2014 at 3:08pm |
I check all my equipment daily as part of my daily routine and I have noticed that my skimmer isn't producing much skimmate and probably hasn't for a good 2 weeks. There is about an inch of green nastiness in the cup but that's it. The revolutions and such are happening in the main body of the skimmer but nothing is making it's way up to the cup. I'm not too familiar with skimmers, but could this be because it's starting to die on me? Or is there just not enough bad things in my tank to be pulled out? I'm not sure of the brand of skimmer but it is regulated for 200 gallons and is on a 90 gallon tank. It came with the tank I bought so it is around a year and a half old.
Thank you.
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90 Gallon mixed reef. Wife's 12 gallon nano cube mixed reef!
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DMower
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Joined: December 31 2012
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 3:11pm |
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when's that last time you cleaned the skimmer pump?
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150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues.
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LaRue
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 3:11pm |
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Sounds like you need to raise the water level a bit.
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fishyman19
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 3:16pm |
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I will admit DMower it has probably been 6 months or more since I cleaned it. LaRue I started raising the water level in the sump last year when I was running MH because I was just going through too much top off. I switched to kessil A360, but I still keep the water level at the same it was prior. I haven't had an issue with that since the tank started at my place.
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90 Gallon mixed reef. Wife's 12 gallon nano cube mixed reef!
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Jeremyw
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 3:42pm |
I would clean the pump.
BUT dont worry to much. I have mine running and sometimes I go months and do pull out that much. With my tanked stocked with corals, fish and inverts I only pull out about 1" every few weeks to a month.
But I would clean the pump like Darren mentioned, just to be sure.
J
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Molli
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Location: Bountiful, Utah
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 5:45pm |
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Have you tried adjusting it just a little bit?
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Mark Peterson
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Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
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Posted: July 30 2014 at 9:28pm |
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Clean the venturi
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Reefer4Ever
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Posted: July 31 2014 at 2:01pm |
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Not sure if yours uses an air line, but I about once a week stick it in rodi water and it sucks the water in the line cleaning any salt build up. Just know that when you do this you need to adjust your level going into your cup as it will increase the water level quickly inside your skimmer or maybe thats just mine because its old like me. :)
Edited by Reefer4Ever - July 31 2014 at 2:03pm
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90 gal reef w/refugium
24 gal softie tank
11 gal nano anemone tank
5 gal fresh water
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fishyman19
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Posted: July 31 2014 at 2:42pm |
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I did get time last night to pull out the pump and clean it(which it did need). I put it back together and it immediately started to pull stuff into the cup, but backed down a bit after about 15 minutes. So I'm not sure what that means. I'll take a look after work today and see what it is doing.
Mine does have an airline on it as well. I would love to just get a new one lol. Or a gently used one that someone is selling on here. The old skimmers are frustrating at time lol.
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90 Gallon mixed reef. Wife's 12 gallon nano cube mixed reef!
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: August 01 2014 at 6:58am |
Did you clean the Venturi air inlet? I use a small thin screw to ream out the calcium build up that forms at the air-water interface. What kind of old Skimmer is it? GSM or EuroReef or other? They are still awesome skimmers. To work right for a few minutes and then stop working sounds a lot like a malfunctioning pump. Most often the pump body is good but the impeller magnet swells and cannot turn correctly. Look along the axis of the impeller to make sure it is completely flat. Also hold the axis rod between your fingers while spinning the impeller. Does it spin freely and/or does it wobble? Impellers, purchased online, are typically way less expensive than a new skimmer. As far as the pump body, feel inside the hole for any irregularity. The sides of the hole must be completely straight and smooth. If not, the impeller rubs and cannot turn fast as normal. Buy a new pump. Hope this helps. Aloha, Mark 
Edited by Mark Peterson - August 01 2014 at 7:02am
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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