Skimmer problems

[CD]

We have an MR2 skimmer that just doesn't seem to be skimming properly :(
I can't for the life of me figure out what the problem is...it is cleaned once a week (normally), and I've tweeked and tweeked - but to no avail. I haven't cleaned it for two weeks now just to see what effect that would have...nothing. I'd say I've gotten only about a cup to a cup and a half of skim over the last two weeks, and I KNOW it's not enough. The corals are starting to look a bit unhappy, so this is kind of a desparate situation. Any advice? Would anybody in Austin be willing to take a peek at this thing and see what I'm doing wrong? IOWs - H E L P! :cry

Note: It was working fine for about the first 2-3 weeks after we set up the tank, but skim production has been declining since. Bubbles are kickin' but no skim to speak of :blink

W.

[Reef69]

I having the same problem with my aquamedic, it would skim like crazy, and then it just started skimming less and less. Im going to take it apart and clean it, maybe it will help.

[CD]

I usually try to clean the thing at least once a week as I know a dirty skimmer doesn't produce well, but decided I'd let it go two because it didn't seem to be producing much anyway. I know there should be lots more skim due to the bio-load those tangs produce though. :roll

Just got done cleaning it out again VERY well, checked the air intake valve - which is fine, bubbles are building up in the tube already (but then there never seems to be a lack of bubbles)...gaskets are seated...I just don't get it :unsure

Joshua - The pump running the skimmer is a GRI 518. There was a cotton ball in the air valve that Chris pulled out a few days ago (it was fairly saturated) but I still don't notice *that* much of an increase in skim. I feed our fish twice a day, and nori is *always* in the tank...lots of poop is being produced, so I know there should be more skim. Oh - BTW the pump has been checked for clogs and cleaned even though there wasn't any buildup of any kind, stuck snails, etc. We get a nice head of foam, but it just doesn't seem to push out the nasties like it should.

W. :)

[::pete::]

Its kind of a hard question to answer and would be much easier to look at. It could be a few different things or a combination of. One of the issues with a beckett is constantly having to tweak it!!

[Reef69]

Hey Wendy, have you checked inside the pump?..mine was all clogged with sand and gunk..it works fine now :)

[CD]

One of the issues with a beckett is constantly having to tweak it!!


LOL...I'm finding that out. I tweeked that sucker but good after the cleaning I gave it today. Seems to be doing better, but we'll see what it does tomorrow. I have a feeling it was all in the tweekin' :lol



Hey Wendy, have you checked inside the pump?..mine was all clogged with sand and gunk..it works fine now


Yep...everything checked. All pumps on our new system are external (didn't want extra heat making that chiller work any harder than it has to) so they are easy to check.

W. :)