Problems with Beckett skimmer

[AlexKilpatrick]

I have a MRC beckett skimmer that seems to have really gone downhill, but I don't know why. It is driven by a pretty powerful pump, but it just doesn't seem to be generating the bubbles it used to, even when the air valve is wide open. The air intake seems to have a decent amount of suction, but I honestly don't remember what it is supposed to be.

I've cleaned to skimmer and I have cleaned the becket injector. I don't know of anything else to clean or check on.

Any suggestions?

[don-n-sa]

what kind of pump do you have running the skimmer?

I have a pan world which is real easy to take apart and clean...on several occasions that my skimmer abruptly stop producing, I have taken my pump apart and found various things insind the impeller. After cleaning the pump, the skimmer worked great again.

[AlexKilpatrick]

It is a Gen-X pump. It is the one that MRC sells with the skimmer. I have cleaned the pump. It had a little bit of slimyness, but nothing major.

Now, I need to clarify my understanding about one part of how these skimmers work. My understanding is that the air control valve controls the "wetness" of the skimmate. I assume you make it wide open, and then reduce it if the skimmate is too wet. Usually, when I have it wide open, my skimmate is still too dark, and just barely enough.