PROTEIN SKIMMER PROBLEMS

[RICKY81]

ok when i bought my 210gal tank it was used and came pretty much with everything including the protein skimmer which is an REEF OCTOPUS 3000 and when i tried testing it to see if it worked well i realized that the pumps does lift the water all the way to the top but with very minimal bubbles, there is a small hose that is connected to the inlet of the pump and that is out of the water... so i figured well maybe the pump isn't any good so i ordered the same model of pump and same problem....what could be happening there are little bit of bubbles but not to were i could say okay my skimmer is working..... any suggestions as to what could be going on

[hobogato]

the airline may be plugged with salt creep?

[RICKY81]

the airline may be plugged with salt creep?

nope not that.... i just checked it and both the inlet and tubing are perfectly patent. can't be the pump i assume cause it's new.:at_wits_end:

[Texreefer]

get it plugged in and blow into the end of the small airhose.. there is some back pressure in there that needs to be released and then it will work fine

[RICKY81]

get it plugged in and blow into the end of the small airhose.. there is some back pressure in there that needs to be released and then it will work fine

I tried this and it didn't work... blewsomein the small airhose and a big bubble came out from the intake of the water pump.

[RICKY81]

ok after doing some mini research this is the skimmer that i have very identical thisis the website..

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2141

[texmex]

did you have this running or are you testing it for the first time?

[RICKY81]

did you have this running or are you testing it for the first time?

the person that i bought it from said that he had it running but i didn't see it in actions although the skimmer was dirty like it had been in use. but i am just testing it for the first time and i bought a new pump for it too.

[texmex]

sorry I missed that in the first post. It sounds like the same thing that happend with mine when I first tested mine. I was testing it with regular water and somebody told me that I had to use salt water to get the micro bubbles. Are you using salt water?

[RICKY81]

I was testing it with regular water and somebody told me that I had to use salt water to get the micro bubbles. Are you using salt water?

hmmm....nope i am just using regular water, but let me add some salt to it see what happens.... ha ha ha.. that isreally funny what salt can do..hope this works.. i'll be right back.

[Texreefer]

ummm yeah, salt water is a must..

[Bill S]

Ricky, Ricky, Ricky...

[RICKY81]

I first tested mine. I was testing it with regular water and somebody told me that I had to use salt water to get the micro bubbles. Are you using salt water?

LOL.....SALT IN THE WATER = MICROBUBBLES IN THE SKIMMER :applause:.... WISH I HAD DONE THIS PRIOR TO BUYING A NEW PUMP FOR IT.. OH WELL GUESS I AM LEFT WITH AN EXTRA PUMP...:shades:

[texmex]

glad it worked out for you.

[RICKY81]

texmexbigspring...thank you sir very much sir and to those who helped out in giving me suggestions. well now to the next step in getting it ready for set up, now that i have learned to take pics and paste them in the thread i might start a build thread for my 210gal....

[texmex]

Hey, no problem Ricky. I did the same thing when I was testing my skimmer and thought it was messed up for sure. I think setting up a build thread would be a good idea. If you ever have a doubt about something just post it and I am sure somebody will have some info to help you out. Good luck

[chrissreefs]

have to use salt water