Skimmer Not skimming.

[sampsonndelila]

My Octopus is not skimming anymore. I was thinking it was just not producing as much because I recently decreased my bio load significantly. But no, it is not skimming at all. The pump is connected and pumping, the air hose is there and not blocked. The cylinder is full of water and the bubbles make it white in the bottom section and they are present in the top section. But nothing is climbing the center tube to the cup on top. I have not seen anything in the cup for about 1 month. I have adjusted the pipe on the outside to the highest setting allowed, still nothing in the cup. This unit was great till about 1 month ago.

[Gseclipse02]

check the shaft


if you want bring it by the shop will take a look at it and should have replacments parts for those skimmers if need be

[sampsonndelila]

Wouldn't the shaft keep it from pumping and producing bubbles?

[Gseclipse02]

Wouldn't the shaft keep it from pumping and producing bubbles?

whoops should of read it all.... yes....

[RayAllen]

if yours has a airline blow in it and see if it starts producing. Sounds weird but occassionally I have to do this with mine.

Where the silentcer is, take that off and blow in that end of the tube and see what happens.

[sampsonndelila]

Yha I thought of that too. I took the silencer off all the way, but I will defiantly blow n it to see if it produces.

[txg8gxp]

Take the skimmer out and clean the pump. Mine started not skimmer aswell after using in for a few months, I just sprayed it out really well with a garden hose and it started working great agian.

[Mike]

Is the inside of the tube where the bubbles build either too dirty or too clean? Sometimes that can keep the bubbles from building and climbing the tube.

[RayAllen]

white vinegar is your best friend when cleaning a skimmer. I will clean mine one every 6months or so.

[justahobby]

Mine did this a while back. I took the pump apart, pulled out the shaft, put it all back together after not finding anything and.... PRESTO! It started running like a charm again.

[TexasTodd]

If it's an in sump model, unplug the power and let sit for 20 min or so, then re-start.

If external, warm up about 16 oz of RODI water in microwave, very warm but not burning hot. Let your skimmer airline suck the water. You can do this with the in sump too when you fire back up.

Above is easier/faster than full cleaning, but you still need to do the full cleaning at least 1x a year. Better to follow Ray's every six months.

[sampsonndelila]

I looked and the tube to the top cup was badly encrusted. I cleaned it, I think that might have been it. Thanks.

[sampsonndelila]

I cleaned out the whole thing and took apart the pump. it was pretty funky. It is working much better now.