Someone help me, getting really tired of this skimmer.

[Waleedwale1]

Another issue has come to my attention with my CPR SR3, it's been running for 2-3 weeks now and was skimming perfectly yesterday. Today though, it is barely producing any foam/bubbles. I was wondering why my collection cup was completely empty and took it off and saw this

I searched a few forums and everyone said that it needed to be cleaned. So I cleaned the air tubing, the air valve, and checked the pump itself and everything was clean. Put the pump in hot water for a few second as well. 20 minutes later still nothing. Anyone have any ideas or solutions?

 

[duromega]

what's the issue ?
I can't really tell by the pictures

 

[Waleedwale1]

what's the issue ?
I can't really tell by the pictures

There is barely any foam.

 

[homegrowncichlid]

The reasons my skimmer stops producing foam (I have a bermuda) is if the water flow slows down from restriction somewhere, ie intake grill, or growth in the pipes reducing the diameter. This reduces the air flow suction and is corrected by cleaning.
OR your water flow is correct, but the airline is restricted, you can test that by blowing into the line and putting positive pressure on it. also remove the air flow valve to maximize intake.
OR, you skimmed everything out and the water is clean. To test this theory, leave the skimmer off for a day, after feeding the tank. Then resume skimming.

Is the skimmer running in the first 2 photos? I think the water flow rate is too slow. Need to upgrade the pump 1 or 2 sizes up to compensate for flow restrictions between cleanings.

OH and move the air valve away from there, the salt spray could be clogging it.

 

[Waleedwale1]

The reasons my skimmer stops producing foam (I have a bermuda) is if the water flow slows down from restriction somewhere, ie intake grill, or growth in the pipes reducing the diameter. This reduces the air flow suction and is corrected by cleaning.
OR your water flow is correct, but the airline is restricted, you can test that by blowing into the line and putting positive pressure on it. also remove the air flow valve to maximize intake.
OR, you skimmed everything out and the water is clean. To test this theory, leave the skimmer off for a day, after feeding the tank. Then resume skimming.

Is the skimmer running in the first 2 photos? I think the water flow rate is too slow. Need to upgrade the pump 1 or 2 sizes up to compensate for flow restrictions between cleanings.

OH and move the air valve away from there, the salt spray could be clogging it.

It is running in the first 2 pictures. I've already upgraded the stock biocube pump to a biocube 29. I've tried it without the air flow valve, nothing happened. I'm stocked pretty good, 2 clowns, YWG and shrimp pair, benagii cardinal, and algae blenny, and feed everyother day. The thing that's concerning me is that it was working fine yesterday but now it isn't.

 

[timberwolfny]

it is also because you cleaned it you are just resetting the clock you have to wait for the skimmer to break in again

 

[kalapnath]

did you add anything to the tank sometimes when I top off the water to the tank the skimmer stops producing foam.............................

 

[savage]

To me it look like the pump not drawing enough air.. Do u have another pump on hand to check it?

 

[Waleedwale1]

To me it look like the pump not drawing enough air.. Do u have another pump on hand to check it?

Don't have a second pump. I cleaned out the impeller on the current one last night but it didn't really work and I cleaned the air tubing as well.

 

[Waleedwale1]

did you add anything to the tank sometimes when I top off the water to the tank the skimmer stops producing foam.............................

Only Top off water dechlorinated with prime. Been using this for about a week now, before I was dechlorinating with aqua safe plus.

 

[ecchybridLE]

Every time you take that slimmer out of the water right now, clean anything, put hands in the tank ect. You are pro longing the break in period. You need to let the skimmer get a good slime coat on it for it to produce proper bubbles and also skimmate. When I was using the stock skimmer on my 34 Red Sea it took about a month to get proper break in. The pump needs to get broken in as well, thus not cleaning it and leaving it in the water to get slimmed up. That's my experience.

 

[E.intheC]

Prime and other similar products are more than likely your issue. Normally they cause the skimmer to overflow with bubbles.

I would add carbon, then do water changes without the prime additives and see what happens.

 

[savage]

Don't have a second pump. I cleaned out the impeller on the current one last night but it didn't really work and I cleaned the air tubing as well.

I would check the attachment located on the pump which allows air coming in from the tubing also physically blow inside the tub too see if u see any changes?

 

[pkane11384]

Two questions, what kind of tank is it in and where is it located? From the pictures you posted it looks like a BioCube and in the second chamber. Is your water level in the second chamber consistent? I could never get a consistent skim from the Tunze when I had it in my BioCube because the water levels were always fluctuating and haven't had a problem since buying an AquaticLife 115 and moving it to the first chamber. I know it isn't possible to move it but I don't know much about CPR skimmers to really give a consistent answer. Also I don't get much skimmate when I clean my skimmer either. I would give it a day or two to settle back in...

 

[kalapnath]

if you have tried everything else wit no results try mixing up some new water in a bucket add the skimmer to it and see if it works if it does maybe then you have to do some water changes in yur display tank

 

[oh207]

If after you have ruled out any mechanical fault then look into any chemicals you recently added to the tank. I notice that when I add amino or iodine my skimmer doesn't produce as much bubbles. The first time this happened I thought the skimmer was broken. So I took it out, took it apart, and cleaned the chamber and the pump. That didn't help. I realize that all I needed to do was wait about 12 hrs and then turn it back on and everything was okay again.

 

[Waleedwale1]

UPDATE- skimmer is doing mug better, more bubbles and finally pulled out some more skimmate, thanks guys!

 

[cmantis]

Was it the trick I told you? Btw got home and wouldn't you know it mine had skimmed some as well. Just don't think I have much to pull so often it goes dormant.