Protein Skimmer Making Noise

[Billan]

I have CPR BakPak II skimmer with a RIO 600 on it. The Rio gets dirty and needs to be cleaned about evey two weeks. Usually this stops the weird ticking\airplane sound coming from the skimmer. When it starts making this noise the bulbs get very weak and the skimmer does not work. I cleaned the pump this time and it did not go away. Do I need to remove the entire skimmer and clean all the tubes? If I shut the air valve on the pump it is completely silent. What do you think this is? Should I unplug it until I can work on it? If I run just a skimmer and nothing else, but I have 70LBS of LR in a 44G and two maxi-jet 900's can I leave the skimmer off for a day?

Thanks

 

[Rich-n-poor]

have you checked the air line to see if it is clogged possibility with salt creep ?
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recessions

 

[Billan]

I pulled the pump out and cleaned every part. I took all the air lines off and cleaned them out and blew through them checking for any clogs. How does the skimmer make the air bubles? Are they formed by the pump itself or does it go through an impeler in the down tube of the skimmer?

 

[eodjj]

This may help... I usually break down all parts of my skimmer when it slows down production. First, I put all parts in warm to hot water in the sink and wash as much gunk off and rinse. Second, mix about a cup of white vinegar in with warm water and make sure you clean the venturi that injects the air into the pump, if it doesn't do the trick, soak in straight vinegar. Last, rinse everything very thoroughly in clean water.
This normally only takes about 2 to 3 hours and you are up and running again, just don't feed or stir up the tank until you're up and running again.
Hope this helps.

JJ

 

[mark h]

the air i sucked into the pump. the impeller chops it up to form small bubbles. this is probably the whooshing sound you hear. if you are worried about your airline getting clogged dip the end in a glass of warm water. the water will be sucked in through the airline and clean it