CO2 scrubber massively reduces skimmer performance?

[merkmerk73]

My skimmer is running very very dry now and I had to crank up the pump almost to max - having run it about 4/10 before

Is this normal to reduce your skimmer performance so much?

Here’s my scrubber setup

I don’t have a ton of excess line

I used a check valve because I had to reduce the silicone

 

[ocncheffy]

I run recirculating on my co2 scrubber and notice no performance impact, however I'm not using a check valve. Try removing it and just use a barbed adapter to fit the two hoses together.

 

[merkmerk73]

I will do that - have new tubing coming in today

 

[cwerner]

I think the fact that your c02 scrubber also has a tube on the other end is probably restricting airflow even more.

 

[merkmerk73]

I think the fact that your c02 scrubber also has a tube on the other end is probably restricting airflow even more.

That is the intake - I can shorten it but it’s basically just a free hanging tube to draw in ambient air

 

[MichaelReefer]

Why isnt your intake into the Cap? You want it to go into the cup. Or you dont want to run it Recirculating?

Try taking the check valve out....its probably choking it out.

 

[merkmerk73]

Why isnt your intake into the Cap? You want it to go into the cup. Or you dont want to run it Recirculating?

Try taking the check valve out....it’s probably choking it out.

Can’t run recirculating without an emergency drain solution so I won’t be doing that yet

 

[David3147]

That is the intake - I can shorten it but it’s basically just a free hanging tube to draw in ambient air

Why only shorten it? Perhaps just eliminate that tube altogether. Less resistance.

 

[w8lifts]

Why only shorten it? Perhaps just eliminate that tube altogether. Less resistance.

Exactly just unscrew it and leave it off

 

[merkmerk73]

I could - I suppose it doesn’t really matter how the air is drawn in unless I’m trying to get it from an outside source

 

[merkmerk73]

Cleaned the skimmer with citric acid for good measure and ditched the check valve and it’s working as I’d expect now - thanks!

Posting this here for the benefit of anyone who googles this later