Help Needed - Bashsea Skimmer SUPER loud...

[VashonBigs]

This is my first time setting up a reef tank with a true sump. All seems well with the exception of my skimmer. Nice quiet tank and then I turn on the skimmer and it is super loud. Produces bubbles. Gurgles. Etc. see video and turn on volume. Really need some help here. Thanks!!

 

[KrisReef]

The pump intake is below or too close to the water level in the sump so it is drawing in water & AIR into the skimmer pump. can you lower the intake or flood the chamber more?

 

[VashonBigs]

Pump is well below water level. It is a new tank with no livestock yet. Wondering if that has something to do with it but when I see tests of this 6-24 skimmer on videos with fresh saltwater still much quieter. I mean this thing is LOUD.

 

[KrisReef]

A few things to check;

Check the impeller on the pump if it's damaged or has some obstruction?

Sometimes new equipment needs to run a few hours/days before they quiet down (I have read stories on here about that one).

Are you certain it is not drawing in air on the intake? Close off the venturi to see how much noise it makes pumping water without air, or if it has an air leak?

Let it run normally for a while and see if it quiets down over time.

Can you raise the water level in the sump to see if that quiets the noise?

Good luck,

 

[Feet4Fish]

can you take some pictures of the setup? I have the same skimmer and it is pretty quiet

 

[VashonBigs]

Pics attached. The output tube bubbles profusely. Air intake loud.

 

[rcmike]

I can’t get the video to play and I don’t know what the noise is but that is a Beckett skimmer and uses a Beckett injector which is actually a water fountain nozzle. It is the black part that is in the chamber where the water first enters the skimmer. Sometimes the middle piece can get worn and will start vibrating inside the housing. You can take it out and it splits open in the middle. I’ve taken Teflon tape and wrapped it around the little tabs that hold it in place and it will keep it from vibrating. Not sure if that’s your problem but it’s something to look at. Here are some pictures of what I’m talking about with one of the tabs circled to show where I put the tape.

 

[VashonBigs]

i blocked of the holes in the back with my finger that the tube is connected to...i'm assuming the air intake. It still had a LOT of bubbles in the skimmer. Shouldn't it be running without bubbles if I block off the intake holes??

 

[Slawman]

Beckett skimmers are loud. Do you know it is louder that it is supposed to be?

 

[rcmike]

i blocked of the holes in the back with my finger that the tube is connected to...i'm assuming the air intake. It still had a LOT of bubbles in the skimmer. Shouldn't it be running without bubbles if I block off the intake holes??

I have one of those and it leaks air around the o ring on top and will do that. I can’t get the video to play. What type of sound is it? An air sound? A rattling? Like said above, they are louder by nature but some things can make them even louder.

 

[KrisReef]

i blocked of the holes in the back with my finger that the tube is connected to...i'm assuming the air intake. It still had a LOT of bubbles in the skimmer. Shouldn't it be running without bubbles if I block off the intake holes??

I listened to the video sound and your pump sounded like it was drawing air bubbles into the water intake from thesump surface, pulling air into the pump/impeller perhaps from a vortex created inside the sump? In the past I used floating sponges over the pump intake to minimize vortex air intake but you need to be careful not to float something that can get pulled into the skimmer intake and create new issues.

From the previous post it sounds like there are additional places on your skimmer to have air leaks? Try wrapping these pipes with saran wrap to see if you can stop the leaks and quiet the skimmer noise?

 

[Cwentz758]

To watch the video hold down on the .mov part and hit download and it’ll load. (That’s on iPhone)

 

[rcmike]

That worked. To me it either sounds like you are sucking air at the pump or possibly the water splashing running out of the skimmer but it’s really hard to tell.

 

[VashonBigs]

I have one of those and it leaks air around the o ring on top and will do that. I can’t get the video to play. What type of sound is it? An air sound? A rattling? Like said above, they are louder by nature but some things can make them even louder.

Guy a Bashsea told me it won’t work until my new tank is stocked but it sounds like loud splashing and sucking all at once. Ughh

 

[Cory]

No something is wrong it isnt getting full air suction

 

[Apatahunga]

This is my first time setting up a reef tank with a true sump. All seems well with the exception of my skimmer. Nice quiet tank and then I turn on the skimmer and it is super loud. Produces bubbles. Gurgles. Etc. see video and turn on volume. Really need some help here. Thanks!!

Mine sounds like this, any ideas what to do?