How to start bubble magnus HOB??

[JZ199]

This 150 gallon project is beginning to drive me nuts, after replacing the frame and refilling it, I cannot get my skimmer to work. I got it from someone on here and never used it before, and it came without instructions so maybe I'm doing something wrong?? I put water into the chamber, turn the air valve and water level adjuster all the way off and plug it in... no water is being pumped into the chamber, no bubbles, nothing is happening. I can hear the pump making noise and I took it off of the chamber and tested it in the tank and it was sucking water in and feeding it back out, so I'm clueless on why the skimmer will not function

 

[ReeferBob]

HOBs are notoriously hard to prime. Have you totally filled and manually started the siphon? Are you blocking off the air intake until it primes and starts?

 

[JZ199]

HOBs are notoriously hard to prime. Have you totally filled and manually started the siphon? Are you blocking off the air intake until it primes and starts?

Honestly I'm very unfamiliar with HOB skimmers, how would I start the siphon manually? Also by blocking off the air intake do you mean having that blue valve turned off?

 

[ReeferBob]

Yep - that blue valve looks like the air control valve. To start manually, just fill it up to operating levels and usually you block the air flow so only water can be sucked in. They are a PITA. My RO2000 used to take 5-10 minutes to get going turning it off and on repeatedly.