Really need help with my skimmer!

[ZeroShadez]

I have what i believe is a venturi pump system that goes into 2 skimmer bodys i have the air lines with a valve to control the air because wide open will wet skim and fill the cup in 20 mins. Sometimes it foams nicley but it needs constant air adjustment there is no gate valve its a very simple design. And the skimate seems to stick in the neck and not quite go over into the cup any thoughts. I have three fish 1 shrimp 1 emerald crab and 10 hermits in my 125gal

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

You may be skimming to aggressively. Meaning that it generates foam for awhile and then stops skimming because there is nothing left to skim.

 

[ZeroShadez]

You may be skimming to aggressively. Meaning that it generates foam for awhile and then stops skimming because there is nothing left to skim.

Is it common with old skimmers like this not to have a gate valve just air line pump and skimmer bodys and cups?

 

[Silent]

Any pics or brand/model number?

 

[NShirke]

I'm assuming you're keeping recommended water level for the skimmer, right? Due to evaporation, lower water level may cause this issue too.

 

[ZeroShadez]

Any pics or brand/model number?

Unfortunately no pics until i get off work but its a black sump so it wouldn't be able to be seen anyway any i got it from the guy i bought the tank from so idk the model

 

[ZeroShadez]

I'm assuming you're keeping recommended water level for the skimmer, right? Due to evaporation, lower water level may cause this issue too.

My sump is at the proper level all the time but the skimmer is designed to clip on the inside of the sump so it can't be adjusted

 

[Silent]

Sounds like a cpr bakpak.

 

[ZeroShadez]

Sounds like a cpr bakpak.

Huh lol

 

[ZeroShadez]

Sounds like a cpr bakpak.

It goods in the sump not hangon the outside its a pump with a pipe the has to openings look like an F with the outputs directly under the 2 skimmers

 

[Jon Fishman]

Sticking in neck is fine. Dry skim. If you find an inch of skim in the cup after a week, that’s fine.

 

[ZeroShadez]

Sticking in neck is fine. Dry skim. If you find an inch of skim in the cup after a week, that’s fine.

Where should the bubbles be in the neck ill get it in three middle where its spilling foam over just a little bit them in a few hours it will be below the neck. I either get no skimate except for the stuff sticking in the neck or i get all water in the cup no happy medium it seems?

 

[Jon Fishman]

It should be about halfway up the neck. The drier skim “works its way up”.

 

[ZeroShadez]

It should be about halfway up the neck. The drier skim “works its way up”.

Thanks for the help i think im alright then. We will see i just thought due to the simple design of it maybe it was a piece of junk or somthing

 

[Jon Fishman]

Thanks for the help i think im alright then. We will see i just thought due to the simple design of it maybe it was a piece of junk or somthing

The best skimmers out there are very “basic” or simple really. Amazingly expensive, but very simple!

 

[ZeroShadez]

The best skimmers out there are very “basic” or simple really. Amazingly expensive, but very simple!

Dont they all have gate valves to adjust the water level. I can only adjust the bubbles by adjusting the air intake which is extremely sensitive

 

[Jon Fishman]

Dont they all have gate valves to adjust the water level. I can only adjust the bubbles by adjusting the air intake which is extremely sensitive

That’s all mine has. My sump has an adjustable baffle though

 

[Silent]

Maybe not a gate valve but yes they should have a way to adjust them. AC pumps adjust different than DC pumps

 

[ZeroShadez]

Maybe not a gate valve but yes they should have a way to adjust them. AC pumps adjust different than DC pumps

I looked at the pump alot didn't seem to have any way to adjust the pump goes right in the sump

 

[Silent]

Some AC pump skimmers use a gate valve, ball valve, riser tube or something along those lines to adjust the water level in the skimmer. If there is no way to adjust the water level it would be very hard to use the skimmer.