RedSea Skimmer not bubbling

[taki123]

Hi guys,

Not sure why but suddenly my skimmer has stopped foaming and is just like pushing water with not much bubbles. This also happened a month ago so I took it all apart and cleaned it with a brush which fixed it but now it’s happened again. What’s causing it?

 

[Dom]

Hi guys,

Not sure why but suddenly my skimmer has stopped foaming and is just like pushing water with not much bubbles. This also happened a month ago so I took it all apart and cleaned it with a brush which fixed it but now it’s happened again. What’s causing it?

Sounds like there may be a clog in your air line. Also, what is your salinity?

The lower the salinity, the less bubbles. That's why we don't use skimmers in fresh water; you can't get foam fractionation in fresh water.

 

[taki123]

Sounds like there may be a clog in your air line. Also, what is your salinity?

The lower the salinity, the less bubbles. That's why we don't use skimmers in fresh water; you can't get foam fractionation in fresh water.

I’ve tried removing the air line to let it draw air from the room and it seems to do the same.

my salinity has dropped a little from 35ppt to 33ppt. So maybe it’s that?

 

[Dom]

I’ve tried removing the air line to let it draw air from the room and it seems to do the same.

my salinity has dropped a little from 35ppt to 33ppt. So maybe it’s that?

No, 33ppt is plenty of salinity for a skimmer to properly operate.

The only other suggestion I can make is to break it down and soak its parts in white vinegar. After you reassemble everything, blow through the air line to be certain you haven't missed anything.

In my experience, this is a blocked air intake or a badly worn impeller on the skimmer pump.

How long do you have the skimmer and did you buy it new?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Usually salt creep collects at the air intake at the skimmer, starts to close off the amount of air coming in. Gotta clean em out.

 

[907_Reefer]

Have you tried blowing into the air intake?

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

The red Venturi is probably blocked and needs cleaned

 

[Dburr1014]

I get precipitation at the intake.
Need to use a drill to clean it, but that stops all air so it stops bubbling.
Is it sitting in enough water? It should say how deep. Maybe 8ish inches.

 

[taki123]

Thanks so much for your help guys! Cleaned the air intake and we are back running all good. Appreciate you all