SCA 302 Skimmer help please

ash9965 · Sep 20, 2017

Just purchased a new SC 302 skimmer and having some issues any help would be appreciated . I previously owned a 301 . So here is the issue on the old 301 as soon as I would plug it in it starts skimming almost immediately in the neck you can see millions of fine bubbles making the water look solid white ultimately foaming up the neck and producing dark skim and filling the cup within a day.

Now with the new one the water is clear no fine milky white bubbles only random bubbles similar to if you had a air pump line in your tank with no air stone - basically pea size bubbles . The only way I have found to produce the needed type of bubbles to actually skim is if I partially block the pumps intake side but as soon as I let go it goes back to pretty much nothing? Any thoughts on the issue. The skimmer itself looks identical to the 301 except for the pump being inside the housing versus the bottom ? Thanks in advance

Jimbo662 · Sep 20, 2017

They usually pull plain water like that if the air line is plugged up somehow. Have you checked that?

ash9965 · Sep 20, 2017

I will double check when I get home but why does it work when I partially cover the pump intake then ?

ash9965 · Sep 20, 2017

could there be any other possible causes ?

traumajeff · Sep 20, 2017

ash9965 said:
could there be any other possible causes ?

Take it apart and start from the beginning. Make sure everything is in place and seated correctly. Sometimes we think we're set up right and we're not.
Most likely the cause is it being new. There's oils and whatnot stuck on them. You could always run it in a bucket or tub with some vinegar to cut the oils down. If this doesn't work 100%, just run it for a while in the sump. Many new skimmers just require a break in period... my BM nac-9 took about a week to calm down.

traumajeff · Sep 20, 2017

traumajeff said:
Take it apart and start from the beginning. Make sure everything is in place and seated correctly. Sometimes we think we're set up right and we're not.
Most likely the cause is it being new. There's oils and whatnot stuck on them. You could always run it in a bucket or tub with some vinegar to cut the oils down. If this doesn't work 100%, just run it for a while in the sump. Many new skimmers just require a break in period... my BM nac-9 took about a week to calm down.

Just to add some logic to this... if you've ever had a beer or soda with a "head" on it, you can rub the side of your nose and touch the bubbles... they'll disappear. Why....? The oils from your nose break the surface tension of the bubbles. Same thing in a skimmer... bubbles won't form if there's oil present.

ash9965 · Sep 20, 2017

traumajeff said:
Just to add some logic to this... if you've ever had a beer or soda with a "head" on it, you can rub the side of your nose and touch the bubbles... they'll disappear. Why....? The oils from your nose break the surface tension of the bubbles. Same thing in a skimmer... bubbles won't form if there's oil present.

Understood but if I put my finger over pump intake everything works perfectly ?

traumajeff · Sep 20, 2017

ash9965 said:
Understood but if I put my finger over pump intake everything works perfectly ?

Have you adjusted the flow by turning the blue pipe? If so, any change?

Only other thing I could think of is water level. I ran a 302, but it was a while back and in a totally different set up or I'd tell you where mine was at. According to sales posts on Amazon, both models like a 6-7 inch height.

ash9965 · Sep 20, 2017

water level is probably between 8 to 10 I can measure when I get home but the 301 worked at the same height in the same sump .

traumajeff · Sep 20, 2017

ash9965 said:
water level is probably between 8 to 10 I can measure when I get home but the 301 worked at the same height in the same sump .

Could be that. Even though they're similar, they might have different requirements. Try grabbing it and slowly raising it up. If you start skimming, it's your water level. If not, back to checking connections and cleaning.

traumajeff · Sep 20, 2017

Any update?

ash9965 · Sep 21, 2017

its a dud returning it

traumajeff · Sep 21, 2017

ash9965 said:
its a dud returning it

That stinks! Sorry

ash9965 · Sep 21, 2017

No worries any suggestions on an alternative in the 200 dollar range

traumajeff · Sep 21, 2017

ash9965 said:
No worries any suggestions on an alternative in the 200 dollar range

It honestly would depend on what size tank you had, room in your sump, etc.... I personally like the SCA skimmer you had, as it was the first one I owned. I probably would have stayed with the brand if they had bigger skimmers to offer. The BM Curve 5 fits your price range, but I'm not sure if it's good for your tank size. I have a BM now and I really don't have anything bad to say about them.

If you're on a budget, check the sales adds here or possibly a local reefing group on Facebook. We always have good deals popping up in our group.

ash9965 · Sep 21, 2017

Thanks what do you think of the
Symplicity DC Skimmers ?

traumajeff · Sep 21, 2017

ash9965 said:
Thanks what do you think of the
Symplicity DC Skimmers ?

I personally have no experience with them. Sorry.

I'm mixed on the skimmer with a DC pump though. It just adds one extra thing to tweak... water flow, air flow, and now pump speed. That's just me though... plenty of people like them!