Skimmer/return pump

[tntdsol]

I have a 2 part question.

First my Skimmer a Eshopps S-120 seems to skim really good at times and then just stops. It was doing a great last night and when I woke up this morning it seems as if it isnt producing Air bubbles anymore. If I adjust it to bring the bubbles higher on the tank it will be good for a while then over flow the collection cup.

Second:

I am getting micro bubbles in my display. The sump/fugees is an Eshopps R-100 and the return in a jebo dialed back to about 4. I have checked the return chamber and do not see any bubbles in there. How would these bubbles be getting in the tank?

I have attached pics.

 

[Big G]

Bump

 

[jda]

Is the return plumbing tight and sealed? It is pulling air from anywhere like a venturi? If you use Loc Line, they can pull in air at the top.

Clean out the venturi, air tube and the silencer. They can fill full of salt creep and clog up. You might be in one of those inbetween phases where it will pull some air, but not a lot.

 

[tntdsol]

Is the return plumbing tight and sealed? It is pulling air from anywhere like a venturi? If you use Loc Line, they can pull in air at the top.

Clean out the venturi, air tube and the silencer. They can fill full of salt creep and clog up. You might be in one of those inbetween phases where it will pull some air, but not a lot.

It should be tight. No venteri in the system. Should I try and submerge the loc line? Suggestions?

 

[Hemmdog]

It should be tight. No venteri in the system. Should I try and submerge the loc line? Suggestions?

Is there salt creep on any of the plumbing joints or around valves? If there is you found your leak.

 

[tntdsol]

Is there salt creep on any of the plumbing joints or around valves? If there is you found your leak.

No salt creep on the return. I have some on the drain but it is a tiny amount.

 

[tntdsol]

I have checked everywhere and can not find any air leaks in the return. But I have noticed that the bubbles seem to start when my ATO pumps fresh water into the return chamber.

 

[Hemmdog]

I have checked everywhere and can not find any air leaks in the return. But I have noticed that the bubbles seem to start when my ATO pumps fresh water into the return chamber.

Ahhh I see. You want your ato to dump water to the chamber before your return so it can go through at least one bubble trap.

 

[tntdsol]

Would you go with the fuge or the skimmer chamber? Will the freshwater effect the skimmer preformance?

 

[Hemmdog]

Would you go with the fuge or the skimmer chamber? Will the freshwater effect the skimmer preformance?

Yea it will, fuge chamber is the best.

 

[tntdsol]

Yea it will, fuge chamber is the best.

Thank you. I'll switch it to there and see what it does.

 

[Hemmdog]

Thank you. I'll switch it to there and see what it does.

Awesome hopefully that was the issue, easy fix !

 

[tntdsol]

Well, the ,micro bubbles are back. They started last night after I did a water change. I am at a loss for what could be causing it. See no micro bubbles coming from the skimmer and none in the return chamber. Only thing I can figure out is it is sucking air. I know that the return pipe is not glued at the bulk head but this is completely submerged in water. Could the elbows and Tee at the top of the return be causing it?

Maybe the Jebo return pump itself?

 

[tntdsol]

They have diminished this morning but still pumping out.

 

[tntdsol]

So I solved the micro bubbles problem.....


Now, I have another return pump question.

I have a tunze 3155 ATO with the sensor in the return chamber. The issue is the water level fluctuates in the return chamber for some reason. The water level will drop and the ATO will kick on putting RODI water in the chamber. The chamber then fills up again with water from the dispaly making the high water alarm kick on. Within a few seconds the water level drops kicking on the ATO pump again. This is a continued cycle until I turn off the ATO. I can literally watch the water level rise and fall. This is causing too much RODI water to be put in the tank which is lowering my salinity and making my skimmer go crazy.

Suggestions?