Troubles with SWC 160 cone skimmer

[luxauterna]

Hey everyone,

I have been having some trouble since I started this new tank in Dec.. The skimmer was running on my previous 135 but was not in use for about a year. I cleaned it (just water, not vinegar though). When I first started it up, it would skim a ridiculous amount of air and would fill the collection cup with bubbles and water and overflow the cup draining the water in the sump so quickly. If I let it drain into the skimmer chamber, it just continues that all day long never settling and breaking in. After a couple of days of it doing that it did break in and start to work. HOWEVER, randomly it will start doing that and I have to do it all over again trying to get it to break in. Anyone else have any similar experiences with this? Any tricks of the trade or do you think something is wrong with the skimmer?

Thanks

 

[Singlefin]

Is your water level too high? Where is it at?

 

[Singlefin]

The intake airline might be blocked.

 

[luxauterna]

It is in 8" of water, and I will take it out and check the airline as well.

 

[Singlefin]

Sorry. The water level inside the skimmer that you adjust with the big red knob.

 

[Singlefin]

8" sounds about right.

 

[salmonshutters]

Check to see if the water intake is blocked. It sounds like its pushing too much air for the water volume. Is your return gated?

 

[luxauterna]

The return is gated . The water level rises through the cone so rapidly with bubbles that I can't set the level of the water. I am not able to control the level with the gate valve on the skimmer. Regardless if I have it closed or wide open, the skimmer is spewing bubbles up the cone and into the cup and overflowing.

 

[Singlefin]

Sounds like you have the gate closed. Try spinning the red knob clockwise. It just keeps spinning. If you can take the skimmer out of the water and look at the angled gate that closes when you spin it. You want to start with it fully open. Then slowly close it. As it closes, you should see the water level in the skimmer body rise.

 

[Singlefin]

That knob adjust the water height in the skimmer.

 

[salmonshutters]

That knob adjust the water height in the skimmer.

If it doesn't the valve might be broken. Check to see if the valve opens and closes when you screw it. It could very well be stripped.

 

[luxauterna]

Yea I know, and I've tried with it wide open, with it somewhat closed and with it fully closed. Regardless of where I have the gate valve, it is over flowing immediately. It won't regulate the water level in the skimmer, which is why I think there is a problem :/

 

[luxauterna]

btw thanks for the advice on this!

 

[Singlefin]

Airline might be clogged. Is there a nipple next to the gate knob with a + & - on it. I know if I plug that hole with my finger, my skimmer will go crazy and overflow. Maybe it's clogged in the too in that canister or where it connects to the pump intake. You should be able to wiggle the pump intake off without having to take the skimmer apart. Blow into the tube from each side.

 

[Singlefin]

btw thanks for the advice on this!

Anytime. Hope we can help.

 

[salmonshutters]

Check the water inlet to the pump, something might have gotten lodged in there blocking the flow.

 

[luxauterna]

so I think messing with the airline tube helped. I had a chunk of salt that was stuck at the end of the tube, not fully blocked but probably wasn't helping. It started up much better this time without the automatic overflow. It isn't running that great at the moment still though, and now I have the airline all the way towards the " - " to keep the bubbles from going crazy overload.

 

[luxauterna]

I kept the gate valve at mostly open and the airline all the way " - " . I need to hit the sack and I'll check on it in the morning. Hopefully it doesn't continue to spill over. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Singlefin]

It should be at the full +. That is just fine tuning for tiny bubbles. Leave it wide open for now. You may have more build up. Probably on the pump intake side. Maybe take a toothpick or stick and clean it out. With the skimmer out of the water, open the gate all the way. Look in the hole to make sure it's open. Start her up. Let it run. Slowly close it a little. Let it run. I set it right at the colored brace that holds the top of the skimmer body. Below the skimmer cup. Good luck.

 

[luxauterna]

yea it is working much better this morning ! thank you for your help!