protein skimmer stopped working

[Dave]

Hello;

I have a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 55gal tank. Last week, I made some
slight adjustments to my tank ... replaced the glass hanging heaters with a
Won Ton
Brothers titanium heater, removed a broken MaxiJet 1200 powerhead, and moved
one of the other powerheads to a different spot (pointing more directly
through some
live rock). In the process, I kicked up a good amount of green algae (one
other problem). I hung an AquaClear on the back with some filter floss to
remove the
floating algae.

For about three days after that, the skimmer wasn't working ... no foam at
all.
After two days, I removed it and cleaned it and the pump (another MJ1200).
About a day later, it started working again ... it seemed a bit better than
usual.
About a day after that, it stopped again. About 12 hours later, I replaced
the
MJ1200 driving it, just in case. A day later, and it's still not working.

This skimmer is only about a year and a half old. Any ideas what could be
causing the problem?

Until I get it fixed or replaced, what can I do to help my fish? My main
concern
is my two bubbletip anemones, who aren't looking too well. Frequent water
changes,
I assume. Also using activated carbon? Anything else?

Thanks in advance.

[skozzy]

I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean there is
no bubbles or no water flow or both ?


"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Hello;
>
> I have a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 55gal tank. Last week, I made
some
> slight adjustments to my tank ... replaced the glass hanging heaters with
a
> Won Ton
> Brothers titanium heater, removed a broken MaxiJet 1200 powerhead, and
moved
> one of the other powerheads to a different spot (pointing more directly
> through some
> live rock). In the process, I kicked up a good amount of green algae (one
> other problem). I hung an AquaClear on the back with some filter floss to
> remove the
> floating algae.
>
> For about three days after that, the skimmer wasn't working ... no foam at
> all.
> After two days, I removed it and cleaned it and the pump (another MJ1200).
> About a day later, it started working again ... it seemed a bit better
than
> usual.
> About a day after that, it stopped again. About 12 hours later, I
replaced
> the
> MJ1200 driving it, just in case. A day later, and it's still not working.
>
> This skimmer is only about a year and a half old. Any ideas what could be
> causing the problem?
>
> Until I get it fixed or replaced, what can I do to help my fish? My main
> concern
> is my two bubbletip anemones, who aren't looking too well. Frequent water
> changes,
> I assume. Also using activated carbon? Anything else?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>

[BSackamano]

probably the star-shaped injector nozzle. i cleaned that and the air valve
on my ev-180 this weekend and saw a HUGE increase in performance. both were
pretty serisouly clogged.

"skozzy" > wrote in message
u...
> I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean there
is
> no bubbles or no water flow or both ?
>
>
> "Dave" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hello;
> >
> > I have a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 55gal tank. Last week, I made
> some
> > slight adjustments to my tank ... replaced the glass hanging heaters
with
> a
> > Won Ton
> > Brothers titanium heater, removed a broken MaxiJet 1200 powerhead, and
> moved
> > one of the other powerheads to a different spot (pointing more directly
> > through some
> > live rock). In the process, I kicked up a good amount of green algae
(one
> > other problem). I hung an AquaClear on the back with some filter floss
to
> > remove the
> > floating algae.
> >
> > For about three days after that, the skimmer wasn't working ... no foam
at
> > all.
> > After two days, I removed it and cleaned it and the pump (another
MJ1200).
> > About a day later, it started working again ... it seemed a bit better
> than
> > usual.
> > About a day after that, it stopped again. About 12 hours later, I
> replaced
> > the
> > MJ1200 driving it, just in case. A day later, and it's still not
working.
> >
> > This skimmer is only about a year and a half old. Any ideas what could
be
> > causing the problem?
> >
> > Until I get it fixed or replaced, what can I do to help my fish? My
main
> > concern
> > is my two bubbletip anemones, who aren't looking too well. Frequent
water
> > changes,
> > I assume. Also using activated carbon? Anything else?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> >
>
>

[Dave]

I have bubbles, and I have water flow. The foam column in the collection
cup is clean. I'm clueless as to why it's not actually generating foam.

"skozzy" > wrote in message
u...
> I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean there
is
> no bubbles or no water flow or both ?
>
>
> "Dave" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hello;
> >
> > I have a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 55gal tank. Last week, I made
> some
> > slight adjustments to my tank ... replaced the glass hanging heaters
with
> a
> > Won Ton
> > Brothers titanium heater, removed a broken MaxiJet 1200 powerhead, and
> moved
> > one of the other powerheads to a different spot (pointing more directly
> > through some
> > live rock). In the process, I kicked up a good amount of green algae
(one
> > other problem). I hung an AquaClear on the back with some filter floss
to
> > remove the
> > floating algae.
> >
> > For about three days after that, the skimmer wasn't working ... no foam
at
> > all.
> > After two days, I removed it and cleaned it and the pump (another
MJ1200).
> > About a day later, it started working again ... it seemed a bit better
> than
> > usual.
> > About a day after that, it stopped again. About 12 hours later, I
> replaced
> > the
> > MJ1200 driving it, just in case. A day later, and it's still not
working.
> >
> > This skimmer is only about a year and a half old. Any ideas what could
be
> > causing the problem?
> >
> > Until I get it fixed or replaced, what can I do to help my fish? My
main
> > concern
> > is my two bubbletip anemones, who aren't looking too well. Frequent
water
> > changes,
> > I assume. Also using activated carbon? Anything else?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> >
>
>

[Dave]

I used the injector brush to clean the inside of the injector, as described
in the manual ... no good.

"BSackamano" > wrote in message
news:zxzEc.3528$XM6.3490@attbi_s53...
> probably the star-shaped injector nozzle. i cleaned that and the air
valve
> on my ev-180 this weekend and saw a HUGE increase in performance. both
were
> pretty serisouly clogged.
>
> "skozzy" > wrote in message
> u...
> > I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean there
> is
> > no bubbles or no water flow or both ?
> >
> >
> > "Dave" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hello;
> > >
> > > I have a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer on my 55gal tank. Last week, I made
> > some
> > > slight adjustments to my tank ... replaced the glass hanging heaters
> with
> > a
> > > Won Ton
> > > Brothers titanium heater, removed a broken MaxiJet 1200 powerhead, and
> > moved
> > > one of the other powerheads to a different spot (pointing more
directly
> > > through some
> > > live rock). In the process, I kicked up a good amount of green algae
> (one
> > > other problem). I hung an AquaClear on the back with some filter
floss
> to
> > > remove the
> > > floating algae.
> > >
> > > For about three days after that, the skimmer wasn't working ... no
foam
> at
> > > all.
> > > After two days, I removed it and cleaned it and the pump (another
> MJ1200).
> > > About a day later, it started working again ... it seemed a bit better
> > than
> > > usual.
> > > About a day after that, it stopped again. About 12 hours later, I
> > replaced
> > > the
> > > MJ1200 driving it, just in case. A day later, and it's still not
> working.
> > >
> > > This skimmer is only about a year and a half old. Any ideas what
could
> be
> > > causing the problem?
> > >
> > > Until I get it fixed or replaced, what can I do to help my fish? My
> main
> > > concern
> > > is my two bubbletip anemones, who aren't looking too well. Frequent
> water
> > > changes,
> > > I assume. Also using activated carbon? Anything else?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[skozzy]

How big are the bubbles ?, They should be very fine, large bubbles won't be
very effective. There should also be so many fine small bubbles that it's
basicly impossible to see through the unit.

If you are getting a good amount of fine bubbles, then there is a
possibility the water is too clean for that unit.

If you are not getting the fine small bubbles then something is wrong with
the venturi/injector, OR, the air line that the venturi gets it air from is
blocked or not reinstalled. Or you may have removed something from the
venturi when cleaning it without noticing it.

> I have bubbles, and I have water flow. The foam column in the collection
> cup is clean. I'm clueless as to why it's not actually generating foam.

> > I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean there
> is
> > no bubbles or no water flow or both ?

[Dave]

Well, several hours after posting my message, the skimmer started working
again ... stopped about 12 hours later, started again about a day later, and
has been fine ever since. I didn't consider that it might be the water
being too clean, as the skimmer has consistently generated the same amount
of foam since I set it up; this was strange behavior.

I'm guessing that my algae sh*tstorm must have blocked something inside and
I didn't clean it well enough ... I guess whatever it was must have
dislodged itself.

Thanks!

- Dave

"skozzy" > wrote in message
u...
> How big are the bubbles ?, They should be very fine, large bubbles won't
be
> very effective. There should also be so many fine small bubbles that it's
> basicly impossible to see through the unit.
>
> If you are getting a good amount of fine bubbles, then there is a
> possibility the water is too clean for that unit.
>
> If you are not getting the fine small bubbles then something is wrong with
> the venturi/injector, OR, the air line that the venturi gets it air from
is
> blocked or not reinstalled. Or you may have removed something from the
> venturi when cleaning it without noticing it.
>
> > I have bubbles, and I have water flow. The foam column in the
collection
> > cup is clean. I'm clueless as to why it's not actually generating foam.
>
> > > I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean
there
> > is
> > > no bubbles or no water flow or both ?
>
>
>

[skozzy]

Lets hope it keeps working. It'd keep your heart pumping I guess.


"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Well, several hours after posting my message, the skimmer started working
> again ... stopped about 12 hours later, started again about a day later,
and
> has been fine ever since. I didn't consider that it might be the water
> being too clean, as the skimmer has consistently generated the same amount
> of foam since I set it up; this was strange behavior.
>
> I'm guessing that my algae sh*tstorm must have blocked something inside
and
> I didn't clean it well enough ... I guess whatever it was must have
> dislodged itself.
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Dave
>
> "skozzy" > wrote in message
> u...
> > How big are the bubbles ?, They should be very fine, large bubbles won't
> be
> > very effective. There should also be so many fine small bubbles that
it's
> > basicly impossible to see through the unit.
> >
> > If you are getting a good amount of fine bubbles, then there is a
> > possibility the water is too clean for that unit.
> >
> > If you are not getting the fine small bubbles then something is wrong
with
> > the venturi/injector, OR, the air line that the venturi gets it air from
> is
> > blocked or not reinstalled. Or you may have removed something from the
> > venturi when cleaning it without noticing it.
> >
> > > I have bubbles, and I have water flow. The foam column in the
> collection
> > > cup is clean. I'm clueless as to why it's not actually generating
foam.
> >
> > > > I would say the venturi is being blocked by something. Do you mean
> there
> > > is
> > > > no bubbles or no water flow or both ?
> >
> >
> >
>
>