Octopus Skimmer Restart

[RossW]

I have an Octopus Recirc and have the hardest time to restart it anytime I turn it off or it loses power.  I have tried blowing in the airline soft, hard, etc. but can't find an easy way to get it to start.

Once it stops, it usually takes me days to get it going again as I try for 10 minutes and then walk away till the next day.

BTW, the pump runs fine, it just doesn't suck air and thus produces a bubble column :-(

It is not submerged at all.

[Rybren]

Ross,

I have an Octopus Recirc as well (110).  I assume that you are talking about it not producing bubbles on the restart?

Mine usually takes about 2-5 seconds before it starts producing, although after my last shutdown, I had to blow through the air hose to get it going.  Of course, it's been about 1 1/2 years since I gave the pump & volute a good (or any cleaning)  Maybe it's time.

Have you tried starting the recirc pump first and then the feed pump?  The last time I had the feed pump going first and filled the chamber before starting the recirc.  The water level in the air hose was, as a consequence, quite high.  I'm thinking that this, coupled with a dirty pump, caused the problem.

BTW, I'm running mine externally.

Jerry

[RossW]

Jerry -

Thanks for the response.

Exactly, no bubbles when it starts.

Mine takes minutes to start producing, and I give up after 10 minutes or so.

I do typically start my feed first... maybe I will try holding off on that one.  Although logically me blowing into it should negate the level of the water in the skimmer.

I cleaned mine a few months back and it did not help at all.

Ross

[Rybren]

Strange. 

Every once and a while I'll get some hot RO water and stick the air hose into it.  The water gets sucked through the hose and *theoretically* cleans the venturi.

Other than that, I really don't know what else to offer.