Help! Protien Skimmer Not Skimming =S

[huynhle]

I have a Octopus BH-100 Hang on back skimmer for my 75 gallon tank. i bought this brand new 2 weeks ago....it worked like a charm....but after i emptied the collection cup about 1.5 days ago i noticed it hasnt been skimming since....and it usually skims alot within about a day. the bubbles just seem to not be able to go any further than 1/4 of the way up of the bubble column...and i've noticed alot of micro bubbles being released into my tank...is there anything i can do to fix this?

[OttawaReefer]

Do you have something to open/close the air valve?  There should be something to allow/restrict the amount of air being pulled in.  I don't have the same skimmer but I know when I modify mine it either has the top of the bubble really low or can blow the top off the skim cup (yup....it's not a pretty thing to have happen).

The reef octopus is a good brand, so it should have that option.  Maybe when removing the cup it got bumped.

[huynhle]

i've tried playing around with a few things....and nuthing seems to be workin =(

[Hookup]

Hard to say if nothings changed... there are not a tone of options... I would assume that something in the air-injection system has changed, but it's really just a guess.

Sorry I cannot be helpful.  I hate seeing posts like these asking for help, and not a tone of responses... i've got nothing really to offer other than I think you should check with Pat at Ottawa Inverts for some support.

Best of luck...

[redbelly]

Have the amount of bubble within the skimmer decreased?
If not then the skimmer is fine and not that your tank is a bit cleaner with having the skimmer running for a few days thre may very well just be less to remove.

Have you had you hands in the tank?
This will crash the bubble column.

[cokelon]

I have the same skimmer. For what I've read, the micro bubbles are normal, you are just breaking out the skimmer, let it run for a bit longer, now make sure you fill up the skimmer all the way until you cover the pump in order to start the skimmer. Try starting the skimmer close valve and slowly open the valve until you start looking at the bubble going up. then just close the valve that what worked for me.

Put your collection box a bit lower than normal and see what happens.
Hope it helps!

[huynhle]

Thanks alot guys I've seemed to have fixed it!

[groupie02]

what did you do to fix it?  Others could benefit from your comments.

[kole18]

Do what as cokelon did to his skimmer that's what i I did too exactly

[groupie02]

thanks!

[cokelon]

glad it helped kole18, if anyone has any problems let me know and i'm pretty sure I can put a little video tutorial for you. nothing extraordinary just a little tricky.

[lost_at_sea]

Have the amount of bubble within the skimmer decreased?
If not then the skimmer is fine and not that your tank is a bit cleaner with having the skimmer running for a few days thre may very well just be less to remove.

Have you had you hands in the tank?
This will crash the bubble column.

I just started noticing that this happens to me? for the first time today.  Any clue why putting your hands in the tank crashes the bubbles? and  why this would have only happened to me today? (could I have just not noticed before?)

[Hookup]

The oils on your skin cause a problem with the surface-tension of the bubbles in the skimmer.

[lost_at_sea]

ahhh that makes sense... so perhaps a solid pre-wash under the tap (without soap) might help.

thanks.