View Full Version : Is restricting skimmer pump air intake bad?
Guillaume
11/24/2012, 12:05 PM
So, is it pushing on the pump like restricting water output is?
I need to reduce temporary bubbles from overflowing after a cyano treatment.
BTW, water change done and running carbon more than usual.
Thanks !
open skimmer output fully and take the cup off the skimmer and/or lower sump height if possible till the skimmer settles down. if you restrict the air, all that will happen is the skimmer will fill more with water and it will still most likely overflow.
tkeracer619
11/24/2012, 12:10 PM
It depends. Some skimmer pumps will not be able to spin the impeller if air is not in the chamber. You can restrict it but eliminating it all together sometimes is a bad idea.
I have in the past done water changes via the skimmer after such treatments. It gets them out of the water much faster then carbon alone.
Chriskk
11/24/2012, 12:11 PM
It is fine to reduce the flow. I have a ball valve plumbed in to the line feeding my skimmer for this reason. You may just want to unplug the skimmer for a few hours as well. Edit others are correct...I though you were talking about restricting water output.
Guillaume
11/24/2012, 12:11 PM
Water level can't be lowered and skimmer could be higher but very little because of the top of the sump ceiling. Easier would be to restrict the air, which I did with a fingher and it worked well.
Guillaume
11/24/2012, 12:16 PM
OK, thanks all.
skimmer is not working since 2 days after the 15% water change which was following the treatment. So I'm becoming impatient to start it and don't want another water change.
About 1/2 restriction would be enought and would still allows air in the pump.
Guillaume
11/24/2012, 01:11 PM
Well, I'm not sure about the result.
Bubbles that don't go through the skimmate output (level just fine tough) now go through the water output, and a lot of bubbles. So the skimmer sump conpartment is full of bubbles and seams to make the pump chocking a bit time to time. Putting the skimmer water output in the return pump section for sure... create fine bubbles in the display tank...
I may be forced to do another water change :(
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