Skimmer project shat the bed... What happened?

[Stephany]

So I tried to set up my skimmer finally...

Yeah... it didn't work out so well.
Water came spewing out of the little nozzle that's supposed to intake air on the venturi... :eek:
....And the actual skimmer body filled up with water real high within about 5 seconds. (could be because there weren't any bubbles.... ?)
When that happened, I turned the valve around facing the opposite direction. Same thing. :confused:
Here's some pictures, hopefully you can figure it out.:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/labeledskimmer.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/2-21-06015.jpg


My ideas:
1. The pump is too much for the skimmer? (which sucks, cause that's what was recommended...)d
2. Maybe I need to run an airline hose a few feet before it will suck water in... ? (It was about a foot above the pump and skimmer body)
3. The venturi valve is um... not functioning as it should?
4. I'm cursed.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[M. Python]

I don’t know what skimmer you have, but it don’t look like it will work the way you have it plumbed. The venturi is in the middle of the line and below the level of the water in the skimmer. Try to locate It higher and make sure the intake of the air line of the venturi is higher then the skimmer.

[M. Python]

Are you going to use all that hose? The pump may not be able to pump water that far, it probably won’t produce enough head pressure.

[PCIALF]

I would try the venturi close to the skimmer which it then can get air
and a mj 1200 should be good I ran one on my crp bakpak

or run an airhose from the venturi to above the water line ck this pick out of the bakpak

I do also think the pump should be closer

http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/bakpak.html

[M. Python]

A venturi in backwards will also do this, make sure after everything above has been done, it is facing the right direction.:)

[Stephany]

Okay.
Right now.
*cutting silicone tubing to bring the air intake up higher*
Thanks
(venturi was put in both ways, so... no.)

[Stephany]

Ugh.
The smaller nozzle will is too large for the silicone tubing to fit over it.

I don't have anything that will fit over it. I think I will switch the long stretch of tubing up higher so that the venturi valve is 3 feet higher instead....
?

thanks.

[puter]

Stephany,

FWIW, in your picture the venturi is in backwards.

Did you add the barbed fittings? If so, how does their inner diameter compare to that of the venturi? Also, it looks like you were having trouble getting the hoses all the way on? If so, just soak them in some very hot water for a minute or two before you slide them on.

HTH,

- Mark

[gary greguire]

I don't think a maxi jet has enough power to run one of those ventures I would put one in front of the pump on the suction side. I bought a couple of those ventures and they are quite large. The way the ventures work is physics when velocity increases presure decreases so if there is restriction on the out put side of the venture it wont work. you can have some one order the venture intake for the maxi jet they are cheap.

[Stephany]

Whoa. Okay.
When I take the valve up higher by a couple feet. It works.
Works = "there's a few air bubbles in there"
But, the skimmer body still overflowed with water... and it didn't go out that blue exit part...

[Stephany]

I have the venturi for the maxi jet... but when it's attached, it widens the diameter too much for the hose to go on.

Do you think the maxijet's venturi would be enough to power that skimmer?

[M. Python]

He is talking about putting the venturi before the intake of the pump, they sell one for this application.

[Stephany]

Okay.
I'm uploading a few pictures to photobucket as I type.
I'll be done in a minute.
LSDKfjLKJ
And I just had to discipline the cat.

[Stephany]

Now, bear in mind... the output of the pump goes to a long hose, which goes under a chair, over a toolbag on the chair, on top of the chair where the venturi is propped, and into the skimmer. (Nothin' but net)
This is the venturi & symbiotic chair:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/2-26-06001.jpg
This is a blurry picture, do you guys see all those bubbles that just... stick to the side of the skimmer body? Are any supposed to stick?
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/2-26-06003.jpg
Closer-up-blurry skimmer body. I swear, it's really hard to focus on bubbles.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/2-26-06006.jpg
The collection cup and some spatters that developed in a minute. I wouldn't call it foam though... ?:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Steffcia/Tank/2-26-06007.jpg

[gary greguire]

that skimmer requires either an intake Venturi or a wooden air diffuser with a smaller powerhead.

[Stephany]

Are you serious? I thought the venturi that Mo gave me would work. It's taken a long time trying to get all the parts of this to match up to the cpvc of the skimmer intake.. and the pump... etc.

I don't think I could get a wooden air thing down the hatch of that skimmer...

[Tingy99]

Why not just use the air intake that is already on the maxijet?

[Stephany]

It enlarges the maxijet's output *just* enough so that I can't get the hose over the end of it.

But... wait! Hot water. aldkfjaskldfja;sdlfkj
Do you guys think that will be enough bubbles?
*(Going to microwave some water)*
Thank you mark. :)

[zanclus]

what I would do is make my own venturi by taking a piece of 1/2" cpvc pipe about 2" long and drilling a small hole in it to accommadate a piece of rigid tubing for airline (1/8" i think) I would then glue this piece to the intake of the MJ and connect a airline hose to the rigid then just rin the outtake to the skimmer and it should bubble fine. I would also keep the tubing to the skimmer as short as I could.

[gary greguire]

if you order one of these you will save yourself alot of greif.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/71950bp2_180.jpg
plumb your skimmer just like this one.

[SuzLucky]

I used that on my skimmer and it made a big difference. Also if the hoses are not seated far enough in they will produce additional bubbles do to air leakage.

[Stephany]

I ordered a turbo venturi from premium aquatics for like, $4.00

I hope that's what I needed...
Thanks guys.

[gary greguire]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/images/turbokit.jpg

Thats the one.