New Skimmer -- Breaking in, or just broken??

[AndrewLindsay]

Hi everyone,

Just got a new Reef Octopus skimmer (NWB110 4" pinwheel). I put it in the sump and I'm not sure if it's put together right. It's taking in air, and the pump is shooting it into the reaction chamber. However, the pump doesn't seem to be strong enough, as the bubbles are barely reaching halfway up the skimmer. I tried adjusting the gate valve, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. I turn it all the way on, all the way off, and everything in between. No difference in how high the bubbles lift into the skimmer.

It's only been running a few hours, and I've heard that skimmers sometimes need to "break in" before functioning properly. Is that what's happening here? I'm not sure why adjusting the gate valve would have no effect whatsoever, even if it is brand new. I'm starting to worry I set it up incorrectly!

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!
Andrew

 

[Guest]

You have the skimmer sitting in at the correct water height


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[AndrewLindsay]

@kuyatwo wrote:

I do. The manual says 6" - 10", as long as the water level doesn't cover the outlet pipe. Outlet pipe is fully out of the water.

 

[shse666]

I have not owned this particular skimmer. So maybe I'm off base, but none of the ones I have to date needed to be "broken in" to get the water level at the correct marked spot on the skimmer.
Either I needed to adjust the height of the device in my sump or I adjusted the flow/control valve to get the flow where it needed to be.

I have both venturi and needlewheel, with air external air pump, and vortex driven. I would contact the vendor if you can at this point.

 

[JBsmurf]

Plug the venturi holes with your finger to cur the air intake until the reaction chamber has hardly ny bubbles should take less than a min. Once that has happened take your fingers off and see if that fixes your problem.

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