HELP with Reef Octopus sss-3000int

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

It does sound frustrating for sure.

Let’s try something else.

By looking at the pictures it looks like you don’t have any air intake control on your skimmer, but one thing comes to mind, try to get a restrictor for the air intake line.

I know, it sounds counterproductive however sometimes skimmers have larger pumps then needed in order to satisfy nova day’s market demands for more air intake.

Bubble Blaster 3000 pulls 1200-1400L of air per hour, if skimmer contact chamber is too small it will not produce stable foaming. Also you may want to try to stabilize foam by inserting a tight ball of plastic netting inside the skimmer it will not reduce water flow through but will brake larger bubbles in to smaller ones as well as reduce turbulence.

The finer the adjustments the better in terms of air control valve.

So back to air control: Try restricting the air flow it might make it more stable. It will also make bubbles smaller and foam denser. It will also make the pump to push more water through the skimmer so prepare for higher level or remove skimmer waste collection cup and then adjust. If pump will stay stable then with finer bubbles you will get better skimmate.

Nevertheless if pump is fine after power down and then fluctuates again it is indeed sounds like a malfunction.

Actually I did have one on there, I added it to make fine adjustments. Removed as the manufacturere stated not to do this. It however didn't help the instability of water volume/flow of skimmer, when I had it on.

LFS won't do anything, unless manufacturer will ok a pump swap. This is becuase it has been 4 months. Not fun, since this has been a problem from the get go... So I am trying to get Coralvue to ok the swap from LFS, or send me a new pump.

[globaldesigns]

Finally found a video of my actual model on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xvlC2D67zg

This video shows the agressiveness of the internal water. Within the skimmer cup column you will notice it is like rapids, instead of a nice bubble head rising to the top. Is this what I should be doing?

If this is the case, maybe I am tuning this thing wrong. So I have put it back in the sump as the video shows, and how others here explained. I will let it settle, and eventually it will go crazy like the video, I will then adjust accordingly. Then I will see if it can hold this level and aggressiveness.

If this is the case, boy this skimmer functions totally different to any skimmer I had before.

[globaldesigns]

Well, went to LFS to get new pump, but of course the new one is slightly different than what I had for mounting.

Jeremy from Coralvue, called me while I was in the store. I went home to take a picture of my venturi, as I always had a feeling it was that. I have included the image I sent.



Jeremy's comments: "That is definitely your issue. I am surprised it was working at all."

Problem is that the air nozzle is going into the inner chamber, and is pretty close to the inner wall. This probably causing poor air flow, especially if things like salt, snails, debris plug it up. This causing my up and down inconsistancies and poor bubble head and no skimmate. When I unplug, it probably backflushes it clean, until it happens again. Even if it didn't plug up, skimming abilities probably would always be next to nothing, like I have been experiencing.

So I am glad to finally figure things out. Looking forward to having a new skimmer that works properly. YIPPPPEEEE!!!

I do want to thank Jeremy from Coralvue, also Dave and Denny at Concepts. They all were probably very frustrated with my persistence, but I am glad to finally get a resolution, and thanks to you all!!!

Now I wait for the new part.

[lastlight]

even if we did suspect the chaps were on a little tight... there's no denying that's a real issue! glad you sorted it out... i would have probably run it over by now lol.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by lastlight

even if we did suspect the chaps were on a little tight... there's no denying that's a real issue! glad you sorted it out... i would have probably run it over by now lol.

Oh believe me... I was ready to do many things to this thing, was even measuring and looking at Bubble Kings, etc. Hopefully things work as they should.

And I DON'T wear chaps anymore. JEEEEEZZZZ, I will never live that down will I.

[Lexy]

Your skimmer's pump have a build in monitoring safety switch. If there is any slight internal pressure changes inside the impeller casing or air intake restriction or motor faulty it will show down the rotation and eventually stop. Your water level must have a constant level. Since you replaced the impeller, did u check if the impeller magnet, if there is any hair line crack? From your picture, air intake line look good and not pinch. Try to unplug the power and let it sit for 5 - 10 mins, then power it back. It should run in full capacity or sometime it lagging. If it doing it again, I think it skimmer pump is the problem.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Lexy

Your skimmer's pump have a build in monitoring safety switch. If there is any slight internal pressure changes inside the impeller casing or air intake restriction or motor faulty it will show down the rotation and eventually stop. Your water level must have a constant level. Since you replaced the impeller, did u check if the impeller magnet, if there is any hair line crack? From your picture, air intake line look good and not pinch. Try to unplug the power and let it sit for 5 - 10 mins, then power it back. It should run in full capacity or sometime it lagging. If it doing it again, I think it skimmer pump is the problem.

Its not a matter of a pinched line, if you look at the internal chamber of the venturi, the airline tube pertrudes into the chamber. In actual fact it is maybe 2mm away from the inner wall. So there is a major restriction here. Salt creep, snails, dust, crud will also easily plug it.

Looking forward to the new part, and hopefully a skimmer that works!