Diy Skimmer Question, Help Needed!

[ocmsolidsnake]

I have built myself a hob skimmer that maintains water level fine. I use a powehead that delivers the water to the top of the cahmber and the outake is run from the bottom. I am currently using the air intake from the powerhead, one round airstone, and one long airstone to produce bubles in the skimmer. The problem is the bubles arent accumulating. They are just forming and bursting seconds later. There are tons of bubles being produced. I dont understand why this isnt working. Is it the not so great air pumps Im using, the not so great powerhead im using (sorry Im a low budget 16 year old lol), or an act of god himself preventing my skimmer from working. I realy need help on this Im stumped. I have the water level perfectly ballanced right now, I can post pics if needed for diagnosis.

 

[andywg]

First up, are you using it on Freshwater, if so: give up now.

Secondly, when using an airstone you need the finest possible air stones, so get some wooden blocks and run it through them. Also make sure there is actually something to skim, an empty tank will not produce much waste.

 

[ocmsolidsnake]

Lol, it is saltwater. I have two rather cheap airstones on there. Also the tank is stocked with 35lbs LR 10 snails 4 hermits, one large, and 2 percula clowns. Are you saying I need a verry fine airstone? Where can I find a wooden airstone, Links?

 

[SkiFletch]

here

 

[ocmsolidsnake]

Ok now Im going crazy. I bought the wooden air stone, and the skimmer ran for 30 mins, and still no air accumulation. Then I went out and bought a t joint to connect my two pumps to run. Let in run, still no air accumulation. Now I set up a nebulizer, which is internally just a powerful air pump to the system, and its making tons of bubles, but they are big and wont accumulate. What am I doing wrong, why is this not working? I have the airstone at the bottom of the chamber, I have the thing running as it should, everything I have read tells me it should work. What is going on? I believe I have a significant bioload to produce scum. Does the skimmer need to skim off the surface, My bowerhead is about two inches below water level, is this a problem. DO I need a better air pump, if so what kind of power do I need? Im desperate to get this to work, as I have spent a ton on this by now.

 

[ocmsolidsnake]

 

[SkiFletch]

Do me a favor and humor me . Try putting some airline tubing down into the inlet of your pump (not in the impeller itself but just before it), and turn the pump on and allow it to suck air in and chop it up. Might get you the bubbles you need

And then read this to understand how/why your skimmer works