Problem With Protein Skimmer

[AK77]

Hi,

I have a Prism protein skimmer that I can't seem to get working correctly. I've followed the instructions in the PDF manual from the website and still am having no luck.

Basically, I am able to prime the skimmer by placing the hose onto the primer fitting on the collection cup. The inlet tube fills with water and fills the reaction chambers and is flowing back into the tank as normal. It then says to move the hose from the primer fitting to the hose barb fitting. As soon as I do this, the water just syphons out the inlet tube and nothing happens. The water stops flowing as inlet tube is empty.

Can anyone tell me what I doing wrong? Everything seems to be fitted together correctly.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[AK77]

Update

I think I may have solved the problem.

The problem seems to be that when switching from the primer to the hose barb terminal, the skimmer sucks in air and the water simply flies out the inlet tube back into the tank. I thought that initally I was taking too long to switch from one to the other and that in the process, all the water pressure was being lost as air was being sucked in.

Now I tried to get around this by leaving the pipe connected to the hose barb terminal and pinching it with a pair of pliers. This worked to prime it, but as soon as the pliers were released, the self same thing happened again .

Still, too much air was being sucked in, but why??

I then had a brainwave. How could I reduce the amount of air rushing in? I checked through my box of odds and sods and found a straight through valve for an air line. I connected the valve straight onto the hose barb and then attached the air pipe to it. I shut it off completely. This then primed the unit again. I then slowly opened up the valve until there is sufficient air to make the water foam. I now have water cycling and air being mixed in!! To think I have been messing with this stupid thing for 2 days now. I can see why people hate these Prisms. What a stupid design!! All for the sake of a 20p valve - the frustration and head scratching could be avoided completely.

If you've had a prism and cant get it working, now you know a solution. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!

 

[SkiFletch]

Glad to hear you fixed it

 

[AK77]

Thanks Ski. So am I. Now here's the ridiculous thing.... If I now pull the air pipe off, the unit remains primed and working??

I'm on the look out for a better one anyway. I've heard nothing but bad things about prisms and I can see why.

 

[SkiFletch]

Lol, yeah Prism's aren't exactly the best pieces of equipment... You've honestly got me completely lost without pics . HOpe you get it workin