Anyone with flexible clear tubing?

[gmerek2]

Anyone run a new long section of flexible tubing? My skimmer hasn't been producing ever since I ran the clear flexible piping to the basement. It's been about 2 weeks. Maybe there is some sort of chemical in it that is messing with the surface tension of the bubbles? My corals also didn't really like the change. Slightly deflated but back to normal. Things I changed/did: cleaned skimmer, new return pump, new black return tubing, new clear drain tubing, new sump tank.

[Djplus1]

Did you run the tubing from a higher floor to a lower floor? If so, I had an issue with my Aqua C 180 where the air intake line would get some water in it somehow. Basically, by having the airline below the water if any amount of water gets in the line it will not be able to drain out the other side because it's constantly getting sucked on. But of course the sucking action isn't strong enough to pull the water back into the skimmer, so what you are left with, is essentially a closed airline.

 

Edit: I still get the problem from time to time and I disconnect from skimmer and blow the line out and reconnect.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Djplus1

[gmerek2]

Did you use clear tubing? Yes I ran it from first floor to basement floor. I have a reef octopus NWB250. It has an airline that runs a foot above my water line. I'll check to make sure no leaks. I remember using paper towls now to clean skimmer. I'm going to check online now to see if they put something in them to make them more absorbant .

[gmerek2]

Ok I'm pretty sure it was the paper towels. They contain glue products to help hold together the fibers and make the paper towel stronger.

[zygote2k]

never heard of paper towels causing issues with skimmer production. has to be something else.

[YHSublime]

You pulling air through the new tubing? FWIW, I've used just about every type of paper towel on the market to clean my skimmer.

[gmerek2]

You pulling air through the new tubing? FWIW, I've used just about every type of paper towel on the market to clean my skimmer.

Same tubing. How Long did it take your skimmer to recover from your frag glue? I think I have used paper towels before without problems must be something else.

[YHSublime]

Same tubing. How Long did it take your skimmer to recover from your frag glue? I think I have used paper towels before without problems must be something else.

 

It's the epoxy that sets my skimmer off. Usually 2 days or so and a water change. But my skimmer overproduces when that happens...

[Djplus1]

Did you use clear tubing? Yes I ran it from first floor to basement floor. I have a reef octopus NWB250. It has an airline that runs a foot above my water line. I'll check to make sure no leaks. I remember using paper towls now to clean skimmer. I'm going to check online now to see if they put something in them to make them more absorbant .

I used clear tubing. I'm thinking you have the same issue that I had. If you're not producing skimmate, you probably have a clogged air line, all it takes is a teaspoon of water to form a impassable blockage. Check your entire line.

[YHSublime]

If you're not producing skimmate, you probably have a clogged air line

 

You pulling air through the new tubing?

 

That's where I was going as well.

[gmerek2]

It ended up being a dented thread. It's easier to put skimmer in and then put pump in sump separate then screw pump onto skimmer. I must have bumped the plastic thread on the way in damaging it. When I screwed pump on it stopped so I thought the gasket was seated. Fixed the problem by filing down dented thread. Producing skim like magic now.