Protein skimmer won't work

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

Hi all! I just acquired a 45 gallon tank that came with a Via Aqua skimmer that I can't get to work. From reading previous posts that it is not a favorite among those in the know but I can't afford to buy a new skimmer right now. Can anyone help?

I can get the water to begin pumping through by using the little squeezy thing on the top right of the skimmer but then the skimmer doesn't continue to pump the water by itself. The motor is still making noise but whatever it's doing isn't getting the water to suck up into the intake tube.

Thanks!

 

[RLG2182]

Is anything blocking the intake? There a flow adjuster valve? What kind of pump is it? All this info will help

 

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

Nothing blocking the intake and I have no idea if it has an adjuster valve...not even sure what that would look like? The skimmer didn't come with any manual or anything and I can't find one online. The pump is the one that came with the skimmer, a ViaAqua 200 GPH pupm.

does any of that help? :?