Quick skimmer question??

[BOTLFED]

What causes the skimmer to have big bubbles?? Every once and a while I look behind the tank and the bubbles are huge and in a tornado pattern. I clean and check the air tube and its always ok. Then it will go back to being real fine misty bubbles after a few days. I figure its probably the skimmer, but is there a slight chance it might be the water conditions? Id rather ask for advise before reacting and wasting more money that I already have.

TIA,
Chris

 

[scuba_steve]

what kind of skimmer ? whats your salinity at ? the lower the salinity the larger the bubbles would be

 

[BOTLFED]

Catalina Aquatics?? I think thats it. Its for a 200-300 gal tank so I thought it would work fine, but it seems real inconsistant. Ill check the salinity later and get back you. Thanks for the quick reply

 

[scuba_steve]

not sure the size of your tank but if your using this skimmer on lets say a 55 gallon this would be normal imo if your bio load is low ! the skimmer will not have anything to always pull out of the water

 

[BOTLFED]

160 gal...So the small bubbles are when its working and pulling out garbage?? Big bubbles are when the water is clean and not wokring as much??

 

[scuba_steve]

lets try this route first how is air injected into the skimmer? is it via being chopped thru the impeller of the pump or is it going the a beckett type injector ?

 

[scuba_steve]

i tried to look up your skimmer but only found places to swim at heheheh

 

[BOTLFED]

All it says on the box is "Jet Venturi System" with "Air injection Control." It hangs on the back of the tank. I think im going to look into a new one. The one I just bought for my 55 gal. (JEBO) works great and it really quiet. With the JEBO, its being shot through these impellers you were talking about. That tank is only 2 days old so we'll see how it works with fish and a bio load.

Thanks

 

[scuba_steve]

yea so the impeller mixes the air and water so should be uniformed bubbles! after re-reading your first post i think you will notice larger bubbles after cleaning the skimmer which will then take a few days to break back in and start skimming
but with a low bio load your skimmer will not have much to pull out which is a good thing