Nov 10, 2014
Elizabeth Vogel
wrote
The venturi on my lx1000 skimmer seems to be clogging up rapidly - every 3-4 days or so. The airline starts making a whistling noise and very few bubbles are produced. I run warm water through the airline and it fixes the problem for about 3-4 days and the it clogs up again. I tried cleaning the skimmer but 3-4 days later the same problem occurs.
Also, I read on reef central there was a flaw on the original venturi for the bubble blaster 1000 pumps and the air intake is too high. People were reporting much better performance either restricting the air intake or getting a new venturi from your company. Should I order a new venturi?
Also, I read on reef central there was a flaw on the original venturi for the bubble blaster 1000 pumps and the air intake is too high. People were reporting much better performance either restricting the air intake or getting a new venturi from your company. Should I order a new venturi?
Reply
6 Answers
Nov 10, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
Did it just start happening now as the winter is starting and the heater is on?
Around this time of the year, it happens more often. This happens because of the dry air from our homes meeting the moisture of our tanks which is a perfect recipe for salt creep. All you can do is just inject hot water down to keep it open until you do a full service.
Some hobbyists with larger systems actually run the airline intake outside so they don't have the issue you are describing.
Around this time of the year, it happens more often. This happens because of the dry air from our homes meeting the moisture of our tanks which is a perfect recipe for salt creep. All you can do is just inject hot water down to keep it open until you do a full service.
Some hobbyists with larger systems actually run the airline intake outside so they don't have the issue you are describing.
Nov 10, 2014
Elizabeth Vogel
wrote
I have had the skimmer for 2 years and had the venturi clog before, but it never clogged so rapidly over and over again a few days after cleaning it. Taking the skimmer apart and cleaning it didn't help, in fact the problem reoccurred 3-4 days later, the same time frame as running water through the airline.
Would getting a new venturi help the performance of this skimmer? I know it may not fix the current problem but would it help the skimmer work better?
Would getting a new venturi help the performance of this skimmer? I know it may not fix the current problem but would it help the skimmer work better?
Nov 10, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
The venturi on the skimmer has not changed in a few years so it would not affect the performance of the skimmer. Restricting the air intake does affect the performance of the skimmer negatively. Restricting the intake is a very old way of doing skimmers which no longer works. There is a reason why all new skimmers now a days do not make it easy for you to restrict the air intake. You have to modify the skimmer yourself to do so. Restricting the intake is choking the skimmer. You are asking the skimmer to perform better at injecting air into the water but at the same time you are limiting the the amount of air the skimmer can intake.
In terms of the salt creep, if you reduce the intake of the skimmer, then it will not produce as much salt creep as before because you are not moving as much air into the line.
In terms of the salt creep, if you reduce the intake of the skimmer, then it will not produce as much salt creep as before because you are not moving as much air into the line.
Nov 10, 2014
Elizabeth Vogel
wrote
Ok. Any ideas on why the venturi is currently clogging up so rapidly when it never did before, including the last 2 winters? Day 1 after cleaning it it's fine, then gradually tapers off until day 4 it isn't skimming anymore at all. At this rate I have to clean the airline every other day or every 2 days. Something is wrong with it.
Nov 10, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
Around this time of the year, it happens more often. This happens because of the dry air from our homes meeting the moisture of our tanks which is a perfect recipe for salt creep. All you can do is just inject hot water down to keep it open until you do a full service.
Some hobbyists with larger systems actually run the airline intake outside so they don't have the issue you are describing.
Some hobbyists with larger systems actually run the airline intake outside so they don't have the issue you are describing.
Nov 10, 2014
Elizabeth Vogel
wrote
Ok. Thanks so much for working with me to fix the problem.