Skimmer venturi - need help!

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 07:10 PM

I just bought a Gen-x 2400 needle wheel for my skimmer. I screwed the provided venturi into the intake, but it does not suck any air! I had a smaller ID airline that I had to jam on, so I changed that out for a new one that was a perfect fit, but still no air sucking through. The only way I can get air in is by blowing in the air tube...

What am I doing wrong?

prow · 09-27-2007, 07:28 PM

what type of skimmer is it? name brand.

frist thing that comes to mind is a clogged air line. not the tube but in the plastic. also a venturi system, i think, injects the air after the pumps out put side as it goes into the skimmer. a needle wheel skimmers injects the air to the input side of the pump. dont know but this might be the issue.

sasquatch · 09-27-2007, 07:37 PM

also the height of water in the skimmer can reduce the head pressure to the point where there just isnt enough to draw air, a pic might help? Steve

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 07:48 PM

It still doesn't suck air even if I disconnect the pump from the skimmer all together. The only way it sucks air is if I reduce the water flow coming into the "venturi" (by sticking my finger over the intake). The "venturi" apparatus only fits on the intake side of the pump. I guess I might just have to put a valve on there and adjust it accordingly.

Just wondering if anyone else had one of these pumps and one of the "venturis" supplied with it.

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 07:49 PM

It's a bootleg catalina aquarium super 1002 skimmer.

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 07:51 PM

Normally, the venturis I've seen come to a pretty small closure where the injection point is, this one narrows a little, but not as much as I'm used to.

prow · 09-27-2007, 07:55 PM

looking at that none bootleg skimmer the venturi is on the out put line of the pump before the skimmer body. so if you put a needle wheel on with a air intake on the pumps input do you have two air intakes?

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 07:59 PM

Mine doesn't have an air intake after the pump (hence the bootleg, doesn't have all the same stuff, only the same body). I've been using a maxijet with an airline stuck in the intake and it's been working OK, but I wanted better foam. Here's a photo, sorry it's not so good and it's just the pump.

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 08:09 PM

This is the only photo I've got of the skimmer out of the tank. It arrived broken, I glued it back together just fine though...

Octoman · 09-27-2007, 08:14 PM

I've got a temporary valve rigged up on the intake now, it's foaming away! I'll have to mount a permanent one on it so I can get it dialed in just right...

Thanks for the help folks!

prow · 09-27-2007, 08:27 PM

cool, glad you fiq it out, nice job. REEF ON!!!!!!!

09-27-2007, 07:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Skimmer venturi - need help! I just bought a Gen-x 2400 needle wheel for my skimmer. I screwed the provided venturi into the intake, but it does not suck any air! I had a smaller ID airline that I had to jam on, so I changed that out for a new one that was a perfect fit, but still no air sucking through. The only way I can get air in is by blowing in the air tube... What am I doing wrong? __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 07:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,854 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! what type of skimmer is it? name brand. frist thing that comes to mind is a clogged air line. not the tube but in the plastic. also a venturi system, i think, injects the air after the pumps out put side as it goes into the skimmer. a needle wheel skimmers injects the air to the input side of the pump. dont know but this might be the issue. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

09-27-2007, 07:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! also the height of water in the skimmer can reduce the head pressure to the point where there just isnt enough to draw air, a pic might help? Steve

09-27-2007, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! It still doesn't suck air even if I disconnect the pump from the skimmer all together. The only way it sucks air is if I reduce the water flow coming into the "venturi" (by sticking my finger over the intake). The "venturi" apparatus only fits on the intake side of the pump. I guess I might just have to put a valve on there and adjust it accordingly. Just wondering if anyone else had one of these pumps and one of the "venturis" supplied with it. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 07:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! It's a bootleg catalina aquarium super 1002 skimmer. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 07:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! Normally, the venturis I've seen come to a pretty small closure where the injection point is, this one narrows a little, but not as much as I'm used to. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 07:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,854 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! looking at that none bootleg skimmer the venturi is on the out put line of the pump before the skimmer body. so if you put a needle wheel on with a air intake on the pumps input do you have two air intakes? __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

09-27-2007, 07:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! Mine doesn't have an air intake after the pump (hence the bootleg, doesn't have all the same stuff, only the same body). I've been using a maxijet with an airline stuck in the intake and it's been working OK, but I wanted better foam. Here's a photo, sorry it's not so good and it's just the pump. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 08:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! This is the only photo I've got of the skimmer out of the tank. It arrived broken, I glued it back together just fine though... __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 08:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! I've got a temporary valve rigged up on the intake now, it's foaming away! I'll have to mount a permanent one on it so I can get it dialed in just right... Thanks for the help folks! __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

09-27-2007, 08:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,854 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Skimmer venturi - need help! cool, glad you fiq it out, nice job. REEF ON!!!!!!! __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)