Bak-pak Skimmer Troubles

[ronj]

i have a Bak-pak skimmer that is about 6-8mths old. the collection cup has always been full on a daily basis. it pulls a lot of skimmate out..nothing has changed in the tank, but it has stopped collecting lately. it will go for 2 weeks and not even be full. the problem seems to be that all of the bubbles are coming up around the sides of the cup instead of going up the tube into the cup. the air tube is clear of debris and the skimmer is level. i don't understand why it has quit working. i have cleaned the pump and the skimmer thoroughly. the problem seems to be the bubbles coming all around the cup. any help?

 

[apollothesun]

is the skimmer cup clean? no coraline algae or algae blocking its way to the collection cup? have you modded the maxijet yet? if you do a search, theres a thread here to mod the maxijet

 

[Skimmy]

bubbles going up around the bottom of the cup are mormal with that skimmer...sounds like your pump is faulty...
which pump do you have on there?? and yes, check out my bakpak/maxijet mod thread:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28372

 

[ronj]

it is the pump that comes with some of the Bak-paks. i don't think it is an actual maxi-jet though. i may try to put a maxi-jet on there and see if it changes.. i don't understand why the bubbles just started doing this. i have had it a while and never had these problems. i cleaned everything. no algae

 

[Skimmy]

if you dont have a maxi -jet on there, then it must be the rio 600 rejuvenating venturi version (a total POS)

you will have to make a venturi for the maxi-jet like
I show in the thread with the extra maxi-jet parts,
and if you can, mesh mod the impeller, but it will work with the regular impeller, just not nearly as well.

or you can buy the CPR replacement acclea pump for the bakpak, which isnt too bad, and would still benifit from the mesh modding...
http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...oduct_Code=CPR-ASP1-1000&Category_Code=Bakpak

 

[ronj]

it is the accela pump with the venturi . it came with the skimmer.

 

[user 2204]

I run the Maxi Jet 1200 with mods on my Bak-Pak and run the Quite One 1200 with mods on another Bak-Pak and all I can say is much better performance.

IMO, get rid of the accel pump and go with either one of the above pumps with mods (mesh/venturi) and you will probably be a whole lot happier.

 

[Skimmy]

yep, I have a qo 1200 modded that kicks AASSS!
it is a little better than the mj, to be certain. but both are decent for that skimmer body.