Air Intake/release tubes on ap1004

[fishmaduds]

Hi,

Can you advise if its OK, to not connect the black silicone air tubes that connect into the pumps on the ap1004?...if I dont attach these to the 4 pumps will this inrease the air flow to give me finer bubbles to give me a beeter skimate, or do I need to keep them connected as it will damage the pumps?

They are fully open at the moment on all four, but I do not feel that they are feeding enough air to make very fine bubbles

Cheers

[DannyW]

If you take them off, won't the pumps just leak? thats why the tubes are higher than the water level in the skimmer.

[fishmaduds]

DannyW...........Thats what Im trying to find out..........

[SCOOB]

if you take them off, the skimmer will still run perfectly fine.

But the second you turn it off or get a powercut, the skimmer will drain down to the height of the venturi's on the skimmer pumps.

Therefore it is essential you leave the air line hoses on.


But, to make sure you are getting the right amount of air through, remove a hose from the pump (WHILST IT IS RUNNING). It is very important it is running. Once removed, take a cocktail stick or small drill bit and insert it into the venturi nipple of the pump. Waggle it about and push it in and out to clear the hole of any calcified build up. You will know if and when you clear it as the sucking will increase. Once clear, replace the hose.

Repeat for all 4 hoses.

Once that's done. Take some RO water, half a pint glass full, now remove the hose from the top of the skimmer, where it passes through the black shoulder attachment at the top and suck up the glass of RO water.

Do this for all 4 hoses and replace when finished. These too must remain above the water line of the skimmer for powercut reasons.


Now, once a week, Suck up half a pint through each pump and once a month, remove the hoses from the pumps and clean with a cocktail stick.

This wil make sure that your skimmer pumps are drawing the correct amount of air at all times.

They block very quickly and easily without constant maintenence :)

[fishmaduds]

SCOOB,

Many thanks for taking the time to answer my question, I shall begin sucking at once!

[SCOOB]

Commence suction number 2!!!!

aye aye cap'n :)

[D-D Spares]

spot on scoob

cheers

Andy
D-D

[Roshan]

Many thanks SCOOB for sharing the info. I was having a prob with my APF600 not producing enought bubbles and thought I had a potential prob with the pump and would hav eto remoce the skimmer from sump and take it apart etc... Quick read here and tried the cocktail stick solution you gave and hey presto the skimmer is operating perfect again....

Many thanks once again

Roshan:)

[SCOOB]

glad to help :)

[chrisj_]

It has helped me as prior to this I thought I would have to strip down the skimmer to get to that calcium build up. This means I will do it more often which can only be a good thing. :)