Marine tank Skimmer

[Homepets]

I am looking after a marine tank for some people while they are on holiday, just been round an d the skimmer has stopped working, the water container at the back of the tank is still gurgling but there is no water flowing through it.

Is this a common problem or is it really urgent??

 

[smithrc]

what type of skimmer is it?

is it a tube with bubble going up it?

 

[Homepets]

Hi

Thank you for answering, I spoke with the owners and all working again now!
Phew!!

 

[canyoubelieveit]

If you wouldn't mind posting details about this problem and how it was solved, it could help others in the future. 5 minutes to type your experince up and you could save 10 people some trouble.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Homepets]

Of course!

The water had stopped flowing through the skimmer but the overhang container/resevoir at the back of the tank was still gurgling with a low level of water in it.

It turned out that the water level in the tank had dropped so much that the skimmer was taking in air. I topped up the water level but there was still air in the skimmer so it wasn't taking in water. I am not sure if all skimmers have the same components but on this particular one there is a flexible rubber tube linking the box that holds the black muck and the water intake tube.

I pinched this tube shut to create a vacume and the water slowly went up the clear plastic tube and down into the resevoir at the back and hey presto it was running again!!