Skimmer issues

Hi Kylie! Are you getting any bubbles at all? First check to make sure the rec pump is spinning (just because its plugged in doesn't mean its spinning), then check to make sure the air line to the pump is not plugged. If everything checks out ok. you may need to clean the pump.
As for the piping goes your on your own there!

 

The pipe is metric. You will have to buy an adapter to standard size. You probably find it on the internet

 

Is your "out" tube under water in the sump? When I go to do water changes and shut off the pumps my sump level rises covering the tube and that causes me to lose bubbles. I am using the same skimmer by the way.

 

Should be an adjustment on the air intake Kylie. Is that open all the way? You will want adjust it down for best efficiency.
If you aren't getting the bubbles you used to there should only be a few options with a recirculating needle wheel:
1. Pump not performing (spinning) fast enough - clean pump
2. Not enough Air being supplied - clogged air line or adjusted wrong. Hold you finger over the airline, is there much suction?
Mind you these aren't the solutions to not much of a foam head, just bubble production. Thats all I can think of right now.

 

Cut the stand pipe down to the origanal hight would fix the water level but i'm not sure if this would effect the air intake. The pvc coralvue uses on these skimmers is british standard so it is hard to get.

 

Is this the skimmer you have?
http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopu...r-983.html
If so, see the air line? I will comment further if this is the skimmer you have or you can find a link to the one you do have.

 

Is this skimmer in sump?
Does the pump go under the water? If not was it designed to have the pump up in the air or did someone modify it? You may have answered this below.
You need to figure out how it draws air. I have never seen a needle wheel or venturi skimmer that did not have an obvious air intake tube of some sort. And almost all have them adjustable.
Lowering the stand pipe can reduce back pressure which can help bubble production so maybe. It can also cause problems in in correct water level, so be careful. But I am leaning towards something is missing in this equation or has been modified.
Instead of cutting the output pipe, why not put it back the way it was? Maybe you said it was glued??
I am familiar with the output of the Octopus and the 45, it has seemed to work good for me.

 

The older model of these skimmers did have the recirculating pump on the side like that from what I remember. I have the model that Joel linked to. I would think all of these should have an air intake tube.

 

Here is the one I have I asume yours is like this but with only one recirc pump?
http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopu...-1321.html
You can see the air hose on the side there should be one on yours that runs from the recirc pump to a silencer on the side of the skimmer? These skimmers don't have any air ajustment Joel at lest not the two octo skimmers I have don't.

 

Yea that sucks. I would cut down on feeding for now so the dinos don't get the best of yea. The bottum piece that conects the recirc pump to te body of the skimmer should have a little nub that the air hose goes on?

 

Kylie make sure that the nub is clean, pull the air line back off and try running a pipe cleaner thought the nub ( they tend to build up with salt creep and calcium and can become plugged not letting air into the pump). This should become part of your monthly cleaning regiment!

 

Did cleaning the air intake work?