Prizm Skimmer doesn't seem to be skimming properly after cle

[egret]

Hi,

I did try what’s mentioned in the Manual – clean it with soap & water & rinse thoroughly with hot water. Already wait for more than 7 days break-in time.
However, it has not skimmed any dirt out so far. Any ideas how to fix it.

Thanks

 

[Gatortailale1]

How long has the tank been running? Not much to skim if the setup is new.

 

[esmithiii]

I never wash my skimmer w/ soap, just hot water. Was it skimming alot before?

E

 

[egret]

My FOT has been running for 4 months.
NO3 > 40ppm

My Prizm was able to skim about 0.5cm brown solution in a week before cleaning.

I didn't like to wash it with soap but I could not just leave it running like an air- pump for 3 weeks. I will never wash it again if I get it fix this time

 

[Goldmoon]

Robert Fenner on FFE Q&A board recommends to soak the prizm in a mix of water and vinegar to clean them. We did that and it skimmed like never before afterwards.

 

[lionfish1]

My prizm skims like crazy, and I wash it every week with warm water.

 

[canadawest]

My Prizm skims like crazy as well. I just take the collection cup to the bathtub and hose it out with the showerhead and warm water. Shake the excess water off, and put it back on.

Once a month or so I take the entire unit off the tank and hose it out as well. Seems to work for me.

 

[xrenx]

my prizm seems to be skimming fine, however it keeps dumping tiny little bubbles back into my tank. i cleaned it throughly last week, but it didn't seem to abate the problem at all. i send red sea an email a week ago and i haven't heard anything. anybody know any tricks to fix this problem. the manual says to turn the flow down, but it happens even when the flow is at its lowest setting.

 

[egret]

Hi Goldmoon,

I think you need to wash the Prizm with hot water after soaking it in vinegar. Right?

Do you know the function of vinegar?
Increase the surface tension or make it easier to clean the dirt inside the skimmer.

Sorry, what's FFE and can you show me the link?

Thanks

 

[egret]

xrenx,

Please kindly post it here if you get response from redsea.

I definitely need that important info.

Thanks

 

[Goldmoon]

FFE is Flying fish express... sometimes you have people like Bob Fenner and Mike Paletta answering there.. Here is one link I could find..

http://support.software911.com/ffexpress/faqdetail.asp?fid=1795

Or this is what it is said there:

Equipment Filters

Q: I've been reading about protein skimmers and saw a response about cleaning the skimmer "totally" every 3 months. Soaking in an acid solution. What is the exact acid solution recommended? My skimmer doesn't seem to be operating consistently so I think it's time for a soak. I do take it down and clean it every 2 weeks (the tubing and cylinder) but I haven't soaked the pump and don't know where to begin. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


A: If it is a venturi skimmer it needs to be soaked every 3-6 months. I soak mine in an acid solution made by adding 2 cups of white vinegar to 1 gallon of hot water. I let it soak for 30 minutes and then I thoroughly rinse it off in fresh water. You should not only soak the pump, but you should do this with the venturi as well. If the deposits are really caked on it may be necessary to use a stronger acid, but this is more dangerous so try using the vinegar first.

---------------------------------------

I agree that they do not say specificly Prizm.. (my memory failed me) But the main result is the same. We used a bucket and soaked the whole prizm in it. Like I said, after we did that it started skimming like crazy, which it hadn't done for some times..

 

[egret]

Goldmoon,

Thanks for the FEE link. I have got one addition great source for searching info.

I washed my Prizm skimmer with hotter water again last night. If it does not working after 3 days I get to try vinegar.

Thanks

 

[egret]

Hi,

My Prizm Skimmer start producing little foam this morning

I suspect KENT trace elements caused the problem but I am not sure.

I did several things this week.
- Rinsed the skimmer in vinegar solution for 30 minutes on 25Sep
- Stop KENT trace elements since 23Sep after I did 25% water change.
- Dose AZ-NO3 daily since 27Sep
- Reduce the water flow of the skimmer.

Can anyone advise me what trace elements you are using with Prizm Skimmer?

Thanks

 

[lkaras]

I use Reef Complete. But I have always shut down my skimmer for 24hrs. after I put it in.

 

[Goldmoon]

We use Kent's Essential elements with our Prizm skimmers on and we do not have that problem.

 

[egret]

Thanks for your advice. Think I don't need to buy another bottle of trace elements