Salt creep in skimmer air line

[Haus]

found my skimmer wasn’t producing bubbles, took it apart, soaked it in vinegar and gave it a good scrub, and just before putting it back together checked out where the air tube inserted (is this the venturi?) It was clogged solid with salt. Cleaned that out and all better. Less than two weeks later saw the bubble production go down again, poked theough the air intake again (caked solid again) and problem solved. Reading other forums I see this isn’t uncommon, so I guess it’s another step to add to my maintenance routine. Anyone have any tricks to prevent (or decrease) this?

 

[Trio91]

What about adding an intake silencer
Replacement Skimmer Silencer - Skimz

 

[Haus]

Interesting idea. I’lol try to figure out if that would work and is compatibility with my pump

 

[Trio91]

It should as they just connect to the end of the air line. My skimmer, the tunze 9001 came with one and I haven't had that issue. It'll be top heavy so just rubberband it on the skimmer to keep it out of the water.

 

[Trio91]

Is it in the line closest to the pump? Or on air intake end?

 

[Haus]

I have a turboflotor hang on but see no reason why it wouldn’t work. Thanks!

 

[Haus]

It’s in the intake on the pump. Not really in the line.

 

[Trio91]

That's weird, is it maybe just dirt? Like detritus from the sump?

 

[Trio91]

My thought is that being the pump is submerged, there shouldn't be salt creep in it....I have been known to be wrong at times

 

[MadReefer]

I had HOB Reef Octopus and did not have this problem, yes had a silencer.

My old in sump skimmer would always have this issue with it with it the silencer.

 

[Haus]

My old pump never had this problem but it stopped working and was lucky enough to find a fellow member with a spare pump. It’s working great-much better than my original. I am finding posts online of people who’ve had this, and met another member at the meeting this month who’s also experienced it, so i thought it may be one of those things that was common that I’d never heard of.
Mad Reefer, you had this issue before introducing the silencer?

 

[lefkonj]

Did you just break up the salt or flush the line. In the past I have flushed that line with RODI water to clear it out.

 

[MadReefer]

My old pump never had this problem but it stopped working and was lucky enough to find a fellow member with a spare pump. It’s working great-much better than my original. I am finding posts online of people who’ve had this, and met another member at the meeting this month who’s also experienced it, so i thought it may be one of those things that was common that I’d never heard of.
Mad Reefer, you had this issue before introducing the silencer?

Yes. It was a no name skimmer. I had the venture attachment between pump and skimmer.