Q. I cannot regulate my skimmer.
A. Check that the water level in the skimmer chamber of your sump is as recommended. The
water level needs to be BELOW the waterfall overflow level. Try raising or lowering the water
level by approximately 12mm (1/2”). Check that the water outlet on the bottom of the skimmer
has not become blocked. Clean the skimmer pump.
Q. The pump is making a rattling noise.
A. All protein skimmers make noise. The pump draws in air and chops it up into thousands of
bubbles every second. The air mixing and air flow inside the device are not inherently silent.
However, the noise should not be bothersome. We have designed the device with an oversize
pump so that it should still work very well even at half power. Also, always check to make sure
there is no debris or blockages in airline, venturi and skimmer pump. Any obstruction will
increase the noise. Make sure you properly maintain and clean the skimmer pump every 6
months.
Q. The skimmer is making a gurgling noise.
A. There may be water trapped in the silencer. It is safe to completely unscrew the nylon screw
in the air silencer, remove it and drain water from the silencer. Remember to return the screw to
about the same position it was in.
Maintenance
A well-maintained skimmer will outperform and last longer than a poorly maintained device. We
have designed the product to require minimal maintenance. However, in harsh marine
conditions, periodic maintenance is highly recommended at least twice a year.
We recommend disconnecting all cords and completely removing the skimmer from the sump.
If you are unable to remove the skimmer, you can accomplish most of the maintenance with the
skimmer inside the sump.
Clean the accumulated scum from skimmer walls with a moist paper towel or other reef-safe
clean absorbent material. Remove PVC drain pipe and clean with warm water and pipe cleaner
tool (not included) or paper towel.
Disconnect the airline from venturi. GENTLY disconnect the venturi from the pump head by
rotating small movements back and forth while providing gentle traction. Remove the skimmer
pump and inspect for calcium deposits or other fouling materials and clean it with clean sponge
or paper towel.
It is possible to damage the pump if you disassemble it incorrectly. Watch VIDEO for
demonstration. Firmly grasp and slowly and steadily rotate the pump head
COUNTERCLOCKWISE until it cannot be rotated further. DO NOT FORCE. You can break the
pump head tabs if you apply too much force. After rotation, GENTLY separate the pump head
from the pump by pulling the parts away from each other. This will expose the impeller for
