Sapphire Aquatics Skimmers...

[chrisdamage]

I just bought one for the NC6. I have it in the middle chamber. I believe that all of my water levels in the rear chambers are at the appropriate levels for the skimmer to function properly but I'm not getting any bubbles. The pump is set on the lowest setting(like its supposed to be). Water levels are correct. I'm stumped. Anyone with experience with these want to lend a hand?

[spanko]

I have the 29 biocube skimmer but does the pump on yours have the airline with the little muffler on it?

[chrisdamage]

I believe that it has an airline that actually connects higher up on the skimmer body. I dunno about the muffler though?

[spanko]

On the website I don't see on made for the NC6. Did you buy a different model?

On my airline there is a little black plastic ball that goes on the end.

Go here:

http://www.sapphireaquatics.com/images/BC29.jpg

At the bottom of the picture you can see the airline curled up under the pump. On the left side of the loop you can see the little ball I am talking about.

[chrisdamage]

they do make it... nanocustoms.com I think however it is just the same skimmer designed for the NC12 just with a smaller collection cup. I could be mistaken though.

[spanko]

Okay so a picture might help here but back to the airline. It is not in the water is it, that may sound like a stupid question but I have seen people do it before. The end of the airline has to be sucking air not water in order to get the bubbles.

[chrisdamage]

the part of the skimmer that it is connected to is out of the water. It should be able to draw air from it... so I dunno, I'm stumped by it too. I'm wondering at this point if my pump is faulty.

[seahorsejl]

Sometimes with my AP24 Sapphire Skimmer I need to plug/unplug/plug the electrical cord in a few times to get the bubble action to start. Can't really explain why it doesn't always start up correctly .... you will definitely hear when the powerhead is pulling in air correctly.

[chrisdamage]

ya... I tried that too... so far I am unimpressed with this skimmer. I'm bummed because I heard a lot of good reviews from the company's other skimmers. Plus its like $100 that I'm now out if I can't get this thing working.

[seahorsejl]

Hrm ... have you tried contacting Sapphire? When I ordered mine many, many, many months back they were pretty quick to respond to e-mail. Maybe something is wrong with the powerhead they supplied you....

[PSHPAINTBALL]

try turning it on pump only in water (make sure skimmer is empty with water) then dip it slowly in the right water level

[basser1]

chris how long have you had it? Could be the pump needs to taken apart and cleaned out, there could be a small piece of grit stopping the pump. I had this problem one time and after taking it apart it solved it. Good Luck with yours, I really like mine!

[chrisdamage]

I just bought it... I might try PSHpaintball's suggestion

[spanko]

I think you said you bought it from nanocustoms.com.

I don't know if it is the same skimmer as mine. I bought mine from Sapphire Aquatics. Either way you should be able to contact who you bought it from and get some help.

[SPerry]

Unplug the air hose from the top of the skimmer and see if you get bubbles. The one for the NC6 is just an NC12 with shorter cup. I have a longer hose on my NC12 so that the air intake is well above the water line.