DIY CC Skimmer Stopped Skimming After 1 Day

[Chromatic]

Alright, I had to break down and post a help thread, even though I really did not wan't to have to do this.

I built a 7.5ft x 8"dia CC skimmer based on Snailman's CC design. Everything worked well for the first day.

http://www.chromaticproductions.com/images/aquarium/skimmate.JPG

Now I am having a problem producing fine bubbles. There is no froth at all, it has stopped, being replaced with large bubbles.

http://www.chromaticproductions.com/images/aquarium/skim_new.jpg

I am using a Sonic 2208 linear piston airpump (4.6cfm, 5.8psi)and four 1.5" x 1.5" x 12" Sweetwater Fine Air diffusers (http://www.aquaticeco.com/aquatic1v1/itempg.icl?itmid=336&passitemid=336&orderidentifier=ID1075687534234523E3C&iteminfo4=0&eflag=0). The pump is dialed down to the right pressure using a dimmer switch.

http://www.chromaticproductions.com/images/aquarium/pump.JPG

I am wondering if I blew the airstones off of the manifold. I am using a small piece of 1/4" tubing to connect the two, however I did not want to use the metal hoseclamps (so I didn't use anything to clamp the tubing to the hosebarbs). The funny thing is it worked for the first day, maybe the stones got clogged with algae, or blew off... Unfortunately, with my design I have to rip off the bottom to get to the airstones :(

My question for you is: what type, and how many airstones are you using?

I know most of you 8"ers are using a medo 902 pump, which is similar to mine, just curious what type give the best results: glass or wood? Oak? Limewood? Basswood? How long, 3"?

I don't see myself making the KW awesome air diffusers, so am looking to buy some, do you know a place?


Thank you,
Chromatic

[Chromatic]

Bought some basswood just in case the air diffusers are ruined...

http://www.chromaticproductions.com/images/aquarium/Basswood.jpg

[T Sandman]

It does sound like you lost your air stones. That is a beast!! Very nice! May I suggest tie-wraps/zip ties instead of metal clamps to help hold the lines on. How are you keeping the stones down there? I did a smaller scale air stone skimmer once and noticed that they really move around on the bottom quite a bit. Also once they are charged with air, they really want to float. Maybe they kinked the airline enough to make the pump blow them off. How many stones are you running?

Good luck.

[Chromatic]

I am running four of them on 1/4" tubing (around 4 inches for each). Zip ties may work, I should have tried that in the first place. I really hope they blew off and didn't crack, because the 12" stones were not cheap!