CPR back pac II

[Roach]

Ok so it got one of these a couple of weeks ago for my 18 gallon reef tank. Anyway whenever I turn it off and restart it water doesn't seem to flow into the tank and if I don't turn it off if will overflow. I don't know what I am doing wrong here. Everytime I have to take it off the back of the tank, empty it and then start it again fresh (really a pain in the butt). Can someone who has one of these things let me know an easier way of doing this. I've tried closing the air valve, opening the air vavle, submerging the air valve and nothing seems to help. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[joedelt]

did you put that sponge they give you in it, if so it could be culprit, i had to remove it in mind and it worked fine...not that i use it at all anymore, but thats another story

 

[Ray Pollett]

I have a number of them. I have never seen that problem. Wish I could help.

Ray

 

[Rich-n-poor]

Do you use the biobale that came with the skimmer ?

the only overflow I ever expierenced with mine was as follows: I sometimes run a chemi-pure packet in the return portion if enough bubble attach to it it will rise and block the return somewhat causing overflow perhaps the biobale is doing this on your ?

HTH

_________________
Nail Problems Forum

 

[JohnD]

Roach,

I have been running a BakPak in each of my 30 gallon tanks without problems.

Is the BakPak new or used? The real question is: is the powerhead new or used? What brand is it? -a Rio 600, Rio 800, Maxijet 900 or maybe a Maxijet 1200?

My first suggestion is to check out the powerhead. Does it work not connected to the skimmer? Either way, take the impeller apart from the rest of the powerhead, soak it all in some vinegar for a good 20 minutes. Scrub it with an old toothbrush and give it a good rinse. You may want to use RO water for the rinse. I usually use tap water. Reassemble the powerhead and attach to the skimmer.

If that doesn't work, get a new powerhead.

My second suggestion is to check the water intake to ensure there is no blockage to the skimmer. Maybe a snail crawled up there (and died). I have has snails crawl up into the BakPak water outlet and moved throught the skimmer. (As part of my daily check of my tanks, I check the skimmer.) I fished them out, so I never had one actually get to the intake area. Maybe that is what happened to you.

My last suggestion is a repeat of Rich-n-poor. If you have not done so already, get rid of the biobale. If you have LR in your tank, you do not need the biobale.

HTH

 

[Roach]

It's actually a new bak pac with a Rio 600. The powerhead is working just fine as far as I can tell. There is no biobale in this one because it is the reef model. There is a little foam block at the the bottome of the tube that is the return. This is to help with the bubbles. Anyway even when that thing is clean it still does the same thing. The only way I can get it restarted is if I empty the whole thing and start it over fresh. Really annoying. Anyway thanks for all the replys so far. I'll keep messing with it in the time being.