#1. To prevent repeated clogging of the needle wheel impeller with small gravel pieces, macroalgae, worms, etc. I placed a foam block over the pumps intake as a pre-filter.

#2. From experience with previous skimmers and from reading reviews of this skimmer on the internet, I found this skimmer is also prone to deposit buildups in the venturi’s air intake. To prevent that, I used Jeff Turchec’s method (Lifereef) of connecting the venturi air intake to the skimmer cup. To do that I used a piece of regular airline tubing; connecting one end to the air tube that normally plugs into the skimmers muffler, and the other end was inserted a few mm into one of the holes in the lid of the collection cup. This works by allowing condensation of humid air in the airline tubing (see photo), allowing an intermittent trickle of fresh water into the venturi, dissolving the salts before they can build up.