Help with a Reef Octopus regal 200 int

[Rmike545]

I have a 200 regal int that is about 7 months old and it was running In 180 gallon display and I never really got it to skim right l, I just transferred this tank in to a new redsea reefer S-1000 which is about 210 gallon display with my existing rocks and live stock which is about 22 medium to large fish including 5 decent size tangs. A lots of corals , snails etc. and I still can’t get to skim everyone tells me to much air and when I dial the speed down to 3 it creates a small foam head that gets stuck in the neck only when I speed it up to five it would create a wet foam head, but it would never make it to the cup either.
I tried everything as far as sump water level between 6 inches to 9 inches currently it’s setting in 7.5 inches of water and I feed 4-6 cubes a day and a sheet of nori every other day my levels keeps rising.

If someone can help me it will be much appreciated I need to know where to keep the water level inside the skimmer and what to look for to tune it properly.

I am also attaching a picture with it running on speed 3 of 5

 

[KrisReef]

These skimmers are designed to run with the water level inside the shimmer above the top of the cone but below the red ring at the bottom of the collection cup.

Yours is running a little high in the neck in the image.

Mine (different model) has a water flow dial on the outflow that I would reduce to drop the level inside the skimmer body.

 

[Rmike545]

These skimmers are designed to run with the water level inside the shimmer above the top of the cone but below the red ring at the bottom of the collection cup.

Yours is running a little high in the neck in the image.

Mine (different model) has a water flow dial on the outflow that I would reduce to drop the level inside the skimmer body.

Which model do you have ?

 

[00W]

As @KrisReef mentioned above, water is a bit high.
These skimmers suffer from salt creep in the venturi so check that first.
You'll usually hear it first skimmer will sound weird.
On 3, they are virtually silent.
The best thing you can do is buy an extension or 2 for the neck.

I've run as many as 3 at a time.
Really helps with dwell time.
I run mine on 3.
With as much as you feed it's going to affect it's performance, might go spastic, might overflow, etc.
I'd shut it down while feeding for a bit.
Put your thumb over the air inlet, run the water about 2 inches below the red ring and start your air.
Try that to adjust.
I've had mine for a long time.
Good skimmer.

 

[Rmike545]

As @KrisReef mentioned above, water is a bit high.
These skimmers suffer from salt creep in the venturi so check that first.
You'll usually hear it first skimmer will sound weird.
On 3, they are virtually silent.
The best thing you can do is buy an extension or 2 for the neck.

I've run as many as 3 at a time.
Really helps with dwell time.
I run mine on 3.
With as much as you feed it's going to affect it's performance, might go spastic, might overflow, etc.
I'd shut it down while feeding for a bit.
Put your thumb over the air inlet, run the water about 2 inches below the red ring and start your air.
Try that to adjust.
I've had mine for a long time.
Good skimmer.

I really appreciate the reply so you think 5 is too much as far as speed so drop it down to 3 and lower the level in the skimmer like you mentioned above and I will give it a try.

 

[00W]

I really appreciate the reply so you think 5 is too much as far as speed so drop it down to 3 and lower the level in the skimmer like you mentioned above and I will give it a try.

I could never run mine on 5.
Just too much and I have a trigger and a lot going on in my tank.
Try 3, start by lowering the water level, give it some dwell time and space to do it.

 

[Rmike545]

I could never run mine on 5.
Just too much and I have a trigger and a lot going on in my tank.
Try 3, start by lowering the water level, give it some dwell time and space to do it.

I did exactly what you said and here where the water settled should I leave it alone?

 

[winxp_man]

Run it on three. That foam is supposed to sit right at the bottom of the cup. And when it needs to skim it will skim on its own. They do not skim if there is nothing to skim. I’m running a 150int does the same. Took me a bit to understand that. And now that I’m running fallow for my DT it’s not even skimming until I feed the shrimp that are left behind. I have a 150gal tank. Velvet struck. So been in QT mode.

 

[Rmike545]

I really appreciate all the help from you guys.
Should I clean the cup since it has a bunch gunk that’s on the neck would that help the foam to rise to the cup ?

 

[00W]

I did exactly what you said and here where the water settled should I leave it alone?

Yes.
Looks good.
Do you see the difference in the bubbles it's making compared to before?
I do.
It's much much better!
Leave it for a bit, see what it does.
With your bioload you'll always have enough to skim.

 

[00W]

I really appreciate all the help from you guys.
Should I clean the cup since it has a bunch gunk that’s on the neck would that help the foam to rise to the cup ?

Cleaning the cup is always a good idea.
If it was a venturi skimmer no, wouldn't matter, but I'd clean the cup at least once a week.
I clean mine every Monday with my water change.

 

[00W]

I really appreciate all the help from you guys.
Should I clean the cup since it has a bunch gunk that’s on the neck would that help the foam to rise to the cup ?

Don't be too overly concerned right now with the foam going to the cup but rather the quality of the foam itself.
Once you get it going well, it's just as easy, sometimes easier to adjust it by raising the water level in the sump than playing with the output valve itself.

 

[Rmike545]

So I just cleaned the cup and hear what it looks like. Ow

 

[00W]

So I just cleaned the cup and hear what it looks like. Ow

Nice!
Well on your way now.

 

[Tangdora]

Have a 250 ext that give a bit more flexibility but my buddy has a 250 int this is how I always help him set it. No need to run more than 3 unless over stocked imo.

1. Set to manufacturing water level
2. block the air intake with two fingers so that it creates no bubble.
3. While still holding Use the gate valve adjust the water to the max height of the skimmer body. To the point where you could remove the lid and not have overflown
4. Remove the fingers off the intake and whah lah

On my ext model I basic do the same but since it fed by a second pump I don’t need to block the intake I can just shut off the varios control set the water level to same height and turn it back on separately.

If this if the skimmer over flowed with water at this level drop the various controler down to 2 and repeat water adjustment after blocking intake again.

 

[Rmike545]

Nice!
Well on your way now.

So it’s been running for 2 hours now and it’s getting the neck really loaded with gunk but foam is not rising

 

[Rmike545]

Here is what it looks like overnight should I leave it where it is or raise the water level inside the skimmer and like I said it’s in 7.5 inches of water in the sump.

 

[Tangdora]

Your level in the body is to low. I’d suggest you give my method a try. I just cleaned my out to better show. With your finger blocking the air. Set water level right to where the cap fits with the gate valve. Once you remove your finger and let it stay to bubble the level should rise a bit and be right under the red base of the cup. Will post back later when it’s starts to foam collect.

 

[rhitee93]

I'm not an expert at setting skimmer levels, but here is a pic I just took of my 150INT. I have the motor running near max and just adjust the water level until the bubbles are generally just below the cup.

 

[Tangdora]

I'm not an expert at setting skimmer levels, but here is a pic I just took of my 150INT. I have the motor running near max and just adjust the water level until the bubbles are generally just below the cup

Nothing wrong with your approach as I agree that the level should be below the cup. And your is producing good stuff The only reasons. Why I personally am not a not a fan of setting level while the bubble are active is because it’s conditional on how much waste in the water. Not sure if partially in your case your ever set the level properly after cleaning and then come back the next day and the water level is half way down in the body barely producing because it removed all the waste and then having to adjust the water again only to the raise and later have and over flow after feeding. Setting the water to a consistent level first and controlling the froth via Air has always seems to give me better consistency and if there is no waste the water level in the body is still at proper level.