Is my protein skimmer working?

[bkayereefs]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

 

[RockRash]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

I don't see a video but trying our different settings over a couple days should get you where you need to be.

 

[bkayereefs]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

I don't see a video but trying our different settings over a couple days should get you where you need to be.

View attachment 20251106_080849_6E4A55EA-5830-4E73-AD60-2B8606F092EC.mov

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It looks like it working right to me

 

[Project1004]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

If you have it completely open, that will give you wet skim. If you can close the airline, you will get drier skimmate. Looks very open from the video.

 

[bkayereefs]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

If you have it completely open, that will give you wet skim. If you can close the airline, you will get drier skimmate. Looks very open from the video.

So if the air valve is closed it’s a dry skim? I thought the more the air valve was opened the more dry it was

 

[Project1004]

So if the air valve is closed it’s a dry skim? I thought the more the air valve was opened the more dry it was

If you open the airline, you will have more air entering the chamber which will lift up the water level as well as more bobbles. Less air means it will need more contact time before they get thick enough to be “lifted up” into the skimmer cup.

Btw, your skimmer is working. You can run it more dry to make it overflow more dry and dark.

 

[bkayereefs]

Gotcha! Thank you so much you are very helpful

 

[Freenow54]

Hello all, I have a 20 gallon tank with a protein skimmer made for the tank by UNS. I have the air completely open (dry skim) and I notice if I have the flow to the point where it’s bubbling over into the collection cup right away I’m having to empty it like 2-3 times a day. Is it okay to have the bubbles this low in the video to kind of limit how fast it fills? Will the skimmate still make it into the cup eventually? Thanks in advance :)

Dont see video either but if it has a neck the water should be halfway up