Protein skimmer

[Murica]

Question here...

I set up my skimmer so that the water is between the lower black ring and the connection ring(?) Directly above it.

It's not properly set up in the photo right now fyi...

Anyway even though it seems to be set up properly and the bubbles are getting pushed into the collection cup, it seems like the skimmer pulls out a ton of water and only a small amount of crap.

Is this normal? If I lower the water level the bubbles don't seem to make it into the collection cup.

Are you supposed to have it so the bubbles barely make their way into the cup?

 

[nervousmonkey]

if you lower the water, the bubbles will buildup as more crap gets on them and pops the bubble, going to the next one until you get bubbles that start to overflow into collection cup. give it some time with the water at the right level. you don't want your skimmer doing water changes... hey wait a minute! no, no you don't.

 

[Murica]

if you lower the water, the bubbles will buildup as more crap gets on them and pops the bubble, going to the next one until you get bubbles that start to overflow into collection cup. give it some time with the water at the right level. you don't want your skimmer doing water changes... hey wait a minute! no, no you don't.

Ok thanks, I've been in the hobby for a few years but never have been able to dial it down just right. I tried lowering the level before and it takes forever before I have to clean it out. Maybe I'm expecting too much from it...

 

[nervousmonkey]

Yeah, there is so much that factors into skimmer function; bioload, type of skimmer (brand), kind of skimmer (venturi, beckett, downdraft, etc.), how much input to the system, feeding, algae level, what types of corals and fish (some produce a lot of mucus, some not much - see wrasses and cocoons), pump, how old pump is, health of pump, etc. Speaking of, what kind is it? Not that it matters much, skimmers only pull out so much, but there is a definite range (some pull out more than 30% of the dissolved organic carbons vs. some that pull in the 20% range). Anyway, sounds like you know what to do.

How long does it take to fill the skimmer cup? How big is your tank? how much is skimmer rated for? what's your bioload? you don't have to answer those unless you want to, but they'll help you put together a picture in your head of what's going on. As for skimmers, the ones I have had that are the easiest set and forget that pull a ton of skimmate are the Reef Octopus line. I have a Deltec now, I have had other skimmers as well, but RO is just easy to work with, like clockwork. Maybe think about getting a new one if this one takes so long to pull skimmate...

 

[Murica]

Yeah, there is so much that factors into skimmer function; bioload, type of skimmer (brand), kind of skimmer (venturi, beckett, downdraft, etc.), how much input to the system, feeding, algae level, what types of corals and fish (some produce a lot of mucus, some not much - see wrasses and cocoons), pump, how old pump is, health of pump, etc. Speaking of, what kind is it? Not that it matters much, skimmers only pull out so much, but there is a definite range (some pull out more than 30% of the dissolved organic carbons vs. some that pull in the 20% range). Anyway, sounds like you know what to do.

How long does it take to fill the skimmer cup? How big is your tank? how much is skimmer rated for? what's your bioload? you don't have to answer those unless you want to, but they'll help you put together a picture in your head of what's going on. As for skimmers, the ones I have had that are the easiest set and forget that pull a ton of skimmate are the Reef Octopus line. I have a Deltec now, I have had other skimmers as well, but RO is just easy to work with, like clockwork. Maybe think about getting a new one if this one takes so long to pull skimmate...

It's a hydor performer 705. 240 gallon display 50 gallon sump, rated for 300 gallons. It has a hose connected to a five gallon bucket but it fills an entire bucket in about a month. An entire bucket would be about one skimmer cup worth

 

[nervousmonkey]

well that does seem like it's skimming slow to me. but then again, I don't have a 240 gallon tank with a hydor skimmer. If you like the performance, then keep it. you can try buying a used skimmer of different brand to see if it does anything different. I bet it will, but up to you at this point on what to do. Good luck!