Red Sea Surface Skimmer

[Gabbone]

Hi there,

Quick question for those who owns a Red Sea with a Surface Skimmer;

Where exactly should the water level behind the surface skimmer be?

-SCENARIO 1: If I point the two return nozzles in their perfect center, the back of the surface skimmer is getting filled with water to the maximum level.
SCENARIO 2: If I point the two return nozzles all the way up to create a lot of surface agitation, the back of the surface skimmer water level is half way filled, seems to skim more and I have a few inches of more water to the two return pumps chambers.

Which one is the correct way?

 

[Reef.]

I’m confused, maybe a picture would help and the model of tank and model of skimmer but generally you do not want surface movement with a skimmer.

 

[Gabbone]

Hi! I am talking about the surface skimmer and not the normal skimmer.

Red sea nano max xxl

 

[Reef.]

As said you generally want the water entering the skimmer to be gentle you don’t want to blast the water in…but as you also have a filter roller and I am guessing a newish tank you are most likely going to struggle to get the skimmer to pull any skimmate out of the water as there will just not be enough nutrients in the water to get the skimmer to work efficiently, the filter roller will be taking most of it out, not leaving enough for the skimmer to work.

 

[Gabbone]

I am not talking about the skimmer lol

I am talking about the overflow which is called surface skimmer

 

[Reef.]

I am not talking about the skimmer lol

I am talking about the overflow which is called surface skimmer

Yes but there is an actual skimmer once the water goes through the overflow?

Either way you don’t want to be forcing water down the overflow or skimmer, you want the water flow be directed into the overflow but gently, yes you can have surface movement which is a very good thing but by the time the water reaches the overflow you want it to just enter it gently, not with a lot of force.

 

[Pod_01]

Just opinion, I don’t own the nano but for the surface skimmer I would just make sure the water level is below it, so there is minimal noise. As long as water is moving the exact level is not that critical.

Good luck,

 

[Reef.]

Right I think I understand now, the skimmer is not a surface skimmer as you said, you meant the overflow, the skimmer is a normal skimmer which takes its water from the bottom…same advice, your tank is too new with not enough nutrients to run a filter roller and a skimmer, you are really going to struggle getting both to run.

As said you want the flow to circulate around the tank picking up any detritus, then falling into the overflow to remove the detritus, no force needed.

 

[Pod_01]

you meant the overflow

I guess we used to call it the overflow. But Red Sea calls it “surface skimmer”

Probably so they can patent it and launch lawsuits against competition. :zany-face:

 

[Gabbone]

Guys no worries I transferred my 2yo tank in this bigger one. Skimmer, Filter roller are pulling a lot of gunk and I have my nutrients stable and in check.

Just simply wanted to know if the water level of the surface skimmer needs to stay below or in line with the display tank water level.

 

[Reef.]

I guess we used to call it the overflow. But Red Sea calls it “surface skimmer”

Probably so they can patent it and launch lawsuits against competition. :zany-face:

Yeah just been on their site, weird they are confusing two different pieces of equipment.

 

[Reef.]

Guys no worries I transferred my 2yo tank in this bigger one. Skimmer, Filter roller are pulling a lot of gunk and I have my nutrients stable and in check.

Just simply wanted to know if the water level of the surface skimmer needs to stay below or in line with the display tank water level.

No.

 

[Gabbone]

High context.