skimmer height

[jomatty]

I recently purchased a tank from a retiring reefer that is 150 gallons with a 50 gallon sump. The skimmer is a octopus 150. There currently is no livestock, aside from a too small cuc, 200 pounds of live rock, and a few frags of coral. Since I hooked the system up I have tinkered with the flow on the skimmer but have not gotten any yield. The other night the level in the sump dropped a fair amount (without any livestock in system I have not been as dillegent with topping off as I am on my stocked tank), and suddenly I was getting bubbles and by morning I had captured some stuff. I raised the skimmer height some, and the pump was taking in some air and sounding annoying so I had to further raise the level in my sump, and am not sure if it will continue to capture anything or not.

Anyways, is the skimmer working or am i just adding enough air that I am making bubbles? Any advice on skimmers, skimmer height, or anything else is greatly appreciated.

Jomatty

 

[ritter6788]

My octopus skimmer is in 6 inches of water and I have the internal water level right at the bottom of the collection cup. You really need an auto top off with a skimmer to keep the water level the same at all times.

 

[mfinn]

My octopus skimmer is in 6 inches of water and I have the internal water level right at the bottom of the collection cup. You really need an auto top off with a skimmer to keep the water level the same at all times.

Even with a top-off the level can fluctuate 1/2" or so and that will affect the skimmer.
A fixed height baffle in the sump will solve that.