Skimmer troubles, bad sizing?

[alexio215]

Hello, I am currently a few years into the hobby again, and am having trouble properly tuning a skimmer.

I am running an Aquamaxx DFC-280 skimmer (240g heavy bioload) on a 150 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamaxx-dfc-280-controllable-in-sump-protein-skimmer.html

My current bioload includes (feeding twice a day, heavy handed):
3 tangs, medium size
2 Anthias
1 Wrasse
1 Coral Beauty Angel
2 Diamond Watchman Gobys
2 Clown fish
1 Mandarin Dragonet

I've gone from running the skimmer at all power levels, air intakes, and water heights, and nothing feels consistent. Good foam for a few hours, boiling bubble water the next. No consistent skimmate that is able to bubble over the neck.
Nutrients remain at:
Nitrates 30+
Phosphates .117 (When not using GFO)

Is this skimmer simply oversized? Is my bioload too light? That is my suspicion, as much as I wish that I was just tuning the skimmer wrong.

There will be a couple more fish added eventually, buy I worry even then my issues will persist.

Looking for any wisdom. Happy to supply pictures as needed. Thank you kindly in advance.

 

[FUNGI]

New skimmer?

 

[alexio215]

Wanted to add that I am thinking of downsizing to a Reef Octopus 150-int, would this be too small?

Figured that if I undersize, its just going to be running at max and filling the cup more often.

 

[alexio215]

New skimmer?

Had for the lifetime of the tank, 3 years. Definitely broken in, cleaned occasionally.

 

[FUNGI]

yeah...then its either something you are dosing, or the skimmer is doing its good albeit for a short time and just needs to be tweaked...bubble level should be just below cup to body connection (IMO)

 

[alexio215]

yeah...then its either something you are dosing, or the skimmer is doing its good albeit for a short time and just needs to be tweaked...bubble level should be just below cup to body connection (IMO)

Totally agree with you, and exactly what I've been trying. I guess the quest continues.

Dosing, just doing B-Ionic 2 part, so no special additives going in.

Thank you though, for the lightning fast responses.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello, I am currently a few years into the hobby again, and am having trouble properly tuning a skimmer.

I am running an Aquamaxx DFC-280 skimmer (240g heavy bioload) on a 150 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamaxx-dfc-280-controllable-in-sump-protein-skimmer.html

My current bioload includes (feeding twice a day, heavy handed):
3 tangs, medium size
2 Anthias
1 Wrasse
1 Coral Beauty Angel
2 Diamond Watchman Gobys
2 Clown fish
1 Mandarin Dragonet

I've gone from running the skimmer at all power levels, air intakes, and water heights, and nothing feels consistent. Good foam for a few hours, boiling bubble water the next. No consistent skimmate that is able to bubble over the neck.
Nutrients remain at:
Nitrates 30+
Phosphates .117 (When not using GFO)

Is this skimmer simply oversized? Is my bioload too light? That is my suspicion, as much as I wish that I was just tuning the skimmer wrong.

There will be a couple more fish added eventually, buy I worry even then my issues will persist.

Looking for any wisdom. Happy to supply pictures as needed. Thank you kindly in advance.

Sounds like an equipment issue.

 

[C_AWOL]

Are you feeding anything fairly oily?
The transition from "skimming" to "boiling" happens to all of my skimmers when I feed pe mysis for example.

One other thing that might not be helping if applicable would be the use of a filter roller which would reduce the effectiveness of a skimmer due to exporting more organic material before it breaks down (not a bad thing in my opinion)

Last guess would be ozone use (skimmers in my experience don't skim as well with ozone)

 

[alexio215]

Are you feeding anything fairly oily?
The transition from "skimming" to "boiling" happens to all of my skimmers when I feed pe mysis for example.

One other thing that might not be helping if applicable would be the use of a filter roller which would reduce the effectiveness of a skimmer due to exporting more organic material before it breaks down (not a bad thing in my opinion)

Last guess would be ozone use (skimmers in my experience don't skim as well with ozone)

Definitley have a crystal ball.

I do notice this right after Mysis feeding, Hikari brand.

And yes, I do have a filter roller, running clarisea mats.

No oZone.

I’ll keep dialing in, but think if no luck ensues, it’s probably time for a smaller skimmer with the filter roller.

 

[alexio215]

Sounds like an equipment issue.

Thinking it might be oversized with the rest of my filtration

 

[C_AWOL]

Definitley have a crystal ball.

I do notice this right after Mysis feeding, Hikari brand.

And yes, I do have a filter roller, running clarisea mats.

No oZone.

I’ll keep dialing in, but think if no luck ensues, it’s probably time for a smaller skimmer with the filter roller.

The filter roller is definitely causing an issue with consistency.

For comparison, my 240g which utilizes lazily cleaned filter socks and has a reef octopus elite 220 will fill within a week. Stock list for this tank is a moorish idol, emperor angelfish, achilles, achilles hybrid, powderblue, blue tang, harlequin tusk, magnificent fox face and purple tang.

In comparison to the above tank, my 470g uses 2 red sea 1200s and the same model reef octopus elite 220 and it takes a over a week to fill (closer to 2). The stock list for that tank is 2 regal angels, emperor angelfish, achilles, blue face angel, porcupine puffer, pair of clowns, royal gramma, blue tang, majestic angel, coral beauty angel, pair of flame angels, pair of flame back angels, queen angel and flag fin angel.

Frankly I would just use the money intended for a smaller skimmer and buy some more nice fish to "solve" your skimmer performance. The utilization of carbon dosing (vinegar/vodka/mix of both) would also help the skimmer perform better while feeding corals+lowering nitrates at a higher rate than phosphates.

 

[DanyL]

Skimmers do not export nutrients, but rather organic matter.

Put a Biopellets reactor with its output directed towards the input of your skimmer and see how well it starts to perform. This will turn your nutrients into bacteria, which the skimmer is able to easily export.

Oversized skimmers can sometimes be a problem, but isually using 2X the recommended size is fine, and even welcomed for systems with a heavy bioload.

 

[Dan_P]

Thinking it might be oversized with the rest of my filtration

If you have a skimmer rated for 150 gallons on a 20 gallon aquarium you might have a issue :-)

 

[Pod_01]

Maybe old school advice but in general oversized skimmers will skim inconsistently because there is not enough organic to develop proper foam.
In these conditions the skimmer acts like oversized air stones…

When I purchased my skimmer I was told to base it on the display size, sump volume is part of filtration so does not figure in skimmer selection. Filter socks and especially rollers reduce skimmer efficiency and one should pick skimmer one size down.
Again this assumes the skimmer was designed and advertised accordingly.

Last skimmer is sized based on fish population, corals actually filter out the water so I find as my corals grow the skimmer works less. If you have one fish in 100gal tank, all you need is nano skimmer.

For example I am using Royal Exclusiv Bubble King Double Cone 130 on 52 gal display (no roller or socks) and with healthy corals it is too big.

I could use smaller skimmer…

Good luck,

 

[alexio215]

Wanted to close out this thread, and thank everyone for their advice. I have since tuned the skimmer to produce some level of foam, but again, it is not the best, and is ultimately at the limit for what it can be pulling out. I will hope to get it right as I add more fish, and if need be, downsize.

My sump is fully utilized at this point so no more equipment additions for me unfortunately.

Thank you all for your wisdom, definitely looking to proceed further with it.

 

[kriskool123]

I had the same issue with nitrate over 20 and phosphate over .15… after trying everything from algae scrubbers to carbon dosing I finally removed my coral box d500 skimmer and bought a reef octopus 150 int on my 90 gallons system and nitrate and phosphates are dropping nicely. I am even going to start dialing back my back bacto balance from 3ml a day to 2ml. I would definitely try the reef octopus 200 int on your size tank.