Not getting much skimmate - why?

electricbluelizzy · 01-10-2007, 11:47 AM

I'm not getting very much Skimmate in my skimmer cup at all. I have a small amount of Hair algae so I know I should get more. I get maybe a 1/2 cup in 2-3 days of skimming, light green watery skimmate and lots of funky stuff on the inside of the cup.

It had been broken (skimmer cup disconnected from the base for a couple of weeks, slowly dripping into system) I reattached the base using some silicon and stopped the leak. Seems to be fine now, just even less skimmate collecting than before with the leak. Weird, huh? I really don't think it caught up that much.

I have a foxface rabbitfish who I feed a lot and he poops a lot, so you'd think the skimmer should pull out something.

Anyway, it is an ER-CS6-2. The bubbles are popping just below the bottom of the skimmer cup.

The skimmer has an adjustable riser pipe which is almost all of the way up, and the water spilling out of that seems like it is pretty low, then I run some RO-DI through the airline, and it picks back up like its got salt in it or something. I do that almost every day.

I feed Formula 1&2, and nori on a clip. I think that is everything. Does this sound right or not?

TIA - Elizabeth

Wiskey · 01-10-2007, 11:53 AM

Can you post a pic? Have you tried cleaning out the venturi? Does it have an air adjustment at all?

Whiskey

electricbluelizzy · 01-10-2007, 12:56 PM

THere is no air adjustment... I have heard some have a gate valve, but mine was made pre-gate valve addition. Can post pic tomorrow for sure. To clean the venturi would I need to disassemble it? I'll take a good look tonight to see and do it to see if that helps... Will get pics too

Wiskey · 01-10-2007, 01:27 PM

I guess the biggest question is, did you get more skimate before? If you did then it's probably something plugged/not working right in the skimmer.

The pic will help. I've never used the exact skimmer you use, so seing how it's setup will give me an idea of what you should double check.

Whiskey

electricbluelizzy · 01-10-2007, 02:10 PM

Maybe, but even then, not as much as I'd think I would. Its not a dramatic drop in production, its just not ever produced all that much.

Seems like things such as feeding, putting hands in tank, etc. knock out the skimmer head for hours, but thats relatively normal.

I just hear about people pulling like a 1/2 gallon of skimmate out, and I can't even fill the cup.

I mean the last thing I would worry about is overflowing. I could probably let it sit two weeks without emptying it and never have an overflowing problem. It just looks gross so I clean it about every 2 days.

I will post the pic tomorrow. Dial up at home is way too slow for pictures

DevilBoy · 01-10-2007, 02:13 PM

I have been getting anywhere from a 1/2 gallon to a gallon of skimmate a week, and that is with nothing in my tank besides 80 pounds of live rock. but i am skimming on the wet side also.... my bubbles seem to popping right at the top of the neck then dripping into the collection cup

Loverotties · 01-10-2007, 02:27 PM

Maybe the air inlet is semi cloged.

afbengochea · 01-10-2007, 02:38 PM

check the airline and look into getting a gate valve for it. It might be that the sliding tube doesnt go high enough to where the bubles are being produced higher in the collection cup.

Wiskey · 01-10-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

Maybe, but even then, not as much as I'd think I would. Its not a dramatic drop in production, its just not ever produced all that much.

Seems like things such as feeding, putting hands in tank, etc. knock out the skimmer head for hours, but thats relatively normal.

I just hear about people pulling like a 1/2 gallon of skimmate out, and I can't even fill the cup.

I mean the last thing I would worry about is overflowing. I could probably let it sit two weeks without emptying it and never have an overflowing problem. It just looks gross so I clean it about every 2 days.

I will post the pic tomorrow. Dial up at home is way too slow for pictures

Ok, so it never produced. You said the slider thing is all the way up? Can you make the slider thing a little longer by putting a PVC coupler on it or something? This will improve production. It sounds like you are skimming really, really dry.

Hands in the tank, and feeding knock my skimmer out too, it's the oils that do it.

Whiskey

epidemic · 01-10-2007, 05:23 PM

CAn you raise the riser tube?

Geoff · 01-10-2007, 10:04 PM

what is the recommended water level in the sump for the skimmer. it could be the water level in the sump is to low.

G~

Fly Guy · 01-10-2007, 10:09 PM

I agree with geoff...if you cant get it to overflow at all....it probably needs to be in deeper water....

That is assuming the pump is working.........

As well, the gate valve mod on those skimmers are very important IMO. It is super easy to make.

What size pipe is that coming out?? 1" or 1 1/4"?? Whatever it is all you need is the same size gate valve, 90, T and plug. You probably wouldnt even need any pipe as you could cut up the existing piece that is there at the moment to fit stuff together.