Skimmer tuning

[Hommeworks]

I really did search the archives before posting this question. I'm in my 2nd week of running a skimmer. I can't find the sweet spot yet. I have the ball valve from the external pump cracked 100% open and the bubbles are rising to within an inch of the neck. The bubbles appear to not be cavitating too much, just rising and popping.

Then I start to close the gate valve at the sump return, reducing the water flow back to the sump. This should make the bubbles in the lower chamber rise up the neck of the skimmer.

What I can't find is where the spot is that dry foam is produced and pushed into the collection cup, dry. I get wet foam and it fills the collection cup with water.

So I guess my question is, how long should I expect that the bubbles will sit mid-chamber until a sufficient amount of dry foam is pushed up over into the collection cup. Every hour, day, once per week??

My animal load is very small. 2 shrimp, 1 clown, 1 med tang, 3 small tangs, 3 damsels, 2 feather dusters, 1 cocoworm, lots of crabs and snails, no coral yet. 122 lbs of rock in a 155gal display. Water parameters are very good, espcially nitrates.

[Minnreefer]

Some times skimmers are VERY finical (sp?) Our skimmer took 2 weeks or so to produce then all of a sudden it was skimming. I would try to contact the maker and see if they have any suggestions, it sounds like you are doing it right.

Jon

[Spanky]

Homme

What skimmer is this and what pump are you running? Where do you have it and how far above the sump?

Jerel

[chewie]

Hommeworks,

can I tag along???

Jerel,

I have been thinking about this lately, does it make a difference to have a skimmer partially submerged?

In my case I have a mr-2 beckett style skimmer. Right now it is running fine with the way I have it mounted. The whole skimmer is above my sump.

Would it make a difference if I put the skimmer in my sump with about 10" of water?

What about the gate valve being submerged?

Have you ran your skimmer like this?

Jon

[Spanky]

Jon,

It's hard to get them to drain fast enough if the gate valve is submerged. Ours is about 3ft above the sump and hard plumbed to drain in the sump. The extra siphon action makes a big difference in how much water you can move through them.

OH, it's a Bullet3, with Iwaki 70, and modified becket.

[chewie]

Jerel,

That's what I was thinking.

I guess why I see some skimmers submerged is for space reasons.

thanx for the quick reply!!!!

Back to your thread now Hommeworks.......

Jon

[Hommeworks]

Sorry to step away, I just got out of bed. I run a LifeReef external skimmer. It sits outside of the sump and is powered by a Little Giant 1190 external pump. This is a venturi type skimmer, not sure if it coconcurrent or countercurrent.

The drain from the sump is 1" from bottom and rises to 3" at pump intake. The return, with the gate valve sits mid-height on the sump directly inline with the exit from the skimmer. I had to do a couple of right angle jobs with flex tube and angle joints to get from pump exit to skimmer entry which sits 2/3rds the way up the height of the skimmer. Confusing huh! Oh! and the return line from skimmer to sump sits below the marked water line.

Now I do have mechanical filtration pads in the sump. One pad in the entry chamber and a carbon pad just above the return to the display and to the skimmer.

Again with my light animal load my nitrates are <.01.

[chewie]

Hommeworks,

I had a hard time following your last post, but I'll see if I can help.

Here's what I'd do:

Clean the collection cup first (it's easier to tune when you can see)

Turn your skimmer pump down about half way.

Open the venturi valve ALL the way.

Then adjust the skimmer pump(ball valve) to keep the bubbles just below the last riser(1/4"-1/2"). Let it run for 12-24 hours before adjusting anything.

Then turn down the venturi valve about 10%(this makes the bubbles smaller) but don't turn it down too much.

This is the way I tune all my skimmers(beckett, old venturi, and a prizm).

That's the best way I know to get the dry gunky foam.

Good luck!!!

Jon

[Big Dave]

I have a CPR SR6 skimmer, and it used to kick butt and pull out a ton of gunk. Now, I don't get too much.... why? I have the drain tube hooked up to a 2 liter bottle. I used to get about 1/2 liter every week or so. What could cause the amount collected to decrease. I clean my pump every few months(cause it's a R** - shhh). Does more air bubbles produce more foam? How does the amount of water affect the amount skimmed? Could my tank just be cleaner than it was when I first started? Thanks for the help guys!

-Big Dave

[Spanky]

Homme

Are those filter pads treating the water right before it goes in the skimmer? I noticed some pads really effect how a skimmer works.

Jon

Right on the money.

Dave

Smaller condensed bubbles will produce more foam. Have you cleaned your becket or venturi lately?

[Big Dave]

The pump has the venturi attachment that sends air right into the impeller and chops the bubbles up. Should I maybe replace the air tubing? Does that get some build up inside? Maybe some salt or calcium deposits. The sump is not lit if that matters. Thanks Spanks!

-Big Dave

[Hommeworks]

Hey Spanky,

Yup, pads at 1st chamber in sump where water 1st enters, then a carbon block filter pad at last chamber directly above the return bulk heads. They seem to snag quite a bit of material.

[chewie]

Hey Dave,

So the inlet of the pump is where the air gets sucked in?

Hmmmmmm.............

Most venturi type skimmers have the venturi on the pump output.

I understand how yours works, but I think it might work better with a different venturi.

http://jjgeisler.com/reeftank2/

Take a look at that link and you can make your own venturi for around $2.

Or you could save time and get a kent venturi.

I think your skimmer would skim better this way.

Then again maybe you need to clean the entire skimmer to get it back up to par.

I clean my collector cup usually every other week and the rest of the skimmer overy other month(this might be overkill).

good luck

Jon

P.S. Thanx Spanky

[Big Dave]

Well, I have a rio 2100 on there, with the attachment for the air line. I will try to get a pic of the skimmer and rio attachment later. Can I just get any similar gph pump to replace the rio? I sent CPR an email to ask for a second option besides the recomended rio but haven't heard back yet. I explained I didn't want to be the rio victum.

This skimmer used to skim like crazy, maybe it just needs a big time cleaning. In 6 months I don't think i have cleaned anything on it but the upper section. It's starting to get a bunch of sponges and 'things growing inside the skimmer. Maybe that's part of the problem too!?!?

-Big Dave

[Spanky]

ROTFL

Dave it's a skimmer not a refugia!