skimmers?

[kita_katan]

ok just a question for everyone...how much does your skimmer take out a week? I mean I haven't been empting my skimmer cup but once a month if even so I was wondering if there was something wrong. I have turned the air up and everything just short of it spilling just water out of it. I think this is why I have a film on the top of the tank right now. Any suggestions?

[Spanky]

Hmmmmm
kita, I clean our skimmer at least every other day. Depending on how "wet" I run it, I get anywhere from a 1 gal to 1/2 cup a day.

What skimmer are you using? Plus sometimes turning the air up too high can cause too much turbulence and actually reduce skimming. You want to be sure you have consistently small fine bubbles, don't turn the air up to where you get "burps" or some big bubbles mixed in.

spanks

[kita_katan]

have a HSA model 250 as my skimmer...does that help?

AM not sure about the pump that runs it I would have to disconnect it to see

[kita_katan]

I have a gallon milk jug to catch the guck and I as of late have only empited it out about once a month if I am lucky now... I only have it up till you can hear the air flow...does that make sense? If I turn it up anymore then it runs pure water out of it. Any suggestions?

Thank you spanky for your reply

[OodleyBoodely]

Cleaning the cup out more often may help. My Remora Pro recommends daily cleaning for max performance, and, I have noticed that if I let it go for weeks between cleanings, it does not seem to collect much more than it will within the first 3-4 days. The buildup of organic sludge on the sides of the reaction chamber will affect the performance of the skimmer. Another consideration is that that sludge will decompose and break down to nitrate and phosphate because it is still effectively in your tank. The idea behind skimming is to remove waste before it breaks down, so, by not keeping the reaction chamber clean of sludge, you are defeating the purpose of the skimmer. Hope this helps!(from one lazy skimate remover to another!)

[kita_katan]

lol I can see that but I just and I mean just cleaned it yesterday real good and I still havnen't gotten anything out of it yet though.

[Spanky]

kita

There's the slight possibility that there's nothing in your tank to skim - a very very slight possibility.

Looking at the picture of your skimmer, how high do you tune the level of the water in the skimmer? Also, when you look through the water, is it like milk?

Reason I'm asking, is you might need to play with it a little. Raise and lower the water in the skimmer, dial in more and less air, etc. Until you find the 'sweet spot'.

You know when all else fails, call the manf. Give them all your specs (pump, size of tank) and see what they recommend. It might be something as simple as changing pumps or just adjusting water height.

Spanks

[galleon]

Also, air bubbles displace a remarkable amount of water. If you added more air to the contact column, than you're also displacing more water in an upward direction. In general, when adding more air, you have to throttle down the amount of water being put into the contact column.
Chris

[oregon_gorge]

So, to quote Tim the Tool Man, "more power" isnt the answer? I changed from a 600 gph to a 900 gph on my skimmer figuring it would skim like a mad man. Boy was I dissapointed.

So, like Spanky said, I looked it up on line. It reccomneds 450 gph, if I read the chart right.

Silly me never read the directions.

[Pirate]

I have a Berlin Hang On and it requires emptying at least once every three days. I have 250 gals of water with a 125 gal tank. (100) gals in the sump. Keep in mind that it is difficult to compare skimmers. The only way that I have ever found to compare is in the same tank, with the same conditions. I agree with Spanky, there must be some way to tweak it.