Skimmer Question (psk-100)

[jimmystephens]

I have a psk-100 ecopps on a 75 gallon with a 20 gallon sump/refugium. The skimmer is very fineky. One minute its making coffee the next its making water. If u touch it or bump it while changing the filter sock it gets out of wack and u have to adjust the air flow. Anyone have the same problem or can advise what to do. Thanks

Edit: Does they same thing when u take the cup off to empty it.

 

[ripped tide]

It's just that skimmer... I'm pretty sure the "E" in eshopps stands for economic, which really means: chinese crap.

Just my opinion, but I'd sell, or give it away on Craigslist, and get a more reputable, well designed skimmer.

I have a personal beef with those skimmers.

 

[heathlindner25]

that thing has been" broken in" yet? are you still setting it pretty low, the water level that is?

 

[jimmystephens]

Hey heath, about a day or 2 after u left i had to empty the cup . its now back to making water. I putnit at the bottom of the neck like we did earlier. But its making my trates go up cause its not skimming right. I did some web searches and alot of people are saying stuff about the air mix on it.

Edit: Rt. I think u r correct. Ive never had a problem with any skimmer but this one is very frustrating!

 

[ripped tide]

My first comment wasn't very constructive, and I apologize for that.

They have certainly got their quarks. You have to have the water lever extremely consistent, and also at the perfect level just above the pump. The wedge pipe can be tricky to adjust. I bet we could figure out a mod that would make them more efficient.

 

[jimmystephens]

I think my biggest problem is space. The space in the sump for it is kinda narrow so the pipe on the side of the skimmer where it pushes the water back out is close to the wall. Whwn i move it around it changes the air input and makes it go down or over flow. Also i did do a water change today from the sump which obviously changed the level.

 

[fidofence]

Try a ato system so your water level is consistent, then you can find the level that it works best at, Cheap skimmers don't handle water fluctuations well

 

[jimmystephens]

Any suggestions on a good skimmer?

 

[ripped tide]

what size area are you working with?

 

[jimmystephens]

Sump drain section is only 5.5" by 11.5"

 

[ripped tide]

dang.... I'd consider external. The external NWB reef octopus are a decent skimmer for an alright price.