Skimmer question

[seedless reefer]

#1 Finally got the Octopus up and running. Thing ran for about 6 hours without skimming a thing.

Finally the bubbles started to slowly rise up the neck of the cup.

I plugged in a modded maxijet in the tank and all the bubbles dropped straight back into the chamber. Skimmer is in sump fed by an hob OF but it never lost any kind of suction.

#2 As soon as I decreased the output of the skimmer with the valve the bubbles rose again as expected with a serious amount of agitation in the neck directly under where it falls into the cup.

I'm thinking the bubbles should be lower like around the lock ring yes? no?.

#3 How often should this cup fill? Once a day? couple of days?

My only point of reference is the coralife super skimmer I have been running and the octopus has just a tad more arse to it.

<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Loren W.</span></span>

 

[seedless reefer]

Just went to check and the thing is almost 1/4 full. Opened the valve to full open trying to decrease pressure but its skimming like crazy....cup will be overflowing back into the sump by the middle of the night.

Do I need to plumb a drain into the cup to flow into a reservoir or something?

 

[linda lee]

:bump:


.......... hope someone answers soon so we can get some sleep around here

 

[FutureInterest]

What you've experienced with your new skimmer is not abnormal. It's all part of the break in period where various residues in the skimmer are being flushed out and other residues are being deposited. If you can't reduce the output any more then just let the skimmer overflow into the sump. Eventually, it'll level out and you can adjust your skimmer accordingly.

 

[blind1993]

and if u make a drain into a resovoir u should put it above the sump so if it overflows it goes back in the sump.

 

[wbholwell]

dawgdude;59898 wrote: Personally I would much rather put my skimmer collection jug in a small pan or tray. It makes me cringe to think about that nasty green goop draining back into my tank in such a concentrated form.

If your reservoir completely fills in 24 hours, it's b/c your skimmer has gone haywire. If that's the case, the skimmate will be almost clear (plus what was already in there before it went berserk.) I'd take a little skimmate in my sump any day over an empty sump

 

[cameron]

In small overflow settings, the water builds up into the skimmer cup and flows back into the skimmer body. However if your skimmer goes nuts, yes it can overflow. I keep my external skimmer in a big rubbermaid container for just such occurances though. Another trick is to simply tap the top of the drain cup and divert it back into the sump with some tubing.

 

[blind1993]

well i just found a leak in my skimmer i returnded and from now on i will put a pan underneath the skimmer.