Skimmer Questions

[mug]

I just set up a used octopus 150 skimmer on my 120 FOWLER tank. I can't find my exact skimmer online so I think I may have an older model or design. I've never set a skimmer up before so I don't know if this is normal. Posted a picture of my skimmer and sump here http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46091">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46091</a> the picture of the skimmer is on page 2

First day I set it up it worked perfect for hours skimming light foam. Then I left home for 2 or 3 hours and came back to the collection cup full of water. I emptied it turned the water level down and went to sleep. I was worried about it so I checked it in the middle of the night to find it full of water again. Turned the water level down emptied it in the morning and went to work. Came back to a 1/2 full cup. I turned it down again and emptied the cup before I went to sleep. (that was last night) This morning the collection cup is full of water again. Is this normal? Did I get a broken skimmer?

The water level in my sump is always the same so I don't think that is causing it. Also the return pump shoots out a small amount of micro bubbles every few minutes, I guess from the skimmer.

 

[rbredding]

It's skimming wet... I'm not sure how to adjust that type of skimmer, though..

 

[elfloyd]

Morgan...

Had the same problem when I set up my 150.

- my 150 is setting in 11" of water
- turn the wedge pipe (vertical pipe) clock wise for dry skim (less water in the collection cup)
- turn the wedge pipe counter clock wise for wet skim (more water in the collection cup)
- turning the wedge pipe will raise or lower the bubble column in the skimmer
- the bubble column should rise to about 1/3 of the top part of the skimmer
- a head will form on top of the bubble column (both column and foam head are bubbles, but you will see a difference in consistency)
- this head may not form right away... if the skimmer is super clean it may take 2-3 days to break in.

Let me know if this helps.

 

[mug]

Is there a perfect level? or will it always require tweaking?

My tank has only been running for a week and a half so really there shouldn't be very much protein to skim. right now there is no foam only white bubbles not even coming close to the top. (about 1/3 of the way up the column)

my 150 is in 4.5" of water

that helps to hear that turning the pipe right is for dry skim and left is wet skim. The guy who sold it to me said that is raised and lowered the water level inside the skimmer.

 

[weaglereefer]

Mug;543224 wrote: Is there a perfect level? or will it always require tweaking?

There should be a level you get it at and it should stay consistant, whether it's wet or dry skimming, it shouldn't need "tweaking" once you get the skimmate you want.

My tank has only been running for a week and a half so really there shouldn't be very much protein to skim. right now there is no foam only white bubbles not even coming close to the top. (about 1/3 of the way up the column)

I run mine so the bubbles come about 1/2 way up the collection cup's inner tube and get good skimmate (not green like tea, not black like coffee). Depending on how well it was cleaned, it may take some time to build up the coating inside the skimmer and until then it may be inconsistent.

my 150 is in 4.5" of water

Is it running with an external pump and a recirculating pump, or is there just one pump? If it's just one pump, that doesn't sound like the water level is high enough, they do better around 8-10".

that helps to hear that turning the pipe right is for dry skim and left is wet skim. The guy who sold it to me said that is raised and lowered the water level inside the skimmer.

Wet or Dry skimming is dependant on how much you're skimming. You'll either pull a little black sludge, or a fair amount of green tea. This is depending on the bubble level in the skimmer, so both descriptions of the the pipe are accurate. Closed wedge pipe means higher water level and wetter skimmate, open wedge pipe means lower water level and dryer skimmate.


FWIW, I own a this model with a recirculating pump and love it. Mine is very consistent and needs very little adjustment from week to week.

 

[mug]

the skimmer was so clean that it looked like new. I'll just keep the level where its at for now and adjust as necessary. I just don't want to have to worry about it filling with water anymore. The extra water just falls back into the sump but its still annoying having to keep checking it. The pump for the skimmer is submersed in the sump. I could add a little more water but not much more. If I add too much the sump could overflow during a power outage. My sump is a rubbermaid that around 18 gallons. Once the tank is all cycled and there are more fish I could try and get more skim but for now I'll keep the level low.

 

[mufret]

Looking at the pic, it appears that you have a gate valve mod installed on the skimmer. While the skimmer is breaking in, you want to open the gate valve all of the way. Once the skimmer is broken in and you have a bioload established in the tank, you can start raising the water level in the skimmer by closing the gate valve. You will probably have some issues with consistency with the water level at only 4.5". These skimmer usually do best sitting in 7" to 10" of water. Is there a way for you to raise the water level in the area that the sump is in?

 

[rbredding]

I wouldn't even worry about running the skimmer if your tank isn't cycled yet..


when you get fish in there, your proteins will increase, making it easier to adjust your skimmer..

(probably couldn't pull out dark skimmate now if you wanted to)

 

[mug]

Yeah I could add some more water if you think that would help. And I should just open the valve all the way? Once its cycled and I have more fish then start closing it?

 

[weaglereefer]

You will want to have a stable water level. One way to do this is see if the skimmer will fit in a bucket, then drill holes at the 10" water level. Have your overflow empty into the bucket, then it will drain through the holes.