What's wrong with my protein skimmer?

Chris918 · 04/07/2018, 02:49 PM

I've had my Reefer 350 for 2 months now. The skimmer has been on for about a month and a half. I've adjusted everything I can think of. My sump's skimmer chamber has a water level of around 10 inches. That's too high based on the manufacturers suggestion so I have the skimmer at about 8 inches now. I can't get any skimmate production and the foam barely makes it an inch or two up the skimmer neck. It never gets close to the collection cup. It looks like it is pulling out a little bit of gunk, but it never gets to the cup. I've considered that maybe my bioload is too low. There are only a pair of clowns and a few coral.

Please help me if you can. Here is a link to the skimmer if you need more info.

Thanks!

Chris

thearsalan1 · 04/07/2018, 03:04 PM

Have you ever tried running it at 10” depth?
I’d try that first and play with the adjustment.

Next thing you can look into is increasing the air intake. Either make the hole bigger or put on a bigger tube and control the air with a small valve of some sort.

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davocean · 04/07/2018, 03:25 PM

Or try less, 6-8" seems to be most common level

Chris918 · 04/07/2018, 03:48 PM

I've tried running it at the sump's normal water level and the foam gets much higher. It almost gets to the point where I want it to be. I've tried raising the skimmer about 2 inches and the foam production is worse. Does the base the skimmer pump sits on need to be taken into account when looking at the skimmer's actual depth? It sits on a 2.5 inch base (give or take) that the pump sits on.

LeJeune981 · 04/07/2018, 04:10 PM

Can ya snap a few pics to better help us help you out?maybe some one will see something

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Chris918 · 04/07/2018, 04:23 PM

I have to post a picture using a link correct? What's the best place to post?

ramseynb · 04/07/2018, 04:44 PM

I like imgur the best.

Chris918 · 04/07/2018, 05:36 PM

https://imgur.com/qg3DY0I Here is the skimmer. I've got an image of the base that raises it up a bit as well.

Chris918 · 04/08/2018, 01:05 PM

The link works for me. Is it working for you guys? Let me know if you all have any ideas on what the problem may be.

flooddc · 04/08/2018, 01:36 PM

What kind of skimmer is it?
From the photo, you need to adjust the water output to raise the water level in the skimmer body so that the foam is up around the neck of the skimmer.

Uncle99 · 04/08/2018, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flooddc

What kind of skimmer is it?
From the photo, you need to adjust the water output to raise the water level in the skimmer body so that the foam is up around the neck of the skimmer.

I would agree, do you not have a flow adjustment knob to fine tune your bubbles level in the chamber?

Chris918 · 04/08/2018, 04:56 PM

Here is a link to the skimmer I have. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/skimz...n-skimmer.html
I have done every adjustment I can on the skimmer and this is as high as it gets. I've messed with the micro adjustable valve on the side and can't seem to get it any higher.

cellingson · 04/08/2018, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris918

Here is a link to the skimmer I have. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/skimz...n-skimmer.html
I have done every adjustment I can on the skimmer and this is as high as it gets. I've messed with the micro adjustable valve on the side and can't seem to get it any higher.

Not familiar with any his skimmer but I think most skimmers function the same.

There is a knob that should control how much water flows out of this skimmer. By adjusting this knob you can adjust the water level in the skimmer. It looks like, on your skimmer, it is opposite the air intake. Close this knob as far as you can and see if that helps. The water level should rise and fall. If still not getting water level high enough you can try and increase air intake. If that doesn't work you need to drop the skimmer level in the tank.
Are you using wood for your skimmer stand?

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Chris918 · 04/08/2018, 07:32 PM

I'm not using any wood as a skimmer stand. I originally thought my water level was too high so I raised the skimmer about 2 inches. This actually made things worse. I lowered the skimmer again and it functions better. It comes on a black plastic stand where the pump is mounted. I started Reef Energy A and B today and after I turned the skimmer back on, the foam immediately was reaching the top. Perhaps it is just a low bio load?

tthouston · 04/09/2018, 10:57 AM

You have 2 options to INCREASE the bubble in the skimmer body.
1- Close the OUTPUT valve
2- Close the AIRPUT hole, I see it has the screw at the air line to increase or decrease the Air input.

Look at step #4 in this link
https://s3.amazonaws.com/brsinstruct...in-Skimmer.pdf

oldhead · 04/09/2018, 11:13 AM

I don't see a valve for the output but that little valve on the bottom of the air intake cup should do the trick. One way to check to see if it will work is to stick your finger over the open hole on the top. The bubbles should immediately climb toward the cup.

tthouston · 04/09/2018, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldhead

I don't see a valve for the output but that little valve on the bottom of the air intake cup should do the trick. One way to check to see if it will work is to stick your finger over the open hole on the top. The bubbles should immediately climb toward the cup.

That is it. Close the air valve little by little the buble will increase in the skimmer body.
I just edit my comment with a link, check it out. Good luck.

tthouston · 04/09/2018, 11:19 AM

The air valve of your skimmer on the top of the air silent. just adjust the screw.

04/07/2018, 02:49 PM	#1
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	What's wrong with my protein skimmer? I've had my Reefer 350 for 2 months now. The skimmer has been on for about a month and a half. I've adjusted everything I can think of. My sump's skimmer chamber has a water level of around 10 inches. That's too high based on the manufacturers suggestion so I have the skimmer at about 8 inches now. I can't get any skimmate production and the foam barely makes it an inch or two up the skimmer neck. It never gets close to the collection cup. It looks like it is pulling out a little bit of gunk, but it never gets to the cup. I've considered that maybe my bioload is too low. There are only a pair of clowns and a few coral. Please help me if you can. Here is a link to the skimmer if you need more info. Thanks! Chris

04/07/2018, 03:25 PM	#3
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Or try less, 6-8" seems to be most common level __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

04/07/2018, 04:44 PM	#7
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	I like imgur the best. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles!

04/09/2018, 10:57 AM	#15
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	You have 2 options to INCREASE the bubble in the skimmer body. 1- Close the OUTPUT valve 2- Close the AIRPUT hole, I see it has the screw at the air line to increase or decrease the Air input. Look at step #4 in this link https://s3.amazonaws.com/brsinstruct...in-Skimmer.pdf Last edited by tthouston; 04/09/2018 at 11:12 AM.

04/07/2018, 03:04 PM	#2
thearsalan1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 29	Have you ever tried running it at 10” depth? I’d try that first and play with the adjustment. Next thing you can look into is increasing the air intake. Either make the hole bigger or put on a bigger tube and control the air with a small valve of some sort. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/07/2018, 03:48 PM	#4
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	I've tried running it at the sump's normal water level and the foam gets much higher. It almost gets to the point where I want it to be. I've tried raising the skimmer about 2 inches and the foam production is worse. Does the base the skimmer pump sits on need to be taken into account when looking at the skimmer's actual depth? It sits on a 2.5 inch base (give or take) that the pump sits on.

04/07/2018, 04:10 PM	#5
LeJeune981 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 747	Can ya snap a few pics to better help us help you out?maybe some one will see something Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk

04/07/2018, 04:23 PM	#6
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	I have to post a picture using a link correct? What's the best place to post?

04/07/2018, 05:36 PM	#8
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	https://imgur.com/qg3DY0I Here is the skimmer. I've got an image of the base that raises it up a bit as well.

04/08/2018, 01:05 PM	#9
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	The link works for me. Is it working for you guys? Let me know if you all have any ideas on what the problem may be.

04/08/2018, 01:36 PM	#10
flooddc Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 304	What kind of skimmer is it? From the photo, you need to adjust the water output to raise the water level in the skimmer body so that the foam is up around the neck of the skimmer.

04/08/2018, 04:56 PM	#12
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Here is a link to the skimmer I have. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/skimz...n-skimmer.html I have done every adjustment I can on the skimmer and this is as high as it gets. I've messed with the micro adjustable valve on the side and can't seem to get it any higher.

04/08/2018, 07:32 PM	#14
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	I'm not using any wood as a skimmer stand. I originally thought my water level was too high so I raised the skimmer about 2 inches. This actually made things worse. I lowered the skimmer again and it functions better. It comes on a black plastic stand where the pump is mounted. I started Reef Energy A and B today and after I turned the skimmer back on, the foam immediately was reaching the top. Perhaps it is just a low bio load?

04/09/2018, 11:13 AM	#16
oldhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 527	I don't see a valve for the output but that little valve on the bottom of the air intake cup should do the trick. One way to check to see if it will work is to stick your finger over the open hole on the top. The bubbles should immediately climb toward the cup.

04/09/2018, 11:19 AM	#18
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	The air valve of your skimmer on the top of the air silent. just adjust the screw.