Baffled by skimmer

Ab129 · 11/18/2017, 01:33 PM

Trying to break in my skimmer. 75 gallon tank cycled but no occupants yet. 30 gallon sump with internal skimmer which has been running for 2 weeks. Recommended depth is 7.5 - 8 ", so I started out at 8. After a week or so the collection cup stopped overflowing but the water level stayed about 1.5" from the top of the cup so I raised the skimmer an inch and the water level dropped but only a few inches. I raised the skimmer again but this time there was no change in the water level. There is an adjustment on the air intake pipe which I have set at max and if I dial that back the foam level only rises.
Normally the foam level is just below the bottom of the collection cup and as I said, the water level in the cup is about 3" from the top. What I've tried to do several times is just pull off the cup and empty it but as soon as I put it back on the foam bubbles over into the cup and in 10 minutes we're right back to water 3 inches below the top and foam level at about the bottom of the cup.
Thanks for any suggestions!

ROB2005 · 11/18/2017, 02:02 PM

What skimmer are you using?

Ab129 · 11/18/2017, 02:25 PM

Reef octopus 150 sss

ROB2005 · 11/18/2017, 03:02 PM

Hopefully you have the skimmer in a stable area of water in the sump Check airline tube for any blockage, and give it a few days. Bring the water level in the skimmer body down a bit, and when it develops a foam head, slowly raise the level inside to your desired level. Hope this helps.

Ab129 · 11/19/2017, 12:09 PM

Is there some way to lower the water level in the skimmer besides raising it?

heathlindner25 · 11/19/2017, 12:39 PM

No.

Ab129 · 11/19/2017, 04:38 PM

If the recommended depth for the skimmer is 7.5-8" and I'm at 6" now how much lower (higher) can I go and not damage anything.

heathlindner25 · 11/19/2017, 05:31 PM

Need pictures, something's wrong.

Ab129 · 11/19/2017, 06:14 PM

IMG_2016.jpg

Hope this works

heathlindner25 · 11/19/2017, 07:21 PM

It looks like it's breaking in and over reacting .It also looks like you could easily raise it a few more inches .

Uncle99 · 11/20/2017, 01:09 PM

Most skimmers have a flow control. If you have this or something like it, turn it all the way down (off) for 72 hours. It can sometimes take a week to break in depending on the amount of DOC that is in your tank..

D&KSac · 11/20/2017, 04:54 PM

You don't have any livestock, so once it skim's out the diatoms from the cycle, I would think it wouldn't create much skim mate. Since skim mate is waste, you don't have anything creating any yet. You should see it start to skim once you put a load on the tank.

Ab129 · 11/20/2017, 08:30 PM

But I can't have it running with all that water in the collection cup right?
I raised it again so now the skimmer depth is 5 inches (recommended depth is 7.5-8 inches).
Been running at this height for a couple hours and the water level in the cup is way down to about 1/2 inch.
Should I start adding a fish or three?

11/18/2017, 01:33 PM	#1
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Baffled by skimmer Trying to break in my skimmer. 75 gallon tank cycled but no occupants yet. 30 gallon sump with internal skimmer which has been running for 2 weeks. Recommended depth is 7.5 - 8 ", so I started out at 8. After a week or so the collection cup stopped overflowing but the water level stayed about 1.5" from the top of the cup so I raised the skimmer an inch and the water level dropped but only a few inches. I raised the skimmer again but this time there was no change in the water level. There is an adjustment on the air intake pipe which I have set at max and if I dial that back the foam level only rises. Normally the foam level is just below the bottom of the collection cup and as I said, the water level in the cup is about 3" from the top. What I've tried to do several times is just pull off the cup and empty it but as soon as I put it back on the foam bubbles over into the cup and in 10 minutes we're right back to water 3 inches below the top and foam level at about the bottom of the cup. Thanks for any suggestions!

11/18/2017, 02:02 PM	#2
ROB2005 Reefing Is My Passion! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 719	What skimmer are you using? __________________ If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁 Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals

11/18/2017, 03:02 PM	#4
ROB2005 Reefing Is My Passion! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 719	Hopefully you have the skimmer in a stable area of water in the sump Check airline tube for any blockage, and give it a few days. Bring the water level in the skimmer body down a bit, and when it develops a foam head, slowly raise the level inside to your desired level. Hope this helps. __________________ If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁 Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals

11/20/2017, 04:54 PM	#12
D&KSac Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Elk Grove Posts: 932	You don't have any livestock, so once it skim's out the diatoms from the cycle, I would think it wouldn't create much skim mate. Since skim mate is waste, you don't have anything creating any yet. You should see it start to skim once you put a load on the tank. __________________ Sweetie this is the last thing i need for my tank i swear! David For my Oceanic 156 Build thread click the little red house Current Tank Info: Oceanic Ultimate 156, 40 gal sump/fuge, the rest is under construction.

11/18/2017, 02:25 PM	#3
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Reef octopus 150 sss

11/19/2017, 12:09 PM	#5
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Is there some way to lower the water level in the skimmer besides raising it?

11/19/2017, 12:39 PM	#6
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	No.

11/19/2017, 04:38 PM	#7
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	If the recommended depth for the skimmer is 7.5-8" and I'm at 6" now how much lower (higher) can I go and not damage anything.

11/19/2017, 05:31 PM	#8
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Need pictures, something's wrong.

11/19/2017, 06:14 PM	#9
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	IMG_2016.jpg Hope this works

11/19/2017, 07:21 PM	#10
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	It looks like it's breaking in and over reacting .It also looks like you could easily raise it a few more inches .

11/20/2017, 01:09 PM	#11
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Most skimmers have a flow control. If you have this or something like it, turn it all the way down (off) for 72 hours. It can sometimes take a week to break in depending on the amount of DOC that is in your tank..

11/20/2017, 08:30 PM	#13
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	But I can't have it running with all that water in the collection cup right? I raised it again so now the skimmer depth is 5 inches (recommended depth is 7.5-8 inches). Been running at this height for a couple hours and the water level in the cup is way down to about 1/2 inch. Should I start adding a fish or three?