3130/2 skimmer?

[Marine-mania]

Hi Roger,

I am looking for a skimmer to use in my sump. My sump has a water level of ~11.5 inches, which has caused some difficulty in finding the right skimmer, as most will not work with that depth without being raised, which is tough to do with the 26 inch total height available under my 180 gallon tank. The 3130/2 model skimmer looks like it will work with my sump water level, and it's dimensions should fit well in my sump/stand. Can you confirm this would be a good model for use in a sump with an ~11.5 inch water level? Do you have any comments on this particular model of skimmer that you can share?

Thanks for your input.

- Ken

 

[rvitko]

The 3130/2 would be a good choice. It will work in your installation. Some other factors you need to consider though. The skimmer does not like excessive turbulence, it likes a constant water level. In general a very high flow sump compartment should be avoided, the water should not be laden with bubbles or fast moving. Tunze skimmers work consitently and do a good job but they work on a passive plankton safe principle and do to a different function are not going to be similar to a high powered skimmer like ETS, Aqua C or Euroreef. The pump is included and works in a closed loop and protein and cellulose diffuse into the skimmer by osmosis. This makes the skimmer week against particulate. It will perform consistently and quietly and in a system which is well designed should provide the desired results.

 

[Marine-mania]

Thanks for the info Roger. I have a Mag12 return back to the main system, with two 1" drains to the sump, to give you an idea of the flow through the sump. The water flow though the sump is not particularly turbulent, I just have tall baffles in place.

Would the 230/2 be a better choice, I could hang this on one of the baffles, so that it sat at the top of the normal water line of the sump. One issue would be the event of a power outage, when the water level in the sump would increase due to drainage from the main system and refugium, thus overflowing the skimmer since it would be sitting so low in the sump versus a model like the 3130/2.

 

[rvitko]

The overflow should cause no problem- the cup would just float up and the venturi would be choked with water until the level drained. Either would be a good choice- they seem pretty much equal in performance and use the same pump/venturi. I think your situation would be fine for either unit.

 

[Marine-mania]

Thanks for the feedback Roger. I just placed an order for a 3130/2 from marinedepot.com.

 

[Marine-mania]

Hi Roger,

I setup my 3130/2 about a week ago. I have it running in my sump with an ~ 11inch water level. The unit is not producing any foam at all at this point, even in the neck. I know this skimmer works differently than your typical skimmer. When I look down into the unit, I don't see any type of bubbling action in the skimmers water chamber. I have adjusted the air screw to multiple settings, but no noticeable change. Is there a way to tell if the unit is functioning properly? What should I see in a properly working 3130/2 when I look down into the water chamber, with the cup removed?

The tank is a new setup, it has ~ 200# of live rock in the tank going through its cycling process. I am beginning to get some brown diatom blooms, so I know there is stuff in the water. No livestock at this point however.

Thanks.

- Ken

 

[rvitko]

If you see no bubbles at all it is likely that the venturi is not connected to the airline. Inside the skimmer their is an airline with a silencer that must connect to a venturi port on the skimmer. Usually this is not connected for shipping purposes. Remove the pump and connect the airline to the venturi.

 

[Marine-mania]

That was it. I took out the pump, connected the venturi, and it is now bubbling away. Now to tweak it to the right level.

Thanks Roger!

- Ken

 

[BrianH]

Roger,

I'm planning on adding a sump to my 50 gal. reef and am considering the 3115 skimmer. Could you please explain what your definition of "very high flow sump" is. I plan on adding a 15gal high sump with as much room dedicated to a refugium as possible. I'm considering the 3115 due to it's size. I plan on having a flow of about 400 to 500 gph through my sump, would this be a problem? Could you also tell me how much clearance is needed to empty the collection cup since I only have a total of 24" inside my stand.

Thanks

Brian

 

[rvitko]

It would be preferred to have only maybe 300-500gph through the sump. The 3115 will require a water level of 11" to operate properly. It would be possible to build a seperate skimmer chamber- (probably a nesessity as if you kept the sump full to 11" their would be little overflow capacity)- you could divert just a portion of the water to the partitioned skimmer section but I also think this high flow would be deleterious to the refugium and is just generally contrary to efficient filtration in my opinion.

 

[BrianH]

I plan on sectioning off the refugium area with a much lower flow. Do you know how much clearance is needed to empty the clooection cup on the 3115?

Thanks

Brian

 

[rvitko]

7 inches would be a minimum.