Alpha200 adjustment.

[rbnice1]

So have tried lots of things and here is what I ended up with.

Ok to start out I have it sitting at about 8.25 inches.

Wedge pipe slightly closed. Both black markes lined up is all the way open.

With these settings I get skim that looks like a light tea. This is abought 21 - 22 hours worth.

If I lower the skimmer even 1/2 inch deeper with the wedge pipe all the way open it will start pumping out straight water.

So my question is, is this right? I really expected darker thicker skim and more of it. Its on a 155 sps tank thats heavily stocked, 15gallon frag tank, 30long sump, 20 gallon fuge. Im not sure if its just too big for my system or what. My old EV120 skimmed about the same amount per day that was much darker and that was on my 90 gallon tank.

 

[Jeremy B.]

You are right on the money! The skimmer still needs some more time to break in too. The more it breaks in, the more you will have to start closing the wedge pipe.

 

[rbnice1]

Its 2 months old it should be all broke in by now.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Two things I can think of if you're at 8.25" and it's overflowing with the wedge pipe practically open.....

1. Epoxy / frag glue, or excessive amounts of organics in the system is causing it to run that high and wet.

OR

2. The venturi could be slightly clogged, causing less air draw, but increased water flow and it shoots the water column up the skimmer and overflows.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[rbnice1]

no glue or epoxy. Have not usexd either in this system in a month or so.

Pulled the pump a couple times in the last 2 weeks everything in it is clean.

I swapped it over to use the grey smaller nozzle 2 days ago. It is running at about 8.75 inches with the wedge pipe 1/2 closed and produces slightly less and slightly darker skim. Still not what I expected out of this skimmer.

About a month ago the skimmer started working really well. Filled the cup full of thick bubbles was getting really think nasty stuff. When I checked the pump there was a small snail shell stuck in the pinwheel. After I removed it im back to normal with thin skim and not much of it.

Any other adjustment ideas?

 

[Jeremy B.]

I'm not really sure. It sounds like it's working fine to be honest, other than the overflowing. I'm not trying to be rude, and please do not take this as such, however what were your expectations with the skimmer? I think that a lot of times, myself included here when I say this, we run skimmers that may be cheaper in price, but performance is great. We then go and "upgrade" in price to a higher end skimmer, and expect the performance to be night and day difference, when really it's doing it's job, and very well at that just like the one we moved away from. Again, please don't take this in a bad way, it's just reality of how protein skimmers work.

Back to the overflowing. Is there any fluctuation at all with the sump compartment that the skimmer sits in?

 

[rbnice1]

skimmer is not over flowing at the 8.25 depth. If I run it at deeper it over flows.

No rudeness taken Jeremy. I just expected it to have thicker/darker skim then my EV120 and more of it. My old EV120 produced darker skim and almost the same amount on my old 90 with 4 fish in there. This 155 has 13 -14 fish in it. Most are small goby types but I have 3 large tangs. Maybe I will through the EV120 on this tank and take off the alpha and compare. Maybe its all in my head.

 

[rbnice1]

Well put my old skimmer back in and with no adjustment just throughing it in there it made about 1/2 as much skim but was very very dark compared to the alpha's.

I put the alpha back in and its running the same.

Anyone else have a 200 that can compair nog shots and amounts with me?

 

[chadfarmer]

this is what happened to me when i ran the first style bubble king mini

 

[rbnice1]

Well its possible this is what I should be seeing Chad. I honestly don't know for sure.

But based on the research I did It seemed that the amount I am getting either is very low or very thin. Should be about twice as much skim or much thicker.

That why I am hoping for some examples from other users.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Maybe others can chime in and post. I have all four models of the Alpha running right now, and all are pulling fairly dark skimmate, however that doesn't mean much since every system is going to be different. I will say that the 170 I have on a 75gal system system plus 20gal sump has hardly any bioload, and the 170 pulls very dark skimmate all the time.

 

[Reefobsession]

Just give it more time. Color of skimmate varied from system to sytem. It really needs to run at 9 to 10"s for best results. Give it some time. I see you are allready trying to sell this thing, I feel that you should just chill out and give it at least a couple more months.

 

[rbnice1]

Not actively selling, but if someone offers enough I may take it.

I will be getting some stuff to test air draw and such.

As far as depth. I have no idea how anyone could run it at 9-10 inches. I get to 8.5 - 8.75 and it nonstop overflows.

After talking with chad for a bit on the phone last night he raised a valid point, my tank is only 4 months old. The system is old but with the new tank it has 1/2 new rock. May just need the whole tank to break in a bit longer.

 

[Reefobsession]

I run my sump at 9" and could go up to 10". I think you need a taller sump. At least 15"

 

[rbnice1]

My sump height isnt the issue. If I run the water level deeper then 8.5 - 8.75 inches my skimmer over flows. Nothing is wrong with the sump. Sump has water depth of 11 inches right now. I have the skimmer sitting on a stand.

 

[Reefobsession]

Hm, really? I wasn't having the same issues. I have a 170 and it runs fine. Did you try switching out the differnt nozzles?

 

[rbnice1]

If i use the smaller tube I can put it down to 8.75-9 inches but from what I have been told it doesnt skim well. Mine seemed about the same.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Quick question for you....

If you run the red nozzle, which I believe you are running now, at 9", where is the bottom line of bubbles at inside the body? Is it within an inch of the cylinder that comes off the bubble plate, or does the bottom line of bubbles in the chamber extend down to the bubble plate or lower?

 

[rbnice1]

With the red nozzle its at 8.5inches, the bubbles come down to about 3 inches above the bubble plate