xinumaster,
you adjust the water level by twisting the standpipe, which turns the opening at the bottom of the pipe like a gate valve. Its very much like the system for a Bubbleking mini.
uhuru,
I have had the same result. My previous skimmer, if it made that much skimmate in a day, would make all light-tea colored stuff. Now, I have it adjusted to make the same (because I dont feel like having to empty it every day) volume, but its much darker. And the chunks! Thats what I cant get over...
Today I cleaned the cup again, and as I reached for the cup, I noticed an amphipod that was stuck in the foam, at the top of the head, in the neck!!! It was swimming around, trying to get down, but it couldnt!
On a related note, as more of a long-term report, well... I tried to get some sort of nitrate/phosphate reading in the tank by stopping the alchohol dosing and removing the phosguard (or rather, not replacing it like I normally do). And I took note of the 'yellow chart' on the side wall of the tank.
The 'yellow chart' is something I picked up from my cichlid keeking days. You get a sheet printed of various yellow tints, on a scale from light to dark, and number them. you then place this chart on the back of your tank, or in my case, on one of the sides so you cant see it from the front, and lengthwise for me provides more distance through the water, and I have starphire side panels, where the back is regular plate and so it has some green to it. Now, its a relative scale, since the distance through the glass will vary, and the shades of yellow will vary due to the printer/paper, etc. But it gives a user a good way of comparing relative water clarity values. When the water reaches a certain level of yellow, the lighter shades of yellow will not be visible, and then depending on what you figure out is a good point thats when you know you have to do your water changes (at least on a non-reef system).
On a reef, it allows me to keep track of my organic levels, or the 'yellow' in the water.
I would like to add this though. I have stopped alchohol dosing (which did clear my water up after less than a week of use), and my water did get a bit yellow there for a bit. But since the ATB, my water is clearer than ever. I even let my carbon go (it clogs up after a week or so, so its effectively shut down). The water on my 'yellow scale' is clearer than when I was vodka dosing.
Now, that may not be a comparable nitrate/phosphate reading (which would be relative to my tank only so its all relative really), but that does say something. This ATB 'Small' skimmer, no vodka, no ethanol = clearer than 30" tall 1200lph recirc.overflow fed skimmer, 6ml ethanol daily, and carbon changed every 2-3 weeks.
Thats something you can take to the bank.
