BB skimmer help,.....

[Wiskey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6679575#post6679575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NoSchwag
I personally couldn't remove particles with mine. Come to find out that when you jack that water waaay up in the neck (for wet skimming) most of the water bypasses the actual foam.

It was easy to remove the particles with filter socks though, but I don't have a wash machine so I can't be bothered with them.

Have you tried turning it back down to avoid this? Or do you think the skimmer works best this way?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6679220#post6679220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
I would replace the pinch screws with cheap plastic needle valves, you get 5 for about $3, it will save you a lot of headache.

Whiskey

I'm not using the screw type, I have a roller style pinch valve which I have found to work very well.

I'm curious what settings Sean (or anyone else) has found to be the most effective for skimming his tank. I've found that my skimmer (essentially an ER RC-500) makes finer bubbles if I restrict the airflow about ~30%, but I'm not sure if that results in the best overall skimmer performance.

 

[Wiskey]

Oh, ok I have one of those roller things on a drip doser, it seems to work well there.

<update>
In order to get the water level where I want it, I need to have the restricters in the skimmer, but fully open.

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[SeanT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6679170#post6679170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Sean, could you elaborate on how you have your valves adjusted? I've used pinch valves on the intake hoses to my skimmer as well. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the balance between maximizing airflow vs. reduced airflow and getting smaller bubbles. I've played around with mine a bit, but my relatively young tank isn't heavily stocked enough to notice a real difference.

Jeff,
I just use the stock air valves that come with the skimmer.
Nothing too fancy.
They work great though.
Sean

 

[Wiskey]

Never mind, I was able to take the restricters back out, my feeding effected my adjustment, I have the skimmer running good right now, at probably 200 GPH, but I have to go to sleep soon, so I will make the exact waterflow caculations later.

Hey Sean, what was your max bioload like in the 180, were you able to detect nitrate?

Accually, everybody running needle wheel skimers, and bare bottom tanks please list your total water volume, bio-load, and skimmer type/aprox how much you skim in a week.

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[clkwrk]

man your asking alot :lol:

Water volume for my 4x2x2 box and sump is 135g

Fish load is 1 6"PBT, 3 3" lubbucks wrasses, 2 2" cardinals, 1 5 inch anthias and a 3 inch anthias. The rest is corals and thats more than most. I also run GFO and Ozone.

Skimmer is ER 8-2 and I dump the cup 3 times a week maybe a few gallons tops a week.

 

[Wiskey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6683319#post6683319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
man your asking alot :lol:

Ya sorry about that.

Water volume for my 4x2x2 box and sump is 135g

Fish load is 1 6"PBT, 3 3" lubbucks wrasses, 2 2" cardinals, 1 5 inch anthias and a 3 inch anthias. The rest is corals and thats more than most. I also run GFO and Ozone.

Skimmer is ER 8-2 and I dump the cup 3 times a week maybe a few gallons tops a week.

Thanks for checking in , the way I see it is you have slightly more than twice my bioload, and about twice my water volume.

I have the skimmer running like you told me right now, in the next couple of days I will dial it in, and let you know how it works.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

Accually, everybody running needle wheel skimers, and bare bottom tanks please list your total water volume, bio-load, and skimmer type/aprox how much you skim in a week.

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6683290#post6683290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
everybody running needle wheel skimers, and bare bottom tanks please list your total water volume, bio-load, and skimmer type/aprox how much you skim in a week.

Euroreef RC500 equivalent (CS12-2 RC w/beta pumps)
300g system volume
LOW bioload (3" achilles tang and 2 clownfish)
I usually dump the skimmer once a week, just under a gallon of fairly light skimmate.

No ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate registers using salifert kits.

Which reminds me, since changing over to gravity feed from the overflow last week, I'm skimming too dry, only about 3/4" in the cup this week. Time to go adjust the valves some more.....

 

[Wiskey]

Thanks Jeff, that is quite a low bio-load, I have more fish in my 50. Any reason for the low load? Just trying to get nutreants even lower?

Still looking for more people to chime in,.... I know you are out there

Accually, everybody running needle wheel skimers, and bare bottom tanks please list your total water volume, bio-load, and skimmer type/aprox how much you skim in a week.

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6686353#post6686353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
Any reason for the low load?

New tank, just starting to stock it.... I will say though, the handful of corals I have in there sure seem to like it

 

[gman0526]

FWIW here's pics of both needlewheels in my tank, this is after a day of skimming after being cleaned:

Coralife 65

PS-350

Collection vase PS 350

 

[Wiskey]

You are running your skimate a lot darker than I am, mine is almost perfectally clear. Is there any advantage to running it a little darker?

Both those skimmers are one tank right? Is this the 75 gal in your sig? What is your bio-load like? Can you detect nitrate or phospate?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[gman0526]

Yup, both are on my 75. This was after doing some cleanup in the tank and blasting the rocks, usually it is a little lighter in color since I run it wet. This is as dark as it would get. Bio load is nothing major IMO.

* 3 black-yellow lyretale damsels max size about 1.5"
* 3 unknown sp. damsels max size 1"
* 2 percs 1.5"
* 1 cleaner wrasse.

PO4 - 0
nitrates 0

I syphon whatever det. is on the bottom every 2 wks., at that time nitrates might read 1 pp.

 

[Wiskey]

Thanks gman, your bioload is probably a bit lower than mine.

Why do you have 2 skimmers? Was one not cutting it so you added a second? Or did you just have both and figured you would use them?

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[gman0526]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6687858#post6687858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey

Why do you have 2 skimmers? Was one not cutting it so you added a second? Or did you just have both and figured you would use them?

Let's just say that i don't think there's anyway I can overskim a tank And honestly I had the CSS 65 laying around and figured, what the hell...

 

[Wiskey]

Ok, it seems there are plenty of people who run a bare bottom tank with a needle wheel skimmer with sucess.

Clkwrk says this is a good skimmer, I have it running like he suggested now.

Since I never hit 0 nitrates, here is what I am going to do, please add suggestions as you see fit.

1. Dailey I will blast off all my LR with a powerhead.
2. Dailey I will syphon any piles made by this blasting of the larger deatris that doesn't make it to the skimmer.

3. Once nitrates hit 0, I will go back to my 10% water changes weekly, with weekly blasting of the LR.

4. I will wait and monitor nitrate levels to see if they stay at 0.

(I don't know why I didn't think of this earler)

I have 2 rocks I couldn't cook because one was a mushroom rock and the other was covered in yellow pylops, they make up about 20% of my total live rock. When I blast them, I do get some deatris off, not like I used to, but still some, it is possible that my rock never cleaned up all the way.

Ideas? Suggestions?

This will start when I get back in town, and I will keep everyone updated via this thread on my progress.

Thanks,
Whiskey

Btw for flow I have about 72X in tank turnover so I think I am ok in that arina. This is accomplished by a mag7 return, 1 seio 1500, one seio 820 and one seio 620 in a 50 gallon tank.

 

[clkwrk]

Well here is my skimmer setup as of tonight

 

[Wiskey]

Sweet! I want it , that should get my nitrates down.

Whiskey