BC 14g w/Sapphire Aquatics NC12 skimmer! Help!

[Periette]

I've posted this on nano-reef.com, as well but am looking for some insight from owners of the above combo. Here's the deal:

I'm going out of town for the holidays and would like to resolve this issue, if possible. I've got my water level down to a decent point where the return pump doesn't freak and blow air, my top off float valve is set (I think) correctly and the skimmer will actually work without filling up with too much water. The problem I am now having is that when I turn off the pumps for the feed cycle - it turns back on automatically after 5 minutes (Aquacontroller Jr.), the skimmer overflows everytime.

It's driving me crazy and if Sapphire had the hang-on refugium for nanos ready, I'd buy one right now to move the stupid skimmer out of the main tank. It's getting impossible for me to use it.

Can anyone else who has the 14g Biocube and is using the NC12 skimmer help me out - how do you have yours installed (please note any media such as floss, location, distance from chambers, etc.) I ended up putting a bit of floss to catch debris and also to absorb some of the overflow noise but I'm getting pretty frustrated.

Oh, and I don't want to make the 2nd chamber a refugium as I do intend to put a HOB at some point.

 

[sinful]

what chamber do you have the skimmer in? 2nd?

 

[Periette]

Yes, it's sitting in the 2nd chamber on permanent shelf that I modified to fit as the floating one (due to being more sturdy).

 

[Lakeside518]

What are you feeding? How much are you feeding? Whats your livestock? I'm sure you have other experience with skimmers? If you have a 125 gal setup.

Before & After you feed your tank you often have to adjust your skimmer so that it does not overflow. Thats normal with every skimmer i have ever owned. You could increase the skimmers down time on a seperate timmer with the AC Jr. 5 mins is a short period of time to be off.

 

[Periette]

Hi, I'm only feeding a few tiny pellets (New Life Spectrum) to my 1.5" percula clown. I do have experience w/skimmers and the problem, unfortunately, is using the auto-off feed cycle - this was confirmed by Kyle at Sapphire Aquatics - I would have to rely on the skimmer pump coming back on well after the return pump AND empty the cup before it did so. My system is mostly automated for out-of-town stints so I can't necessarily adjust the skimmer, as needed.

For now, I've pulled the skimmer and put it into storage until the nano fuges become available from Kyle. Once their ready, I will be getting one that has room for my NC12 and I shouldn't have to worry about fluctuating water levels anymore since the fuge's will stay relatively constant except for a very minor loss when the pump goes off.