Bubble Magus CS-180

[fishgate]

How long for this skimmer to settle down? It says to put in 8-10" of water but with 8" with the air intake set at minimum, the skimmer overflows. If I raise it up so it is in like 5" of water I am able to get it almost under control. As it breaks in I assume it will settle down?

 

[r-balljunkie]

i have the same skimmer. i regulate the air intake to prevent overflow using a 1/4" RO valve and tubing.

im running it on a 58 gallon tank, so oversized.
this may be one of the reasons it has a tendency to overflow.

i also only run it when im out of the house, i.e. 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, back on at 11:00 pm when i go to bed to keep the db levels down in my living room.

hope this helps.

 

[fishgate]

Can you post a pic of what you are talking about? Are you putting the air valve where the air comes into the motor housing? This is on a 125g tank with 40B sump.

 

[downbeach]

What air intake? I have the same skimmer, but there is no air intake adjustment. There is a water discharge that I have set between 2 and 3 on the gauge, with the skimmer sitting in 7 3/4" of water, it's working great. I did run it in a bucket of 50/50 water/vinegar for a couple hours before using it.

 

[fishgate]

OK I built my eggcrate riser so that it is about 8" now. Right at the plastic ring on the skimmer body before it starts to taper in to the top. And I have it set right about 3 now too. I think they have the wrong instructions to put this in 10" of water. Amazing how much better it is in less water.

 

[r-balljunkie]

What air intake? I have the same skimmer, but there is no air intake adjustment. There is a water discharge that I have set between 2 and 3 on the gauge, with the skimmer sitting in 7 3/4" of water, it's working great. I did run it in a bucket of 50/50 water/vinegar for a couple hours before using it.

This one. it connects the inlet of the pump and pulls the air into the skimmer.

i added the 1/4" tubing; connects to the white hose and added a ball valve on the end of it.

i also did this with my BM-150 skimmer back in 2008, so same setup for the last 5 years.
its a bit counterintuitive to "restrict" the airflow, thus reducing performance of the skimmer, but i dont really notice the hit.



i usually dont tweak it and let it run wide open...i do restrict the airflow after i do a water change since i know it will have a tendency to want to overflow.