Calling all ASM skimmer owners... Help...

[CThomas609]

Did I get the wrong elbow with my skimmer? It doesn't seem to fit completly level. The elbow I have is different then the one in the photo that comes with the skimmer, and different then the one set up where I work. (This is a G2 by the way.)

Is my impeller assembled correctly? Afer being on for while, the impeller becomes noisy like it is hitting off the sides of the shaft for it. It looks like there is some evidence of straching on the magnet, but it is very hard to see in the photo. I disassembled the pump and put it back together, and it hasnt happened again yet. It's been up for about an hour so far so I guess we'll see....

One last thing... How far up to you guys keep the water level in the skimmer itself?


Thanks in advance for any help you may provide!

 

[weekendplayer]

I have the G-3 with a sedra 5000 pump. Your elbow looks like it's the right one. Mine comes off the top of the pump and goes into the skimmer. The venturi valve goes on the bottom intake. I would recommend doing the gate valve and recirc mods. They can be found here www.asmskimmer.com/modifications.htm.
These mods will greatly improve performance of the skimmer. HTH

Paul

 

[CThomas609]

Yes I have been looking at those mods. I understand that the recirc mod makes the skimmer more efficent, but can you please fill me in on exactly why it does? Just out of curiosity....

 

[weekendplayer]

The recirc works by pulling the water in the skimmer body back through the vinturi valve and pumping back into the skimmer. Instead of pulling water from the sump. You need to have a direct feed from the overflow into the skimmer. Let me look for the pic of mine and hopefully that will help

 

[CThomas609]

Yes I understand that, but why does that make a skimmer more efficient? Also it appeared to me that you could also use another smaller pump to feed into the skimmer instead of it coming directly from the overflow. Would I be right in saying this?

Still post the picture if you could please. Thanks for the help.

 

[MrPike]

You don't need to feed directly from the overflow into the skimmer. You just need to feed raw overflow water to the skimmer. The best way I have found to do this is by way of powerhead. I tried to directly feed from my overflow, but it put way to much flow into the skimmer. You need around 200 gps for it to be effective, and my overflow was 900. Also, the overflow is not a consistent pressure. It occasionally sends a very large bubble into the skimmer and disrupts the skimmmate production. First, its a good idea to look for the thread in the advanced forum about skimmer production with Anthony Calfo. This wil l help you better design your skimmer setup.

The gatevalve mod, and the recirc mod are well worth it, but if you do nothing else, do the gate valve one, it makes fine tuning your skimmer far easier.

 

[weekendplayer]

Here are the pics

I also have 900 g/hr flow. However my overflow is split into two different feeds. One feeds my fuge, the other feeds my skimmer. If you have two much flow into the skimmer you can always add a valve to control the flow and have the the rest bypass into the sump. Mine works fine with out the valve. To hopefully better explain, the recirc mod keeps the water in the skimmer body longer allowing it more time to stay in contact with the bubbles to pull the skimmate out. I hope that helps. I don't know any other way to explain it. Maybe someone else could help. You could also feed skimmer with a powerhead as previously stated.

 

[CThomas609]

Well the impeller started making tons of noise again whenever I got home today. Do you just have any ideas? Or should I just call ASM...?

 

[OnTheReef]

I had a Sedra 500 on an ASM G2 do exactly the same thing. I tried everything I could think of: reassemble, lubricate, shim the impeller shaft with nylon bushings, no joy. I returned it for a replacement, which is relatively quiet. When I can afford it, both my G2s are going to get needlewheel Eheims.

 

[CThomas609]

Yes it's verty frusterating. You think it's finally working... then you leave for awile, come back and there it goes again...