<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15115513#post15115513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanillagorila
Dave,
any update on how the Alpha's working after you've had it running for a couple of weeks?
Hey John,
Funny you should ask... About a week or so ago I made some adjustments to the Alpha that have improved my performance a bit.
When I first set it up I didn't realize but I put the 1500 lph nozzle in instead of the 1800 lph. Also, I thought I had the skimmer set at the 10" water level but it was actually sitting in about 10.5" instead. So, I raised the platform .5" to get the 10" desired level and changed out the 1500 lph nozzle for the 1800 lph one.
The skimmer actually worked pretty good to start out with but I never got any real build up in the neck. Since making the adjustments listed above, I've seen a marked improvement in what it's pulling out!
Check it out
This is the day after I set it up with the 1500 lph nozzle
Now here's the day after I made all the adjustments. Check out the neck!
Now here it is about 3.5 days since I last cleaned it. Notice the difference?
Wedge pipe is set about half way closed
I suppose I could close the wedge pipe up a bit more but I like what it's doing for now. This is with 3 blue/green chromis, 1 female lyretail Anthias, my 8+ year old Royal Gramma, Neon Goby and a Precula Clown fish and about 40 frags or so give or take for bio-load. I'll be adding some more fish and more corals down the line but I'm letting things "brew" like they are for awhile and see how things go. Besides, I've gotta pay for some of the new toys before I can buy anything else or I'll be in dutch with the wife
