Help Dialing in MR2 Skimmer????

[Mad Scientist]

With all my experince with smaller tanks, the MR-2 was the first in-the-sump skimmer I've ever bought. I've had for close to 5 months (so it's broken in) and I still can't really get it to work the way I would like. I would greatly appreciate any tips.

I keep the water in the sump at the recommended level (1-2" over the base), but I'm constantly playing both the waster level in the skimmer and the air intake with no real results. The bottom line is that I either have no output, or tons (several gallons per day) of very wet/water output.

Any tips as to what size the bubbles should be in the chamber (and if that means more or less air), or how far up the bubbles should go, or how high the water level in the skimmer should be? I would also love just some general tips from people that big skimmers are second nature for.

Thanks so much!

 

[Ereefic]

Can you take some pics of how it's set up? Is the water level where the skimmer sits at a constant level? What pump are you using? How far is the air valve open?

 

[Mad Scientist]

The water level is pretty constant (I top off a few gallons each day). The skimmer sits in the bottom of a 75gal on the floor next to my 220gal. I've tried all sort of combos with the air and the water level (in the skimmer) which is controled by a ball-valve, right now the air intake valve is about 3/4 open.

Here's the pick of the set up (from my gallary) the pump is the GEN-X/ PCX40 which the skimmer came with from MRC.

Thanks again for any tips, I really appreciate it.

 

[Ereefic]

'Pretty constant' could be part of the problem. It looks like you have plenty of room, why not raise the skimmer out of the water?

With the air off, where is the water level? Mine sits in sump, but only in about 2" of water and I set my water level, with the air off, about 1" below the second riser. Then open the air about 4.25 turns, and runs good for me there with a PCX 55.

 

[sm fragman]

i can see the problem right away ,,you have your skimmer in to high of a water level ,,just like he siad

 

[Mad Scientist]

hmm...OK I thought the box was supposed to be all the way underwater - I guess not.

Which is the second riser (is the top of the box the 1st riser)?

Thanks guys, obviously I have this thing all screwed up, and I appreciate you helping me get my act togher.

 

[Ereefic]

I think you mistook the water level in the skimmer as the water level in the sump. How close is the skimmers output from the wall of the sump?

First riser is attached to the box, 2nd is the one with the collection cup.

I would put a couple of 2x4's across the top of the sump and set the skimmer on those. Pipe your output from the skimmer with a 'T' and down into the sump, with one end of the 'T' pointing up with a small length of pipe with a cap with a hole in it. This will not let the skimmer create a syphon. You'll need to adjust the hole in the cap appropriatly.

 

[MIKE NY]

I keep my water level stable just up to the letters on the box and the water level in the chamber just below the cup and even with the water level in the becketts by putting risers on them. I then adjust the air flow from the becketts so that I have small bubbles that break just at the top rim of the cup....if there is a snow cone with bubbles I just add more air....it skims wet, but with the best results for my system.

 

[Paulairduck]

water level

water level

Q:
Do MRC skimmers need the to be raised above the sump?


A:
No, in a typical setup, the skimmer can sit in the sump without being raised. We recommend that the water level in the sump not be above the water level in the skimmer. What this means is that you can run a water line of 10-12 inches in your sump without elevating a MR-2.


:
What is the ideal water height inside the skimmer?


A:
The following water lines are recommended:


MR-1 MR-2 MR-3 MR-4
1-2" 2-4" 3-5" 4-8"

All heights are measured above the skimmers black box.


:smokin: