help for seaclone users...

[cabrego]

I have the black bio balls, unfortunately I could only get the pump to run by using the outer most row of pins on the bio balls. Skimmer is running now, it is a bit tricky to cut the bio ball the way you want it. I suggest an xacto knife. I used a razor blade

 

[DustinLH00]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13307799#post13307799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cabrego
I have the black bio balls, unfortunately I could only get the pump to run by using the outer most row of pins on the bio balls. Skimmer is running now, it is a bit tricky to cut the bio ball the way you want it. I suggest an xacto knife. I used a razor blade

Well good luck! Please let us know your results... Do you have it running now? Do you see more bubbles or more fine bubbles or both? Thanks!

I have added the gasket and it looks like a good seal. However, I am not seeing any different results at this time. I will update later too...

 

[cabrego]

I don't think any of these mods will have an immediate night and day difference. The results will be in the skimmate over time.

How are you adjusting your skimmer?

 

[DustinLH00]

I have the stock valve on it and I can never find a "sweet spot". The more bubbles you add, the lower the bubbles are in the collection cup and with less bubbles the higher they rise, but either way I cannot get any bubbles/foam into the collection cup riser tube. They just bubble at the bottom and never rise.

I have been battling a hair algae problem for over a year now and when I scrub the rocks, the skimmer kicks in and actually produces skimmate and the foam actually rises in the skimmer, but after 30 min or so it stops...

 

[cabrego]

I followed the instruction for how to adjust the air valve (for the HOB setup).

If you are running it HOB. My abbreviated instructions:

1. open the air valve for max air flow. This will produce a large air bubble in the J tube.

2. Close the air valve until the large air bubble is pushed over the J tube.

This technique has worked well for me.

 

[Lawnmower Blenn]

maken a bio ball mod is very easy take mabey 10 min after ya do a few i know its helps the skimmer alot i have a few bio balls that are made and going in the mail tomorrow hope the members like them will see what thay think make shure you do the 4 holes in the skimmer case brings in more water good luck

 

[buddy381]

hey cabrego.....i'm not sure if the black bioballs will work.....i had a few and i think they are too small....if they are the same ones i had.....i think you need the blue ones that are a little bit bigger.....

anyways i had a problem today...i was setting up my sump and trying to set up the skimmer in there...well i had some problems and went to put the J-valve back on.....problem is the thing that seals the thing broke....now i have a leaking crappy skimmer....dang it!!! i hope i can get some sort of replacement part...otherwise i can seal it with silicone, but i am not sure if i want to HOB or use it in the sump....anyone has an extra skimmer laying around just send it my way...lol!!

 

[DustinLH00]

Hey buddy,

If you put it in the sump, you don't have to use the J tube, you can just connect the pump directly to the skimmer base. Unless you knew that already and you were meaning that you changed your mind about putting it in the sump...then in that case, sorry.

 

[DustinLH00]

FYI-

I just got home from the 2nd job and after adding the o-ring and adjusting the skimmer as mentioned by cabrego earlier today...still no skimmate. I emptied the collection cup when I did these and there is not a drop in it. Also, the foam is still not rising past the output of the skimmer. I am getting zero foam, just bubbles popping.

 

[cabrego]

Dustin, are you running the foam prefilter? What is the bio load in the tank?

 

[DustinLH00]

No, I am not running the foam prefilter, I took that off a few weeks ago to try improving it. I have the fish in my sig line:

1 Ocellaris Clown, 1 Four Stripe Damsel, 3 Yellow Tail Damsels, 1 Lawnmower Blenny & 1 Pencil Urchin

Any ideas?

 

[cabrego]

I would give it some time, at least over night. I know my skimmer isn't showing any signs of skimmate yet either. The image i showed is about 1 weeks worth of skimmate.

When you adjusted the air flow, did you close the air valve such that the air bubble is just pushed over the J tube?

 

[buddy381]

i did take off the J to put the skimmer in the sump....then i was having a problem with my return pump and i took it out to hang back on until i get the sump straightened out and working...i didn't want to be without a skimmer until i do that.....

 

[buddy381]

now that i got the skimmer hanging on the tank again.....i am having a new problem.....too many bubbles and foam.....i don't know what is going on, but i am collecting water as the bubbles are just rising up and going into the cup......i am getting ready to go to bed and i know it is going to overflow with water.....i tried to adjust the air/water mixture so hopefully it works....dustin you want some of my extra foam/bubbles!!!! LOL

 

[DustinLH00]

Well, my concern was that this has been ongoing for quite some time now. I was hoping that by adding the gasket I might start to see some foam at least attempting to rise. I will wait and see if anything changes, since I have nothing else to try until the bioball comes.

I guess the part that blew my mind was that when I scrub the rocks and make the water completely clouding with detritus and algae, then the skimmer actually foams and pulls stuff into the cup. But after a few minutes, nothing again...

I have been running this skimmer for the entire 2 1/2 years that I have had the tank running and back in the day I used to get some foam and skimmate.

Yes, when I adjusted the air flow, I did just as you said. There are bubbles in the skimmer body, but they all just pop by the output...

 

[Lawnmower Blenn]

you might not have a good load on your tank best thing u can do is drill the 4 holes and use the bio ball im sending you add the air line in the side and run both air lines im getting great skim

 

[DustinLH00]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13311027#post13311027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lawnmower Blenn
you might not have a good load on your tank best thing u can do is drill the 4 holes and use the bio ball im sending you add the air line in the side and run both air lines im getting great skim

So are you recommending the 2 airlines now? Last time you said you were gonna let us know how the 2nd airline was helping...just curious if it was indeed an improvement...thanks!

 

[Lawnmower Blenn]

i am getting a lot more skim i did all of this 1- drill 4 holes-2 add 2 air lines-3 add bio ball the stuff is thick green and i am getting a good amount of it you dont have to do thes mods but thay are working for me

 

[DustinLH00]

Well I am definitely going to do them, I am just waiting for the bioball, so I can do them all at once. I appreciate your testing things. I am really looking forward to seeing how it helps.

 

[DustinLH00]

Another question...

Does anyone else get calcium buildup in the airline? I have to unhook mine and clean it out every week or two because it gets clogged with what I believe to be calcium deposits. I was wondering if this happens to others and if there is any fix that anyone has found.