My skimmate does not smell either or is that dark. That said, the brown sludge that collects on the neck is more than I have seen on any other skimmer. Also, for the first time, I have been using 100 micron filter bags on all my returns to the sump (2X returns and 1X skimmer return) and all three bags are pretty nasty looking after a week and they do smell when they come out of the water. And I do feed the fish to the point of gluttany!
JR Aquatics 180 Gallon Nano Reef
- Thread starter JRaquatics
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The skimmer is fed from one of the overflows. I have two small clown fish and 4 samll green damsels. The tank used to be a 55 gal and was upgraded to a 120 about a year ago. So overall the tank has been set up about 2 years all togther. After the reeflow was broken in it produce the samething it's producing now. My 125 super skimmer produced dark stinky skimmate that was almost unbearable to smell, so I don't understand why I am not getting the same from the 200.
JRaquatics
New member
Elton you don't have a bioload and am afraid that the skimmer is overkill on your system right now as there may not be enough organics to build a proper head of foam for a 5inch wide neck. Lets see the photos tonight and further access what could be the problem. And to see what your head of foam looks like?
JRaquatics
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Filter bags always get really nasty and smell like sewage. I find them to be the greatest thing for the first line of filtration. Sludge in the neck is the norm for these skimmers and helps when your trying to skim super dry. The way the Reeflos work remind me of a beckett so much that I am sure if you took a pic of a reeflo cup with a foam head and another with a MRC or PM you won't be able to differ the two types of skimming. You should be able to produce dark nasty skimmate as long as it is there to skim.
JRaquatics
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That is an extremely small bioload. Does your lid have any holes in it? The head of foam looks nice and steady but very clean. You plumbing looks spot on. If you had to guess how much flow do you think you are feeding the skimmer?
JRaquatics
New member
500 gph is too much IMO. You should be around 300-400gph. You may want to drill out your lid to relieve some of the air pressure.
I turned closed the ball valve a little on the overflow going into the skimmer to slow down the flow. It was wide open and I notice the entire skimmer is almost like milk since the flow has be cut down. Guessing, but I should be around 300 to 375 gph now. I am a little concerned about drilling holes in the top of skimmer because I don't want the foam coming out the top. Does the drain in the skimmer cup help relieve the air pressue or will only holes in the stop do the trick?
JRaquatics
New member
The drain is not large enough to handle the air. I ended up drilling my lid. You can wedge an object between the cup and the lid to see if the holes will make a difference for you. No matter what you should get a decent amount of skimmate but with your current bioload I wouldn't expect an super funky stuff.
JRaquatics
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Here are a couple of new shots of my Spotted Cheek.
JRaquatics
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13045036#post13045036 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ROBZ
thats one beautiful fish
Thanks, She is one of the things that seems to make the tank worth it for me.
JRaquatics
New member
I would drill a series of small holes (1/4in or smaller) at the very outer edge of the cup.
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