MRC Club

[tony45power]

i nee dhelp setting ym water level in my skimmer. i set the water level 3inches up, then 2 days later there were all bubbles there. but its taking the foam too long to rise. whats the height that i should set the foam to start? should i adjust it with the gate valve or the injectors?

 

[steve68]

this is where i keep my water level.

 

[tony45power]

im a bit confused of the water level when the skimmer is running. the water level drops and becomes bubbles. but where do i set the foam or bubbles?i can adjust the skimmer so i have foam on top then the bubbles and then water level?but where do i want my foam to start?

 

[steve68]

turn off ur air so u get no air bubbles like the picture above, I set my water level high because i like a wet skimate, afer u set ur water level open up ur air valve to ur desire setting, more air big bubbles less air smaller bubbles, once u find ur sweet spot u will all ways set it around that area, when u set ur air walk away for a couple of hours & come back & see how it's doing & make sure u dont set it right after u feed ur fish or put ur hands in the tank.

 

[spider86]

ok, I need help with my MR1 (w/ GenX pump). It was skimming fine untill I did the following 2 days ago: Added UV, Added phosban reactor, and then cleaned the skimmer. Now it is not skimming at all - no foam. Bubbles pop clear and water condensation is in the cup and neck. I have micro-bubbles in the tank now. This all happened 2 days ago. Does any one have any suggestions? I am getting fed up with this thing because it's so touchy. Please help.

 

[Gtstricky]

I don't have enough experience to help you but I can bump it up.
You might want to ask MRC in their thread also.

 

[drstupid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12512350#post12512350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spider86
ok, I need help with my MR1 (w/ GenX pump). It was skimming fine untill I did the following 2 days ago: Added UV, Added phosban reactor, and then cleaned the skimmer. Now it is not skimming at all - no foam. Bubbles pop clear and water condensation is in the cup and neck. I have micro-bubbles in the tank now. This all happened 2 days ago. Does any one have any suggestions? I am getting fed up with this thing because it's so touchy. Please help.

it could be the new equipment, if you didn't rinse everything well there could be plasticizers that are messing things up. this all may just clear up on its own in a few days.

something could have gotten loose and got caught in the becket, it's probably worth taking it apart and cleaning it. that's one thing to be very careful of with these skimmers, if something gets caught in the injector and you try to tune things to get it producing, then that thing frees up on its own you are setting yourself up for a flood.

i think the microbubbles are a seperate issue. have you tried the "u tube" mod? look it up in this thread if you haven't. it's a little tricky with the MR-1, i used a street 90 and a 45 degree elbow to pull it off on mine. it solved the microbubble problem completely though.

i ran an MR-1 with a PCX-40 for a couple of years and was happy with it, it did require some active learning to get there. this thread was very valuable. expect the pump to die within two years on the outside though; they are not built to last.

 

[spider86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12517078#post12517078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drstupid
it could be the new equipment, if you didn't rinse everything well there could be plasticizers that are messing things up. this all may just clear up on its own in a few days.

something could have gotten loose and got caught in the becket, it's probably worth taking it apart and cleaning it. that's one thing to be very careful of with these skimmers, if something gets caught in the injector and you try to tune things to get it producing, then that thing frees up on its own you are setting yourself up for a flood.

i think the microbubbles are a seperate issue. have you tried the "u tube" mod? look it up in this thread if you haven't. it's a little tricky with the MR-1, i used a street 90 and a 45 degree elbow to pull it off on mine. it solved the microbubble problem completely though.

i ran an MR-1 with a PCX-40 for a couple of years and was happy with it, it did require some active learning to get there. this thread was very valuable. expect the pump to die within two years on the outside though; they are not built to last.

Thanks Drstupid, I didn't think about the plasticizers from the new equipement. I just thru everything in w/o rinsing at all. That is more than likely it. Will give it a few days. I may try the mod, but I really didn't have a problem with the micro's before. I'll keep you posted.

 

[HarleyDude]

MRC skimmers do take a couple days to work themselves in. Once these skimmers get rolling, they crank. Drstupid is correct. Post back with an update.

 

[erics3000]

Hi Guys I just picked up a used MRC MR-4 dual becket with a riser. The guy told me it needs this high pressure pump because of the riser. It is a huge Marlin pump. This thin is bigger then my return dart.

Well I have a 300 display a 150 fuge and a 150 sump. I have 4 returns goingt o my garage from my display two 1 1/2’s and two 1’s. If you want more info on my setup you can click the red house. I wanted to feed the skimmer directly from my overflow. I only have 2 hole on the skimmer 1 at the bottom ball valve and 1 at the top. What is the best way to hook this skimmer up.

 

[erics3000]

So I think I will run a T from one of the over flow pipes that goes to the sump for feeding the pump. Then just have the drain go to a sock in my sump.

 

[izzy_real]

Please forgive me if I'm beating a dead horse. I've tried reading through all 50 or so pages of the split thread, and I can't find what I'm looking for. Perhaps, with the patients you've shown here by assembling all this wonderful information, you may be able to aid me in my search.

Tim at MRC is awesome, but I feel as if I've bugged him enough! I have a 4ft X 8ft MRC tank. At only 16" tall, it holds around 280 gallons of water. I also have the MRC 48" reef sump, and in that sump sets a Mag 9.5, backed down quite a bit with a ball valve that feeds my MRC 3R skimmer. I have a blue line 50 for the recirc. feature. I've had the hardest time, with a considerable bio-load that I've not mentioned yet, of getting suitable skimmate. I can adjust the bubbles all the way up the neck of the reaction chamber, and get some really wet white skim, and then I can adjust it down lower with a little skim that's darker. The kind I'm looking to get!

However, it doesn't seem to be skimming as much as I'd hoped. Maybe a slight froth in a five gallon bucket per day. Is there a specific mod for this perhaps?

I'm sorry for bothering you fine reefer's with this, as I'm stuck! This is my first MRC skimmer, and I have no idea what I'm doing!!

Thank you in advance for any help.

izzy

 

[izzy_real]

Please forgive me if I'm beating a dead horse. I've tried reading through all 50 or so pages of the split thread, and I can't find what I'm looking for. Perhaps, with the patients you've shown here by assembling all this wonderful information, you may be able to aid me in my search.

Tim at MRC is awesome, but I feel as if I've bugged him enough! I have a 4ft X 8ft MRC tank. At only 16" tall, it holds around 280 gallons of water. I also have the MRC 48" reef sump, and in that sump sets a Mag 9.5, backed down quite a bit with a ball valve that feeds my MRC 3R skimmer. I have a blue line 50 for the recirc. feature. I've had the hardest time, with a considerable bio-load that I've not mentioned yet, of getting suitable skimmate. I can adjust the bubbles all the way up the neck of the reaction chamber, and get some really wet white skim, and then I can adjust it down lower with a little skim that's darker. The kind I'm looking to get!

However, it doesn't seem to be skimming as much as I'd hoped. Maybe a slight froth in a five gallon bucket per day. Is there a specific mod for this perhaps?

I'm sorry for bothering you fine reefer's with this, as I'm stuck! This is my first MRC skimmer, and I have no idea what I'm doing!!

Thank you in advance for any help.

izzy

 

[RGibson]

Riser

Riser

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12518532#post12518532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
Hi Guys I just picked up a used MRC MR-4 dual becket with a riser. The guy told me it needs this high pressure pump because of the riser. It is a huge Marlin pump. This thin is bigger then my return dart.

Well I have a 300 display a 150 fuge and a 150 sump. I have 4 returns goingt o my garage from my display two 1 1/2’s and two 1’s. If you want more info on my setup you can click the red house. I wanted to feed the skimmer directly from my overflow. I only have 2 hole on the skimmer 1 at the bottom ball valve and 1 at the top. What is the best way to hook this skimmer up.
Eric take the riser out and lower the becketts down as low as you can,and the skimmer will work much better.

 

[Gtstricky]

Izzy-

How much bio load do you have? Is your tank fully stocked or did you just start it? My limited understanding and experience with these skimmers is that they work best with a wet skim. Mine seams to rock when it is set to produce a tea colored skim. If I try to get it too dark the next just gets really dirty. I get dark skim for a couple of days and then the production slows because of the dirty neck. Then I have to clean it and the process starts all over again.

Put up a pic if you can so we can see the plumbing and see if there are any adjustments there.

 

[Gtstricky]

Does anyone use carbon in their collection container lid to help with the smell? If so how do you secure it in there?

 

[spider86]

Update to my previous post. The skimmer is now skimming great.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12512350#post12512350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spider86
ok, I need help with my MR1 (w/ GenX pump). It was skimming fine untill I did the following 2 days ago: Added UV, Added phosban reactor, and then cleaned the skimmer. Now it is not skimming at all - no foam. Bubbles pop clear and water condensation is in the cup and neck. I have micro-bubbles in the tank now. This all happened 2 days ago. Does any one have any suggestions? I am getting fed up with this thing because it's so touchy. Please help.

 

[katz66]

a very relaible friend with an mr-2r helped me set up my mr-3r. after the initial break in period, i keep the water level in the skimmer at about 3.5" (3"-5" is recommended, for mr-2r i think 1"-3" is recommended) when the pump is running and the air is turned all the way down. it is fed directly from my overflow and holds very steady. it was recommended to start by turning the air intakes all the way open and then back them off 1.5 turns. he said this is where to start, but i have found this to be the best adjustments for my skimmer. after cleaning/feeding, i turn them back the same 1.5 times and it seems to be dialed in perfectly! just my $.02

 

[erics3000]

This reminds of adjusting a carb. Tighten all the way and back out 1 1/2 for a starting point. heheheheh thanks for the info..

 

[izzy_real]

Tim at MRC is helping me figure out! Thanks again guys!

izzy