Nano skimmer question

[Elite]

Hi Roger,
Can you please tell me how to adjust the skimmer so it skim a bit drier/darker?
Thanks!!

 

[rvitko]

Close the air adjustment screw about 1/8 turn per day until you get the skimmate you desire, alternatively you could raise it 1/4" more out of the water.

 

[Elite]

I turn it almost all the way already. If I turn any more, I would shut off the airvalve. I will try to raise it higher..
Thanks!!

 

[rvitko]

Keep me posted, the top plate may be defective, the thread for the air adjustment may be too large so air gets by the screw.

 

[Elite]

Will do.. I raise it about 1 1/4" above the water. It was about 1/2" above the water. I got like 200ml of light green tea everyday. That is a bit much for a 40G. Skimming a bit darker would be cool. How can you tell the top plate is defective or not?

 

[rvitko]

If you can close the screw all the way and air stops or almost stops, a few bubbles is OK, it is fine. The defect is very simple, the screw is 6mm, to get a tight seal we thread it with a 5.9mm tap, we had a new guy who used a 6mm tap. It is done by hand and it was a pretty simple logical error. The 9002 does tend to produce lighter skimmate and green skimmate would usually indicate some dying algae and that condition also make more watery skimmate as their is a lot of cellulose and capsaicin released. If you smell the skimmate it will smell a bit like peppers I bet, capsaicin is what is in hot peppers and many marine algae produce small amounts that the skimmer concentrates. These skim out kind of clear and not very dark, decomposing proteins are what make a darker skimmate.

 

[Elite]

ah thanks Roger.. I do have a lot of macroalgae in the tank and that is maybe why.

 

[Elite]

I got only about 80ml of darker skimmate today.. Thanks Roger!!