New skimmer

[dieselfish89]

So I am relatively new to this hobbie. I have made many stupid purchases and wasted a lot of money and just now got my tank back up. I was in Search of a new skimmer. I went with the skims line with a dc motor. Now I let the skimmer break in for few weeks. I seem to get it set were I get a great head of foam and skim. But it only runs good for a day or two then looses its head of foam. Then randomly it kicks back up. Any ideas did I make a bad choice on this skimmer.

 

[CarrieB]

Do you have an ATO? I just got a Skimz myself and I've noticed that it reacts differently depending on the water level in the sump.

 

[davocean]

Even if you don't have an ATO your skimmer chamber should be designed to maintain a proper level.
Everyone that owns one seems to like those skimz, never had one myself.
Maybe post pics of your setup

 

[dieselfish89]

Do you have an ATO? I just got a Skimz myself and I've noticed that it reacts differently depending on the water level in the sump.

I do have a ato unit and it keeps my water with in a 1/2 inch all the time. Weird cause this morning it's working fine.

 

[oblio]

Could it be your skimmer is way over sized? or there simply isn't a lot of stuff to skim? Sounds like maybe your inorganics build up, the skimmer skims em and then it goes away because there is noting to skim. I personally don't think this is bad, but you didn't list the tank size, bio load, skimmer purchased.

 

[jeffdenney]

I do have a ato unit and it keeps my water with in a 1/2 inch all the time. Weird cause this morning it's working fine.

The sump chamber water depth my skimmer is in never moves.. the bubble trap to the next chamber dictates water depth, and it is silconed in place. I think your water level should be dead still for a skimmer to work correctly..

Also sometimes the depth will need to be fiddled with. Each skimmers optimum depth will be different.. I would think it would be fairly easy to find the recommended depth in the skimmers manual, or a quick google search of your model number.

I run a SWC180 on a 40b with a 20g sump. Its way oversized! So in order for me to keep a decent foam head, I feed a ton! Usually a whole frozen cube a day split up over the entire day.. plus AA and oyster feast.. sometimes it still isnt very active..

 

[dieselfish89]

The sump chamber water depth my skimmer is in never moves.. the bubble trap to the next chamber dictates water depth, and it is silconed in place. I think your water level should be dead still for a skimmer to work correctly..

Also sometimes the depth will need to be fiddled with. Each skimmers optimum depth will be different.. I would think it would be fairly easy to find the recommended depth in the skimmers manual, or a quick google search of your model number.

I run a SWC180 on a 40b with a 20g sump. Its way oversized! So in order for me to keep a decent foam head, I feed a ton! Usually a whole frozen cube a day split up over the entire day.. plus AA and oyster feast.. sometimes it still isnt very active..

My water level changes slightly due to the large water returns coming in make waves in a way. I believe that my problem I need a chamber between my returns and my skimmer.

 

[moondoggy4]

More info please

What size tank?

Which model skimmer? ie 160 203 etc

What is the bio load?

 

[dieselfish89]

Skimmer

Skimmer

Ok sorry haven't responded my little guy been sick. So been a little busy with him and work. So my skimmer not fully keeping head foam still. So I have a 180 gallon dual over flow tank with a 75 gallon sump. I'm running a skimz monzter sm203 dc skimmer. I have three clowns in the tank only right now I know it's a small bio load. Could that be the issue. I feed half a cube of frozen shrimp a day so far.