overskimming-reef devil

[stevedola]

Ive got a reef devil that I recently plumbed externally. The skimmer has been overskimming with alot of water being pulled out. Yesterday I think the total was alittle more than 4 L.

What would be the reason for overskimming?

 

[badgerlaw]

Is your gate valve closed. Try running it wide open and adjust in 1/4 inch increments for the next week or so until you get the skinmate that you want. One other possible problem is you pump is putting too many GPH into the skimmer chamber

 

[DrBDC]

Everything badger said. On the bigger models such as the etss800, you can add/remove bioballs to the downdraft chamber to get the skimmate "fine tuned". More balls=drier skimmate. I'm sure the same principal applies to the smaller units.

 

[stevedola]

ive been running it with my gate valve wide open. Ill try more balls. I think ive only got a mag 7 on it.

 

[badgerlaw]

The mag 7 is the correct pump for the unit. Are you running any resin or phosban media. This could also cause over skimming

 

[stevedola]

carbon is the only thing
added another bioball and the water level dropped for now. ill let ya'll know after I get it fine tuned.

 

[DarG]

They overskim unpredictably like crazy when they are new. Real P.I.T.A. for the first 10 days or 2 weeks. After that, they settle down and are pretty stable.

 

[stevedola]

After running for about 14 hrs, the skimmer is producing nice thick foam again. Running very nicely as of this moment.

On a side note. I contacted AE tech customer support with this question and never even received an email back-not too happy bout that. Thanks for the advice from everyone and for this forum. I wouldnt have thought of the bio ball trick.

 

[Ewan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10005031#post10005031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
After running for about 14 hrs, the skimmer is producing nice thick foam again. Running very nicely as of this moment.

On a side note. I contacted AE tech customer support with this question and never even received an email back-not too happy bout that. Thanks for the advice from everyone and for this forum. I wouldnt have thought of the bio ball trick.

Get used to that. I received my SRD with the pump missing a critical part (it would not work at all), and I was treated very, very poorly. After non-stop problems with the skimmer, and weekly overflows, I gave up on the skimmer and the company.

It was among the worst customer service I've ever received.

 

[stony_corals]

I would call.... I've always had good experiences with AE Tech, though I call them not email them. Gary has always provided good recommendations about tuning etc. Also, I've noticed using a Mag 7 with the RD, depending on what the actual throughput is, you may want to put some tubing on the air intake of the skimmer and connect with a gate valve. In one of my systems that uses the RD, I have the Mag 7 in the sump and there's maybe 2' of hose, but I need to throttle back the air intake or it way overskims. In addition, if you can see any water in your riser tube, your gate valve is closed too much, open it a little. How many bioballs are you running?

 

[Mike75]

Steve,
I had the same problem with that setup, and I know someone else that did too. I'm running the Mag 7 throttled back with a ball valve. Even after 2 months, it would still pull too much liquid out - and yes the gate valve is wide open, no restrictive plumbing to the sump, output is above the water level, etc. etc.

I'm going to try to stop by SCA tonight, maybe I"ll see you there.

 

[stevedola]

It seems to be working perfectly now. I think i have 6 Bioballs in the neck. Im redoing my sump AGAIN so unless an unforeseen event happens(please God no) I wont be able to get to Johns place. IM sure it will be fun as usual.

 

[Mike75]

Well that's good. I tried different amounts of bioballs as well, and it didn't make a difference for me.