Protein Skimmers

[ct_vol]

Ok, heres a question for all you chemical engineers, microbiologists and other reef geeks... I know that most of you have overflow buckets set up for your protein skimmers... However I've noticed in routine maintenance of my skimmers that the amount of liquid skimmate produced decreases if I don't empty my collection cup every day or every other day... Now when I let it set for a few days longer, there is a larger amount of protein buildup on the inside of the skimmer... What I'm wondering is if you lose effectiveness by not cleaning your collection cup every few days??? Or do you just have more of the protein build up on the sides of the collection cup, and get less of your water in the cup??? I'm hesitant to drill and tap my collection cup for overflow, if I'm still going to have to clean the cup to maintain productivity... I don't mind the cleaning, just don't want to lose effectiveness... Thanks all!!!

Randy

Oh, I have a ASM G4plus and a Turboflotor 1000

 

[cee]

When you empty the cup, do you also clean the inside of the riser? If so, that would explain it, because keeping the riser clean definately results in more skimmate production. I try and clean mine every other day, but alas, I'm usually too lazy to bother. I should, though; it makes a big difference IME.

Dave

 

[imsqueak]

I'm not running mine as wet as I used to. Before it was CN tea color that had to be changed 1g daily, now it's US tea almost coffee that has to be changed every 3 days. I clean the skimmer on the weekends. OK I skip some...

Mine's a super scientific ORNL design and I cant mention the engineers (Weigels) 1g OJ jug that replaced a 2 y/o (food city) milk jug. You adjust the container so that the skimmer's output is under water/skimate and it essentially shuts itself down. MRC sells a add-on that does a better job with a ping pong ball but then again it's been copied many times in the diy forum.:beer: :beer: (my)conditional hint....

 

[cee]

Mine is (was) my wife's favorite pitcher. Needless to say, she was not a happy camper!

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

Yeah, I clean the riser... Should I not be??? Would I be losing if I just set up an overflow collection??? I'd still clean it all out good, just perhaps not as often...

 

[imsqueak]

Yes, you should clean the riser. Mine stops skimming good for a day after I do it so my weekly routine works good for me.

I've had mine go nuts overnight and skim so much that I rigged mine so it kinda sits above the sump and will just overflow back into the tank. If I remember correctly about Dave's, his pitcher was external (just sitting in the stand).

IMO, You SHOULD drill and tap for a separate collection thing. You can use anything from our household jugs to the ping pong ball thing that shuts off the skimmate when the ball raises with the skimmate. Check out MRC's website and the DIY forum for more on the PPB thing.

 

[stevensmd]

on this note...I learned something about my MRC skimmer last week...maybe this topic was covered in a meeting but I was unaware of this for years...
THE BECKETT COMES APART!!!
It actually breaks down in 3 pieces, two halves and the center thingy.
Turns out I had broken shells and junk stuck in there (probably for years)....now that I've cleaned it, it is like a BRAND NEW SKIMMER!! Works awesome now!

..learn something new everyday

dave stevens