Guys I was curious to know how you all are running your skimmers. I hear alot of people say that their skimmer pulls alot of skimate out of their tanks. I have yet to empty a full cup since I set my tank up a few years ago. I have a Euro Reef skimmer. I have my bubbles swirling in the neck of my skimmer. Although I am making skimate I can probably go a full month before filling my cup. Maybe even longer. My tank is clean so how are you guys running your skimmer? Are you actually pulling that muck skimate out of your tanks?
Skimate
- Thread starter mmotown
- Start date
Yes it is stocked heavy. My skimmer is located under my tank in my sump. My tank is SPS dominated. My fish consist of pair of onyx clowns, 1 ocellaris, 3 purple fire fish, 2 red fire fis, 2 scissor tails, 1 6 line wrasse, 2 scotter blennies, 1 blue spotted goby, 1 yellow tang, 1 blonde nasso tang, 3 blue chromis, 6 bartlett anthias. My tank has been running about 2 1/2 years now.
Acro-Phobia
New member
I run a Aqua C 180 on a Mag 7. About a month or so ago the skimmate started dropping to the point where I only cleaned out about an inch a week. Put a brand new Mag 7 on it and now I'm cleaning out 2-3 inches every other day. If your skimmer pump is old or hasn't been cleaned up in a while, that may be a reason.
Re: Re: Skimate
Re: Re: Skimate
Sorry what I meant to say is since the set up of my tank when I clean my cup it is never full or half full. I am emptying it because of the junk that builds up in the neck of my skimmer. On I daily bases I am not producing skimate where I have to keep emptying it.
Re: Re: Skimate
Sorry what I meant to say is since the set up of my tank when I clean my cup it is never full or half full. I am emptying it because of the junk that builds up in the neck of my skimmer. On I daily bases I am not producing skimate where I have to keep emptying it.
JeffReef
New member
Can you adjust the bubble height? I skim wet on my 3 month old tank and I can fill the collection cup in a 2-3 days depending on how high the bubble level is. I can fill the collection cup in 5-7 days when skimming dry.
I have an Octopus Recirc 110 rated for 125g on a very lighty stocked 60g tank.
I have an Octopus Recirc 110 rated for 125g on a very lighty stocked 60g tank.
majesticangelfish
New member
After ~5days
HTH:thumbsup:
HTH:thumbsup:
The bubble height you mean is when I raise the tube where my sponge is right? If so yes I can raise it and if I do the more liquid than foam will collect in my skimmer cup. Is that what people mean by skimming wet? Is this how I want to skim because I've been skimming dry.
Hate to cut in here, but I don't like starting new threads when one on the same topic is already going....
My euro-reef 2 days ago started going nuts, filling the cup with almost clear skimmate within a couple hours. I did a full-strip-down and cleaning to the unit, and still, even with the tube (for foam level) in the lowest position, I get clear skimmate. As stated above, could the Sedra possibly be failing? It's close to 4 years old. It seems to run fine, though.
My euro-reef 2 days ago started going nuts, filling the cup with almost clear skimmate within a couple hours. I did a full-strip-down and cleaning to the unit, and still, even with the tube (for foam level) in the lowest position, I get clear skimmate. As stated above, could the Sedra possibly be failing? It's close to 4 years old. It seems to run fine, though.
Madman133
New member
correct me if im worng but the lower it is the more watery its going to be. (aka move the tube up...or at least on my skimmer if you move the cup up you get more dry skimmate)I have the same problem as the others though with my aqua c urchin on my 55. Its medium stocked and i empty the cup only every 1-2 weeks maybe even 3 and even then its not full. Oh and its a new skimmer...about 1 month old
On the Euro-Reef, the output flow tube determines the foam height. As you raise the end of the tube, the foam level rises in the neck. Even with the tube all the way down, I'm getting wet foam that fills the cup and overflows. I hadn't adjusted the tube height in a year, at least, other than cleaning, and I always put it back in the same place. Last cleaning before today was over a month ago.
I don't have clear skimate but I have a Sedra pump on mine as well and it's about 3yrs old. I would hate to think after years of use we have to change out all the pumps in our system. Since the skimmer is the heart of a system I need it to be working in optimum performance
Myka
Reefing since '93
How often do you soak the impeller and impeller housing with vinegar? My skimmer always works way better when the impeller and housing are freshly cleaned with vinegar. I use full strength pickling vinegar (it's stronger than white vinegar) and let em soak for about 10 minutes. The caclium deposits just melt away, no need to scrub. I clean all the impellers and impellers housings in my entire system about once a month.
If you aren't having any nutrient issues (as seen by excess algaes, phosphates, nitrates, etc) then I wouldn't worry about minimal skimmate.
I find a well balanced system doesn't produce a bunch of waste. Sounds like you have a well balanced system.
chrismhaase
Active member
Here is a link to the manuals http://www.euro-reef.com/ermanual.shtml
If you are not getting skimate, you probably do not have it correctly adjusted. Try to open your air valve all the way, let it adjust for a minute or two. Then turn the open / close riser tube and bring the bubble and water line to the bottom of your cup. Then what should happen is all the nasty stuff will work out. You can even bring the line about an inch above the bottom of the cup.
Reasons why you get skimmer explosions of clear skimate can be due to chemicals freshly put into system.
Also, another good thing to do is take RODI water, heat it up in the micro, and then take a dripper or something and then drop the rodi water in the air stream. This will clear out any salt deposits and thus give you more air flow which will help get more air into the system.
Chris
If you are not getting skimate, you probably do not have it correctly adjusted. Try to open your air valve all the way, let it adjust for a minute or two. Then turn the open / close riser tube and bring the bubble and water line to the bottom of your cup. Then what should happen is all the nasty stuff will work out. You can even bring the line about an inch above the bottom of the cup.
Reasons why you get skimmer explosions of clear skimate can be due to chemicals freshly put into system.
Also, another good thing to do is take RODI water, heat it up in the micro, and then take a dripper or something and then drop the rodi water in the air stream. This will clear out any salt deposits and thus give you more air flow which will help get more air into the system.
Chris
balmiesgirl
New member
Dinky....
I talked to the rep. for my skimmer and he said sometimes when you get lots of big bubbles and excessive watery skimmate that its caused by an additive.....he said to especially look at additives like Prime or AmQuel that have stuff for the fishes slime coat. He also said to check your filter socks, etc......if you've changed them recently they can put a residue in your system that may be causing it...... Check it out, you never know.
I talked to the rep. for my skimmer and he said sometimes when you get lots of big bubbles and excessive watery skimmate that its caused by an additive.....he said to especially look at additives like Prime or AmQuel that have stuff for the fishes slime coat. He also said to check your filter socks, etc......if you've changed them recently they can put a residue in your system that may be causing it...... Check it out, you never know.
ACBlinky
Premium Member
balmiesgirl - just to clarify what your rep said, there are lots of 'water conditioners' that contain additives like aloe vera, in addition to dechlorinating chemicals. The additives in some of these can overactivate skimmers, making them pull nothing but water for a while (most of us refer to this as the skimmer 'going nuts'). Prime and AmQuel are two that I know of that specifically DON'T overactivate skimmers - Prime actually states this on the bottle. I just wanted to mention this, as it sounds like the rep either had it backwards, or meant to look at conditioners other than Prime or AmQuel as the source of the problem.
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