Skimmer maintenance and performance

[mpderksen]

The height of the bubbles in my skimmer continues to vary. Sometimes near the top, then near the bottom. Should I be washing the top section out weekly? The tank has been lightly stocked for 2 weeks now, and some days a get a cup of skimate, others almost none.
It's a Reef Devil Deluxe, and there are bio-balls in the tower so I don't know if those need to be periodically replaced or cleaned either.
I would have thought that, once you set the gate valve, the overflow would be fairly consistent.
Skimmers are a bit of a mystery to me, generally.

 

[paulhr]

1) Is the water level in your Sump changing? It should not move up or down by much. My experience shows that with my skimmer(not the same as yours) a change of sump water level of more then 1 inch creates the issue you describe.

 

[mpderksen]

1) Is the water level in your Sump changing? It should not move up or down by much. My experience shows that with my skimmer(not the same as yours) a change of sump water level of more then 1 inch creates the issue you describe.

The skimmer is on a stand on the left, and the baffles keep the depth at a consistent 6" regardless of evaporation.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

The skimmer will perform best when the neck is kept clean.
The Bio Balls do not have to be cleaned regularly, replacement is NOT necessary.
With a light bio load performance WILL vary.

 

[Timber77]

What pump are you using on it, sounds like not enough pump.

 

[mpderksen]

What pump are you using on it, sounds like not enough pump.

It says Mag7 on the bottom. It was left over from a pond project. Cleaning the tower seemed to help, but it still goes from great production, to only having bubbles halfway up. I have a light bio-load, so maybe it's not a big deal?