water level (foam)height for diy skimmer

[marines]

Good day,

For the past few weeks i had been busy building my first diy CC air driven skimmer, it is 35 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter with a chamber height of 23 inches. It uses 2 air woods and for now I am using a single output air pump. (The one sold for gold fish aquariums)

I hooked it up on my 55 gallon tank and it is being fed from the diy overflow box that I made. It had been doing well and the sizes of the air bubbles are exceptional. I am quite happy on the outcome.

Just one problem though,

Since it is my first diy skimmer, what is the best possible height of the water level (bubble level) on the neck inside the collection cup?
It is giving a very nice foam, but it overflows too quickly on the collection cup and filling it up very fast. If I adjusted it to low, the bubbles (foam) don’t seem to reach the tip and do not spill over on the cup.

What would be the right level for the it? Or should I just let it over flow thoroughly and just attach a drain hose to the cup?
I tried it below the tip of the neck where it does not over flow and still I get this slow drip from the cup cover( maybe because of the moisture or something) of a green/ brownish liquid that I think is the dirt that should be collected in the first place.

Hope you guys can help…

Thanks,

 

[BadOleRoss]

Just speaking from my own experience with my skimmer, you want the water level to come to the top of the skimmer base when the water pump is turned on and then turn on the air supply to adjust your foam. When mine was filling to fast, mostly with clear skim/water my air was too high and need to be cut back using a simple valve. Good Luck.......

 

[marines]

will the number of bubbles be affected when i decrease the air pressure?

 

[marines]

bump

 

[durango_doug]

Yes, the number of bubbles will be effected by a decrease in air pressure. Are you using the amount of air to raise and lower the height of the bubbles? If so, you shouldn't. Keep as many bubbles going as possible and raise and lower using a water flow control device.

 

[marines]

i am using a gate valve to adjust the level of rise and fall inside the neck. i would like to know where the best level is, below the tip of the neck?
on the tip? or let it over flow until the foam turns dirty?

 

[durango_doug]

Some people like it really low so the foam has to climb up the riser. I like it pretty high (2-3 inches from the top) so it skims fairly wet. It shouldn't be right at the top or you'll get a lot of clear skim-mate, or it might even overflow while you're not watching. As long as you're actually getting foam and not splattering pops you're good.