Basic Skimmer Air:Flow ratio question.

[Dr. Jim]

All of a sudden my Octo Regal 150 skimmer started overflowing, even with the gate valve wide open. (My tank has been running for about 2.5 months). Since it has a 0-10v pump, I can either reduce the water flow or reduce the air intake. What would you suggest?
Thanks for helping!

 

[Mical]

That's a very broad question, how about some more details & pics? Do you clean the cup weekly? Did you recently dose something or change food/amounts?

 

[Dr. Jim]

That's a very broad question, how about some more details & pics? Do you clean the cup weekly? Did you recently dose something or change food/amounts?

-Recently, I've been cleaning the cup at least twice a week; I feed 3 times a day...(have a lot of fish for this little tank!)
-Tank is a Red Sea Reefer 170 (20 x22 x 20H).
-Set it up about 2.5 months ago.
-Cured 25 lbs artificial rock in separate tank (so as not to have nitrates/phosphates build-up; Added 25 lbs of Gulf of Mexico rock (from Rock N Reef, FL); note the lobophyllia that came in on the rock, along with 3 clams, a gorgonian, sponges, feather dusters, etc.....nice rock for seeding a tank!)
-G4 and G5 XR15 Radions
-GHL Controller system: automatic daily water changes (800ml)
- (2) MP-10's
-Hang-on refugium on back but Chaeto slowly died which didn't surprise me being that there is not a spec of algae on the rocks despite the NO3 being 18 and PO4 at 0.08. Probably need some carbon. Waiting for Triton N-DOC and ICP test kits.
-Triton system; Zeovit additives; kalkwasser
-Just added 6 new SPS acro's today but I doubt that caused problem.

Photo of skimmer after I blocked 1 of the 2 air intakes and reduced flow to 30% with gate wide open:

 

[Mical]

First off, very nice set up. By the looks of skimate (I'm not totally familiar w/this specific skimmer) it appears not enough air & too much water. On both of my skimmers if I plug the air lines it overflows straight water. You have the luxury of gate valves, so I'm guessing it's going to be "trial & error" for the basic setting(s). You seem pretty well versed in reefing so I'm not going to nag you as settings can/do change - there's no "auto cruise control, set & forget setting". One other note, does mfgr rec skimmer in that low of water?

 

[Dr. Jim]

First off, very nice set up. By the looks of skimate (I'm not totally familiar w/this specific skimmer) it appears not enough air & too much water. On both of my skimmers if I plug the air lines it overflows straight water. You have the luxury of gate valves, so I'm guessing it's going to be "trial & error" for the basic setting(s). You seem pretty well versed in reefing so I'm not going to nag you as settings can/do change - there's no "auto cruise control, set & forget setting". One other note, does mfgr rec skimmer in that low of water?

The water level is 9" which is within the recommended range. It doesn't look like much air in the photo because I turned the DC pump down to 30% while I think about this. I never had a DC pump on a skimmer before so never had to think about it!
But now, comes the question: wet or dry skimmate….which is the discussion I was really looking for. (I think BRS has a video on this). It doesn't really matter a lot …. just thought I would throw out this question.
Luckily I have a GHL leak detector that shut off my skimmer with only a 6" puddle!
Thanks for your input!

 

[Mical]

9" is decent, from your pic it appeared much lower. Wet or dry skimmate is personal pref, I prefer a dry "coffee" colored skimmate and I added overflow tanks to my skimmers, so I empty weekly when I clean skimmer cups. I think with my next skimmer(s) I might try the DC pump route (something else to tinker with)

 

[Dr. Jim]

9" is decent, from your pic it appeared much lower. Wet or dry skimmate is personal pref, I prefer a dry "coffee" colored skimmate and I added overflow tanks to my skimmers, so I empty weekly when I clean skimmer cups. I think with my next skimmer(s) I might try the DC pump route (something else to tinker with)

So to get "dry" you want more air and less flow, right? (Or is it the other way around??)

 

[Mical]

yes

 

[Scorpius]

Clean the venturi.

 

[Dr. Jim]

Clean the venturi.

I'm not saying that isn't a good idea, and I appreciate any ideas, but why do you think that cleaning the venture will solve my problem, which is the skimmer suddenly overflowing? (I had to reduce the 0-10v pump to 40%.....but I forget where it was initially....probably around 80%). I would think cleaning the venture would make it overflow even more (if nothing else was changed).

 

[Scorpius]

I'm not saying that isn't a good idea, and I appreciate any ideas, but why do you think that cleaning the venture will solve my problem, which is the skimmer suddenly overflowing? (I had to reduce the 0-10v pump to 40%.....but I forget where it was initially....probably around 80%). I would think cleaning the venture would make it overflow even more (if nothing else was changed).

If the venturi is clogged your skimmer will overflow everytime. Less air + more water = overflows. You should check it monthly at the least.

I have the exact same skimmer as you as well.