Bubble Magus Curve 5 Protein Skimmer Help

[Mike Lemming]

I recently set up a new marine tank and just installed a new Curve 5 Skimmer that I can't get "calibrated" or to even stop overflowing.
Does anyone have a Bubble Magus Skimmer? If so, how do you break it in? How deep is the water that it sits in? And, how long did it take to start working properly?
I don't really have a bio load as I don't have any fish in the tank although I have some old dead rock and actual live rock in the sump to help jump start the cycling process.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
-Mike

 

[twilliard]

Hi Mike depth is important for internal skimmers. This is the first area I would look into.
I will see if I can dig up some info for you
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bubble-magus-curve-5-help.138722/

 

[Elmer]

I have a reef octopus and I had to cut pvc pipe to stick under it to lift it out of the water more so it would work properly

 

[Mike Lemming]

Hi Mike depth is important for internal skimmers. This is the first area I would look into.
I will see if I can dig up some info for you
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bubble-magus-curve-5-help.138722/

THANKS!!

 

[Mike Lemming]

I have a reef octopus and I had to cut pvc pipe to stick under it to lift it out of the water more so it would work properly

I tried raising the skimmer upwards of 3 inches but it didn't change anything..

 

[twilliard]

I tried raising the skimmer upwards of 3 inches but it didn't change anything..

next in line

 

[Mike Lemming]

next in line

I just read that last thread you send and it seems like everyone is between 8-10 inches of water. Mines at about 9.5 inches. It's been running since Sunday morning and hasn't let up. If I turn it off, then back on, the cup fills up within 5 seconds. Could it still be breaking in?

 

[twilliard]

its at the right height as the instructions state 9.5"
next I would look into your effluent control settings

 

[blitz49]

Raise it up more till it barely overflows and keep it there for a day and lower it back to 9 - 9.5". If that does work, put an air line valve on the air intake and adjust.

 

[G8trBait16]

I have the Bubble Magus NAC 5.5 and just ordered the Curve 7. When I got the NAC 5.5 I let it run overnight in a 5g bucket with RO water and Vinegar to make sure it was 100% clean of any solvents or anything else that might be on it. After that it has been running like a champ in about 9.5in of water. Since I just changed out my sump and have a bigger bio load decided to change for a bigger skimmer. Hope everything works out better for you Mike .

 

[Mike Lemming]

Raise it up more till it barely overflows and keep it there for a day and lower it back to 9 - 9.5". If that does work, put an air line valve on the air intake and adjust.

I'll have to research that a little and see how that's done.. Thanks

 

[jd371]

I have mine in 7.5" of water and it's set to #1 on the adjustment. With this setting the bubbles reach right above were the cup is attached to the skimmer. When it was new it took a few days to break in.

 

[reefkeeperCOL]

I have the nac 5.5, it took 2 days to start work properly, the best way is to raise it a few inches.

 

[PaReeferJ]

I have the curve 5 sitting in 8in of water. When I first got it I took the cup off and let it run for several days. After about a week it stopped overflowing and has been running like a champ.

 

[Mike Lemming]

I have mine in 7.5" of water and it's set to #1 on the adjustment. With this setting the bubbles reach right above were the cup is attached to the skimmer. When it was new it took a few days to break in.

I'll have to try that, mines at 9.5" and it's overflowing aggressively!

 

[Mike Lemming]

I have the nac 5.5, it took 2 days to start work properly, the best way is to raise it a few inches.

That seems to be the general consensus.. thanks

 

[Mike Lemming]

I have the curve 5 sitting in 8in of water. When I first got it I took the cup off and let it run for several days. After about a week it stopped overflowing and has been running like a champ.

Ya, I took the cup off of it this morning and am just letting it run. I think I may need to raise it as everyones saying that they have had good luck between like 6 and 8 inches.

 

[SurlyT]

I bought a Curve 5 off another reefer recently and had exactly the same problem with it, despite having the right water depth in my sump. The only way I could get it to stop overflowing was to reduce the air intake significantly, and I'll describe what I did in case it helps solve your problem as well.

I got a syringe from one of my old test kits and drilled very small holes up the length of it, one at every ½ ml mark. Then I wrapped a small strip of plumber's tape around the tip of the syringe and inserted it snugly into the skimmer's air intake hole. By pulling the syringe's plunger out, I could open up the air intake in VERY small increments which let me "tune" the skimmer until it started skimming normally.

You'll also be glad to hear that after about a week it must have pulled out the nastier organics and I could open it up a little more every day - a month later I was able to remove it completely and it's working well for me now.

 

[kid976]

You mentioned you just set up your tank. Does the sump have a brand new filter sock? If it does that's probably why you can't get your adjustment right. The residue from the sock is causing the skimmer to go nuts.

 

[Bob Escher]

I think since the tank has no occupants and is still cycling ( about a week old ) there is nothing in the tank other than live rock what protein would be in the tank for it skimm good