Bubble Magus NAC 3.5 Help please

[zemuss]

So I have been reading that the BM NAC 3.5 instructions might have the water levels wrong. So I measured 7.5 inches and reset my sump water level there. Since I have done that there has not been any skimmate being produced. If I set it at 3 the water level rises but I think the bubbles are too big. I am trying to produce a nice skimmate to export the slug build up in the water.

Here are a few photos:

So I was wondering what the proper water height is and where the dial should be set to.


"Z"

 

[Reefltx]

With my old nac 3+ I had the water set at 8" and dial the bubbles to a little less than half of the inner cup which is around 3.5 to 4. This produced a mixture of wet/dry skimmate for me. I would set it and let it run to build up skimmate.

 

[ReefDreams]

I would like to say I have mine set @ 8-8 1/2" of water depth. And it's set at 4 and I get a pretty dark skim mate build up in the cup.

 

[zemuss]

Also I find that the tube to the collection cup gathers most of the Skimmate and the walls become caked with a brown and gray film about an 1/8 of an inch. Is that good? I was thinking that the venturi cone isn't sucking enough air. I was thinking about making something out of PVC, thoughts? I have had this skimmer for about a year and have not gotten anything darker than Tea. I was trying for a really dark brown.

I think I will perform a bath of vinegar and reset the sump levels.


Anyone know what the affect vinegar has on a reef tank if some is added by mistake?

 

[Reefltx]

Also I find that the tube to the collection cup gathers most of the Skimmate and the walls become caked with a brown and gray film about an 1/8 of an inch. Is that good? I was thinking that the venturi cone isn't sucking enough air. I was thinking about making something out of PVC, thoughts? I have had this skimmer for about a year and have not gotten anything darker than Tea. I was trying for a really dark brown.

I think I will perform a bath of vinegar and reset the sump levels.


Anyone know what the affect vinegar has on a reef tank if some is added by mistake?

Depends on the amount. There are a lot of people that dose vinegar everyday into their tanks.

 

[ReefDreams]

I get the same build up in the collection tube and the lid. What you should probably do is play with the height.It would probably be easier to set it in 9-10" of water and go from there. You could probably build some type of egg crate stand to raise the skimmer until you find a height that works for you. Don't be discouraged the skimmer is pretty great once you get it dialed in. It toke me a couple months to figure it out but once I did, i really liked the performance I got out of it.

 

[zemuss]

Good I really haven't worried too much about the skimmer but now I am paying more attention to it, now I want to grow SPS corals i must make sure the Phosphate levels which right now read 0 or undetectable. The single SPS frag i have is doing SO SO because I have great polyp extension but the frag is losing color. I have it under 250 watt MH and its 16 to 18 inches off the Lamp and directly under it. So i am still lost as what the issue is.

Time will tell if I can start keeping SPS.

 

[Chameleon]

how is your flow...sounds like he is getting lots of light but acros love flow...ive seen some people doing as much as 150x and their tanks look great. I am doing 50x and my acros keep color.

 

[zemuss]

Its a red planet and its about 8 inches from a MP10 on 75% reef crest. I think it has enough flow, thoughts?

 

[ReefDreams]

What size tank do you have. Have you checked your other levels.

 

[zemuss]

34 gallon Solana with a 250 Watt MH. All my levels have been consistent at Calc 450, Alk 8, Mag around 1400 and No Phos or should I say undetectable.

Oh! I dose two part three times a week to keep everything nice and stable.

 

[zemuss]

I finally got around to cleaning my pumps and skimmer last night. I filled a 5 gallon bucket half way and dumped about 16 oz of distilled white vinegar in the water. Then i took the pumps and skimmer apart and let them soak for about 30 minutes. The skimmer is like new and is now sitting in about 8 1/2 inches of water. It is producing a better Foam than it ever has and I am hopeful I will get a better skimmate. I guess sometimes you really do need to give your equipment that vinegar bath! Also, I have the skimmer dialed in at 4 right now and will update pictures once I see some results.

Thanks for the help everyone very much appreciated.