Can a protein skimmer get too much air??

Kershaw · Jul 5, 2016

Can too much air to a protien skimmer cause the skimmer to not produce much skimate?

NanaReefer · Jul 6, 2016

No. You want to pump as much air as possible into the reaction chamber.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Yes, there is a balance between it all air flow, water flow, body capacity, neck size, etc. More air is not always better. The skimmer could become unpredictable to under performing.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Example would be my SRO 3000 vs. Aquamaxx EM300. The SRO is a slightly bigger body but a much more powerful pump in the bubble blaster 3000 vs. the sicce based shark 3 in the aquamaxx. The SRO was pulling about 42scfh of air with more water flow. The EM300 was pulling around 38scfh.

Both ended up producing about the same amount of skimmate every day. But the SRO wasn't nearly as well balanced and would periodically turn into a violent volcano. The EM300 was extremely consistent and never had those issues. Better balanced with skimmer size, air, and water flow.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Here's another example of air draw vs skimmate produced. See the second half of this post.

jason2459 said:
Some cool stats update 3

Aquamaxx Em 300
Air draw: ~38 scfh
Watts: rated 27watts actual: 31.38watts
Skimmate produced: ~1 cup dry/day and ~3cups wet/day low side

Mag18 as return pump w/ ~12' head height
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 71.18watts
Flow: rated 1500gph@0 head actual: ~750gph@12' head pressure

Mag18 with MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
Air draw: ~12 scfh
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 62-63watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dry/day high side

Mag18 with 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~14scf
Max head height: 16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 65-66watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dryish/day low side

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~18scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 114wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~4 cups dry/day!!!

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~22scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 128wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dryish/day!!!

The waveline is pushing through that mazzei extremely well and handling the head height much better then I expected. This also then has the one down side of allowing the Waveline to pull more watts for those that want to be energy saving savvy.

But the production is so much more.

So lets see some form of percentage of the ratio between cups dry produced vs wattage vs. air draw used
Aquamaxx Em 300
vs. wattage used: 3.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 2.6% "performance"

MTC MVX with Mag18 and MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
vs. wattage used: 4.8% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"

MTC MVX with Mag18 and 784 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 21.4% "performance"

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 3.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 22.2% "performance"

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.7% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 27.3% "performance"

Ok, now that's interesting. The most "efficient" setup so far is the recommended MTC MVX setup with the Mag 18 and stock 684 mazzei. It's also so far the second best "performance." The waveline dc 12000 @ level 9 just pushes past it in regards to the performance ratio.

That's awesome. Again, it's amazing what so little air draw with that mag 18 was doing.

CodyRVA · Jul 6, 2016

+1 @jason2459, you need a good balance between water and air. Which is why most good skimmers allow you to control both. You'll want to adjust each depending on your skimmer, conditions, and how you want to skim (wet/dry).

cnseekatz · Jul 6, 2016

My Vertex Omega 130 has a pump that's overpowered for it's size. It just automatically overflows. I had to put a check-valve on the air line to get it to skim properly.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Yep, many in the past have put needle valves on the airline to restrict the amount of air to get better or more consistent performance.

Kershaw · Jul 6, 2016

Ok thank you all. I have noticed that my skimmer is not working right since I replaced the pump. And it sucks allot of air. Bt when I place my finger over most of the silencer. The bubbles get finer. And seems to work better.

jeremy.gosnell · Jul 6, 2016

Kershaw, did you replace the pump with the appropriately sized pump?

Kershaw · Jul 6, 2016

@jeremy.gosnell Yes and no so I have the older Int 200. Which came with a otp reef octopus pump. The reef octopus extreme 200 has the same body as mine but came with the Sicce psk 1000. So I got the psk 1000 instead of the otp.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Kershaw said:
@jeremy.gosnell Yes and no so I have the older Int 200. Which came with a otp reef octopus pump. The reef octopus extreme 200 has the same body as mine but came with the Sicce psk 1000. So I got the psk 1000 instead of the otp.

That's a much better pump. Water height will also effect the skimmer greatly. What is the height of the water from the base of the skimmer? Does it fluctuate?

Kershaw · Jul 6, 2016

No fluctuation. Its 9inches

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Kershaw said:
No fluctuation. Its 9inches

That seems pretty deep for an octo skimmer. You may want to try to raise it up at least an inch. I dont know what that particular skimmer recommends but most octopus skimmers are in the 6-8 inches range or so.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

Quick lookup on that skimmer

Note: Recommended Sump Water Depth: 7.5"-8.5"

I'd try 8"

twilliard · Jul 6, 2016

Kershaw said:
Can too much air to a protien skimmer cause the skimmer to not produce much skimate?

No to answer this question.
The pump and venturi decides the maximum volume of air. (With all controls open)
Now it does depend on how this in comming air is handled in the production of micro bubbles when it comes to skimmate production.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/skimmers-explained.227824/

Kershaw · Jul 6, 2016

I'll try raising it up. Also I am going to order the Sicce Venturi. I am using the octopus one. As psk did not some with it. Maybe it has a smaller or bigger hole

Kershaw · Jul 6, 2016

I'm really close to just selling this skimmer and getting a new one.

jason2459 · Jul 6, 2016

twilliard said:
No to answer this question.
The pump and venturi decides the maximum volume of air. (With all controls open)
Now it does depend on how this in comming air is handled in the production of micro bubbles when it comes to skimmate production.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/skimmers-explained.227824/

To take this discussion further I still say yes to the original question. To much air can cause instable foam production or very wet production. The wetter it is the more salinity will be exported and less DOC. There for less actual skimmate produced. So, to me its a balance.