Can't seem to get octopus skimmer to work. Many micro bubbles

[Kirch899]

 

[andyg1960]

What do you mean-can't get it to work? Is this a new skimmer? New tank? What exactly is the issue in more detail please? Can't tell much from the photos

 

[Kirch899]

It's 50 gallon tank, can't seem to get it to skim having ton of micro bubbles

 

[dlynch8802]

Where are you having micro bubbles? Do you mean leaking into the tank? I have the same skimmer. Once you turn it on and it's sucking in water, you have to prime it (I squeeze it and also put my finger on the end) for a few seconds and then let go. Careful doing this as it can cause the outtake portion of the skimmer to flood. If you have any micro bubbles coming out of the outtake and I to the tank, you need to adjust the black rings it comes with. They are used to prevent this from happening

 

[dlynch8802]

**squeeze the and out my finger on the end of the air (rubber) tube

 

[FishOfHex]

Micro bubbles are so common with hang on the back skimmers. I used to have one way back in the day but you are almost always going to get some kind of micro bubbles. That sponge on the end is made to break up the bubbles, Id say toss it and get a in sump skimmer asap.

 

[FishOfHex]

nvm i just noticed you also have a hob filter. No disrespect but you are setting yourself up for failure with both of those items.

 

[Kirch899]

Not getting a dump don't have the room. Might buy a canister filter and run it with my skimmer I don't use the HOB filter. I don't know how I'm setting my self up for failure but ty

 

[sbash]

nvm i just noticed you also have a hob filter. No disrespect but you are setting yourself up for failure with both of those items.

Do you care to elaborate as to why this is setting the OP up for failure?

OP, I have no experience with HOB skimmers, but generally skimmers do need a break in period. If you have set it up exactly as the documentation says, then it may just take some time to work itself in and properly skim. My non-HOB auqamaxx took two weeks before it actually produced skimmate; even then, it was close to a month before it was working effectively.

 

[Kirch899]

I got it to skim, it skims very light green kinda watery mildew it looks like. Everything works on it just can't seem to get the micro bubbles away. I played with it and will see how it works tomorrow. My levels and everything are good my fish are happy and swimming all around like usual

 

[BluewaterLa]

nvm i just noticed you also have a hob filter. No disrespect but you are setting yourself up for failure with both of those items.

I would strongly disagree with your statement about both the skimmer and the hob filter.
There is NO WRONG Way in reefing only better ways, period !

There is nothing wrong with your hang on skimmer, new skimmers may take a few days to start skimming. A bio film has to develop in many of them in order for them to work properly. When you clean a skimmer it usually will take some time, not much, to start skimming again.
Organics in the water will determine the amount a skimmer can pull out as well, so a new tank with little to skim will produce less skimmate.
Micro bubbles escaping into the tank is normal and doesn't hurt anything.
There are ways to reduce or eliminate this as stated above.

Just to add to the failure part, I have ran many successful reef tanks in over two decades of this hobby with minimal equipment and others with all the bells and whistles.
Currently I have a 90 gallon with NO SUMP, just a back pack skimmer and two wave maker powerheads and a gyre 130. This tank is heavily stocked with sps, a few LPS, some zoa/ palys, few large leathers and a huge rose bubble tip anemone. My fish stock is is on the heavy side and they are all fat and happy. My parameters are stable, nutrients are low and coral growth is insane.
So I must be failing somehow right ?

A note on the canister filter for the OP, they have their place when trying to remove detritus or used for running carbon sometimes.
They will however become a nitrate factory if not kept cleaned weekly and left unchecked they could lead to a disaster, I wouldn't recommend one for use all the time on a saltwater tank.

Good luck and happy reefing
BluewaterLa/ Mike

 

[BluewaterLa]

A note on the green water collected by the skimmer.
There is two ways to run a skimmer, wet and dry.
The way yours is now would be considered wet skimming.
Adjusting the height of the collection cup up a little will help it skim a little more dry.
Generally you want the bottom cone section or base of the collection cup to sit right at or slightly into the top of the bubbles. This will allow it to skim a little wet and the skimmate collected should be darker in color and smell more too. Also it will not skim so wet that the cup fills quickly and will remove more organics from the water.
Again good luck and happy reefing.
Feel free to ask as many questions as needed.

 

[Maritimer]

I've got the same skimmer (barely room for a 20-long sump, and certainly no headroom for an in-sump skimmer!), and have never been able to completely eliminate micro-bubbles. Reading all the threads about using micro-bubbles in the DT to help clean and vitalize the corals, maybe not such a bad thing?!

I have found that it's best to remove the bubble-trap from the skimmer's return when doing a water change, as not doing so can cause an overflow and flood. (with an electric outlet under the skimmer, that could be ... bad ...)

~Bruce

 

[FishOfHex]

I would strongly disagree with your statement about both the skimmer and the hob filter.
There is NO WRONG Way in reefing only better ways, period !

There is nothing wrong with your hang on skimmer, new skimmers may take a few days to start skimming. A bio film has to develop in many of them in order for them to work properly. When you clean a skimmer it usually will take some time, not much, to start skimming again.
Organics in the water will determine the amount a skimmer can pull out as well, so a new tank with little to skim will produce less skimmate.
Micro bubbles escaping into the tank is normal and doesn't hurt anything.
There are ways to reduce or eliminate this as stated above.

Just to add to the failure part, I have ran many successful reef tanks in over two decades of this hobby with minimal equipment and others with all the bells and whistles.
Currently I have a 90 gallon with NO SUMP, just a back pack skimmer and two wave maker powerheads and a gyre 130. This tank is heavily stocked with sps, a few LPS, some zoa/ palys, few large leathers and a huge rose bubble tip anemone. My fish stock is is on the heavy side and they are all fat and happy. My parameters are stable, nutrients are low and coral growth is insane.
So I must be failing somehow right ?

A note on the canister filter for the OP, they have their place when trying to remove detritus or used for running carbon sometimes.
They will however become a nitrate factory if not kept cleaned weekly and left unchecked they could lead to a disaster, I wouldn't recommend one for use all the time on a saltwater tank.

Good luck and happy reefing
BluewaterLa/ Mike

Id loved to see the tanks your talking about post a video or picture.

 

[Kirch899]

Id loved to see the tanks your talking about post a video or picture.

Leave your negativity somewhere else. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[FishOfHex]

Do you care to elaborate as to why this is setting the OP up for failure?

OP, I have no experience with HOB skimmers, but generally skimmers do need a break in period. If you have set it up exactly as the documentation says, then it may just take some time to work itself in and properly skim. My non-HOB auqamaxx took two weeks before it actually produced skimmate; even then, it was close to a month before it was working effectively.

A couple things and this is all to set you in the right direction for success. When that skimmer over flows and it will at some point that water ends up on the floor or it flows down the cord into your outlet / power strip. In my experience unless you spend a good amount of money on a hob skimmer you end up having to make adjustments often. Iv used cheap and $300 ones and still found they dont pull enough out of the water. As for the hob filter you end up storing nitrates for no reason. Let the rock be the bio filter. In the end you can do what you want its your reef id rather you not make it harder on yourself. Best of luck

 

[FishOfHex]

Leave your negativity somewhere else. Thanks for the help guys!

I never had any intentions of being negative, people tend to take things the wrong way. I believe in setting people up for success and in my experience with the hundreds and hundreds of people i have helped over the years those two things have caused serious electrical damage, nutrient issues and tank crashes. Nothing gets someone out of the hobby faster than a tank crash due to equipment failure, so next time ill make sure to elaborate to clarify my point.

 

[Kirch899]

I never had any intentions of being negative, people tend to take things the wrong way. I believe in setting people up for success and in my experience with the hundreds and hundreds of people i have helped over the years those two things have caused serious electrical damage, nutrient issues and tank crashes. Nothing gets someone out of the hobby faster than a tank crash due to equipment failure, so next time ill make sure to elaborate to clarify my point.

What would you reccomend for someone who can't afford a sump

 

[FishOfHex]

What would you reccomend for someone who can't afford a sump

Depending on the size of your system i know petco has $1 per gallon sale often and you can get up to 40 gal tank. Stores like homedepot you can get the glass cut to size for only a few $. A lot of people run sumps without baffles so you can skip that step if you want. As for the overflow box you can do a basic bulkhead with a silicone box around it or spend more and get the low profile that would be your call. If you do decide to use any hob equipment please use drip loops. At the end of the day you can be successful with any setup but the degree of success will vary along with how much work you will have to put in to make it happen. I always recommend use a safe and simple approach to increase your chances of success and in an enclosed system nutrient export is priority number one. Best of luck!

 

[ngvu1]

Not getting a dump don't have the room. Might buy a canister filter and run it with my skimmer I don't use the HOB filter. I don't know how I'm setting my self up for failure but ty

Depending on the size of your system i know petco has $1 per gallon sale often and you can get up to 40 gal tank. Stores like homedepot you can get the glass cut to size for only a few $. A lot of people run sumps without baffles so you can skip that step if you want. As for the overflow box you can do a basic bulkhead with a silicone box around it or spend more and get the low profile that would be your call. If you do decide to use any hob equipment please use drip loops. At the end of the day you can be successful with any setup but the degree of success will vary along with how much work you will have to put in to make it happen. I always recommend use a safe and simple approach to increase your chances of success and in an enclosed system nutrient export is priority number one. Best of luck!