Does the skimmer return need to be above water?

[azbigjohn]

I have a Reef Octopus NMB200 running in my sump for my 210 gallon tank. I have managed to really quiet everything down, but I get a lot of "splash noise" from the return line of the skimmer. To get the required height in the reaction chamber, I get a fairly good "spray" out of the return valve. As it is a Reef Octopus with metric fittings, adjusting the return height is fairly limited to the fittings I have.

Would it be detrimental to lower the return line to the point the water spray is under water? I thought about putting an elbow on the valve, and taking the elbow back under water, but with the metric fittings that would be difficult.

What do you think?

 

[bif24701]

I have a Reef Octopus NMB200 running in my sump for my 210 gallon tank. I have managed to really quiet everything down, but I get a lot of "splash noise" from the return line of the skimmer. To get the required height in the reaction chamber, I get a fairly good "spray" out of the return valve. As it is a Reef Octopus with metric fittings, adjusting the return height is fairly limited to the fittings I have.

Would it be detrimental to lower the return line to the point the water spray is under water? I thought about putting an elbow on the valve, and taking the elbow back under water, but with the metric fittings that would be difficult.

What do you think?

Putting the exit point under water may effect the water level in the skimmer. I advise not to. Unless you have a recirculating skimmer. However I do have an elbow that points the exit water downward under the water line and I can adjust my skimmer accordingly. So if it is consistent and you can adjust the water level then could work.

 

[azbigjohn]

Putting the exit point under water may effect the water level in the skimmer. I advise not to. Unless you have a recirculating skimmer. However I do have an elbow that points the exit water downward under the water line and I can adjust my skimmer accordingly. So if it is consistent and you can adjust the water level then could work.

I guess that may be my alternative. I appreciate the input!

 

[mcarroll]

I have a Reef Octopus NMB200 running in my sump for my 210 gallon tank. I have managed to really quiet everything down, but I get a lot of "splash noise" from the return line of the skimmer. To get the required height in the reaction chamber, I get a fairly good "spray" out of the return valve. As it is a Reef Octopus with metric fittings, adjusting the return height is fairly limited to the fittings I have.

Would it be detrimental to lower the return line to the point the water spray is under water? I thought about putting an elbow on the valve, and taking the elbow back under water, but with the metric fittings that would be difficult.

What do you think?

Are you running with the air clamped way back for any reason?

Can you possibly post a vid of this in action? Maybe a pic of the skimmer's installation too? This doesn't sound quite right to me.

 

[azbigjohn]

Are you running with the air clamped way back for any reason?

Can you possibly post a vid of this in action? Maybe a pic of the skimmer's installation too? This doesn't sound quite right to me.

I'm going to give this video a shot. I do run with air coming from the outside, through a 6' vinyl hose (1/2") so there may be some airflow restriction. The skimmate in the video looks diluted, and is, because I was playing with the adjustment. It usually skins fairly thick.

 

[azbigjohn]

I'm going to give this video a shot. I do run with air coming from the outside, through a 6' vinyl hose (1/2") so there may be some airflow restriction. The skimmate in the video looks diluted, and is, because I was playing with adjustment.

 

[azbigjohn]

I'm going to give this video a shot. I do run with air coming from the outside, through a 6' vinyl hose (1/2") so there may be some airflow restriction. The skimmate in the video looks diluted, and is, because I was playing with the adjustment. It usually skins fairly thick.

Looks like I need to figure out loading a video... it came up as a photo.

 

[mcarroll]

Looks like I need to figure out loading a video... it came up as a photo.

I thought you just had a really slow skimmer.....thought I'd figured it out!!! Don't worry about the vid!

If your skimmate is normally thick, then you more than likely have the air clamped down.

I can't say from here whether it's all due to the extended air line though since you were able to get it to skim wet....flow from the skimmer should be A LOT MORE CALM when it's skimming like that.

It's more calm because the additional air displaces water in the pump so the pump can't draw as much water......less water in = less water out.

Clamping the air down (skimming drier) has the opposite effect....the pump has room to draw in more water......more water in = more water out.

Maybe just try disconnecting the long hose for a day or few days, make sure it's tuned to skim fairly wet, and then just see how it goes?

FYI, I keep my skimmer tuned so that the skimmer cup is about full when I have to come and refill the ATO reservoir.