New tank help

[Jwalker814]

Hello all. I'm new to R2R, recently got into the hobby [1 yr ago] and it seems to have kicked off.
Started with a 75g DT 30g refug.
Filter was a octopus into 10
Ligniting was a wavepoint T5 4 bulb fixture
That's about the basic it had.

Recently I traded for a 210g DT. Custom built my sump from a 120g tank I had laying around. Also in the trade I received 2 400w MH and a predator pdfs-1 downdraft skimmer.

I finally got the sump sealed and ny pump piped, ready to go. Went to setup tank last night and having trouble tuning in skimmer. Skimmer is piped to a jabeo dc12000 with 3/4" line T'd from my returns. Before the skimmer I have a gate valve and on the output of the skimmer is a ball valve.

With pump on low-high I can't seem to get a good consistent bubble so I threw in an air stone at the bottom better bubbles but after 6 hrs of running still doesn't seem to be producing skimmate type bubble.

I was told that the skimmer is from a 300g+ local tank. Can't find model onlone anywhere.

 

[oscarinw]

Check the air intake into the pump. If you post pictures of the setup, someone might be able to spot the issue. Unless using a huge airstone with a powerful airpump designed for skimmers, your idea won't work. Most useful non-venturi skimmers use a wooden air-'stone'. However, most setups I've seen this in are much smaller than yours. (nanos to 20gals)
If your pump doesn't have a skimmer impeller, that might be another issue. Most of the air breaking (into bubbles) happens via the impeller. Look at this thread and see if you can contact the guy. He used a DC12000 for this...
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/jebao-dc-12000-skimmer-pump-prototype.158449/

 

[Jwalker814]

Skimmer is set up above tank as I'm waiting on a day to go get the last 125g of water I need to fill tank

 

[Jwalker814]

Sorry for the terrible pics. Can only do so much requesting them from the wife while I'm at work.


The reinforced line on top with the 1/4" airline is obviously the air intake. Reinforced hose is only there to direct any possible overflow.

Hose clamps up top is the input. It runs to a 1" pvc with a cap that's drilled twice approx 3/8" each.

You can kind of see I'm getting somewhat decent bubbles in the middle chamber but it's doesn't seem to be enough cavitation to make dense bubbles.

The dc12000 I'm running will be both return and skimmer supply so I'm not sure doing the mod in the DIY for the dc12000 would be ideal as I would get bubbles in DT.


Was thinking of drilling a intake/return into the acrylic base of the skimmer body and slapping in a bubble blaster or other NW pump. Basically make it a recirculation skimmer.

The reason I went with the dc12000 as previous owner had the skimmer set up with a ~200g phone dart pump supplying both return and skimmer

 

[oscarinw]

The dc12000 I'm running will be both return and skimmer supply so I'm not sure doing the mod in the DIY for the dc12000 would be ideal as I would get bubbles in DT.

Definitely, it wouldn't work. Didn't know you had the dual use for your return.

Where is your water drain for the skimmer? is that the gray elbow and barb connector on the 2nd picture? The one with the ball valve?
I am not very familiar with the functioning of your skimmer so it's hard to point the problem...

 

[Jwalker814]

I think I may have gotten it to skim a little. Its a little too wet for me but it's working. If I could just dial it in more I would be happy.

The return is behind the white bucket.

In the first picture below you can see air intake (reinforced hose with 1/4" airline line inside) the grey elbow up top is my water in with gate valve. The other line is just my collection cup drain which valve is in open position.