Protien skimmer question

[Doobie65]

When I turn my skimmer off to feed corals and then turn back on, the water in the chamber stays really high for a while ( 2-3 days usually) but sometimes a week or so! I have a sponge filter on my water intake. Should I not have this on my intake even if its not causing the issue? Thanks.

 

[MnFish1]

How much skim mate do you get out every day? I'm not sure which model skimmer that is - or what you use to regulate the water level in the skimmer itself. But - it might be 'normal' for your skimmer? Does it say anything online or in the manual? I don't see how/why a sponge on the 'intake' would make a difference - but I'm not sure I would put it there - either - over time it will just slow down flow. Curious if the level of the water changes if you take the sponge out?

 

[Redfoxtang]

What type of skimmer is it? Most skimmers I’ve seen should have a water adjustment value. I would adjust the water level until you have bubbles just popping in the neck of the cup. As for the sponge I would personally take that out as it will restrict flow and some debris that you want the actual skimmer to remove.

 

[Billdogg]

I never turn my skimmer off except for cleanings. IMHO, they will perform more consistently if you just leave them be to do their thing.

 

[Crustaceon]

Your skimmer chamber really should even out within minutes of restarting. Something is clogged.

 

[Doobie65]

How much skim mate do you get out every day? I'm not sure which model skimmer that is - or what you use to regulate the water level in the skimmer itself. But - it might be 'normal' for your skimmer? Does it say anything online or in the manual? I don't see how/why a sponge on the 'intake' would make a difference - but I'm not sure I would put it there - either - over time it will just slow down flow. Curious if the level of the water changes if you take the sponge out?

Its a Coralife hob 65 super skimmer. I get about 1/4 of the cup when running correctly per day of pretty dark skimate.

 

[Doobie65]

What type of skimmer is it? Most skimmers I’ve seen should have a water adjustment value. I would adjust the water level until you have bubbles just popping in the neck of the cup. As for the sponge I would personally take that out as it will restrict flow and some debris that you want the actual skimmer to remove.

Its a Coralife 65 hob super skimmer. I think im getting a bit of air intake blockage. I blew in the hose and the water level in chamber has droped a little bit. I put the filter on the water intake so that brine didnt suck into the skimmer but maybe I should let it? Thats kinda why I turn it off when feeding fish.

 

[Doobie65]

I never turn my skimmer off except for cleanings. IMHO, they will perform more consistently if you just leave them be to do their thing.

Thanks, I started doing so when feeding corals so it didnt skim out the reef roids so quickly after feeding. But that was just a thought.

 

[Doobie65]

Your skimmer chamber really should even out within minutes of restarting. Something is clogged.

Thanks,Yea im thinking the same, I blew into the air intake hose and the chamber water level went down a little bit. May just take it out and thoroughly clean pump.

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks,Yea im thinking the same, I blew into the air intake hose and the chamber water level went down a little bit. May just take it out and thoroughly clean pump.

A HOB skimmer - to me - would be different than an 'in sump' skimmer. The level in an in sump skimmer will drop to the level of water in the sump. With a HOB skimmer - it would seem that the water would drop to the level of the tank. Here is another question - have you noticed this just recently - or has it always been like this. I would probably not shut the skimmer off when feeding - though some people do. Hope this helps.

 

[MnFish1]

Its a Coralife 65 hob super skimmer. I think im getting a bit of air intake blockage. I blew in the hose and the water level in chamber has droped a little bit. I put the filter on the water intake so that brine didnt suck into the skimmer but maybe I should let it? Thats kinda why I turn it off when feeding fish.

Here are some hints:

"Adjustwater-leveladjustmentdialsothatthemicro-bubblesarebelow the collection cup cone. Let the pump run for 24 - 72 hours to “break-in” the unit. (5.1) Use flow control valve for coarse water level adjustment with Model 65. Use water level adjustment dial for fine adjustment.
NOTE: Initial operation of protein skimmer may produce excess bubbles and waste. Allow collection cup to fill-up and discard waste-water until production decreases." (are you using the adjustment dials correctly?)

"5. Water is rapidly overflowing into collection cup.

1. Reduce water level in the skimmer. Water level may be too high.
2. Makesurewaterisflowingthroughoutputtubing.Bubble production diffuser may be clogged, blocking water flow.
3. Changes in water chemistry. Readjust water-level adjustment dial to lower water level in skimmer.
4. Outputtubingispushedagainstwhitefilterpadinbubble- productiondiffuser. Allow1"ofspacebetweenbottomof output tubing and filter pad (white)."

Maybe check some of these things? (note this is from the troubleshooting section from your skimmer model - Sorry about the spaces in the text - I just copied and pasted.

 

[Doobie65]

A HOB skimmer - to me - would be different than an 'in sump' skimmer. The level in an in sump skimmer will drop to the level of water in the sump. With a HOB skimmer - it would seem that the water would drop to the level of the tank. Here is another question - have you noticed this just recently - or has it always been like this. I would probably not shut the skimmer off when feeding - though some people do. Hope this helps.

I have always had this problem from day one but the level usually dropped after a few hours but its way worse now. Sometimes a week before it drops. Dont get me wrong, it still skims dark skimate but not as much as when its working correctly. When working correctly the water level sits about 2 inches from bottom of cup. Now its like 2 inches from top. So im getting a lot more water now than acual skim mate. More clear than dark like it should be. And I also have the water level adjustment dialed all the way down so....

 

[Doobie65]

Here are some hints:

"Adjustwater-leveladjustmentdialsothatthemicro-bubblesarebelow the collection cup cone. Let the pump run for 24 - 72 hours to “break-in” the unit. (5.1) Use flow control valve for coarse water level adjustment with Model 65. Use water level adjustment dial for fine adjustment.
NOTE: Initial operation of protein skimmer may produce excess bubbles and waste. Allow collection cup to fill-up and discard waste-water until production decreases." (are you using the adjustment dials correctly?)

"5. Water is rapidly overflowing into collection cup.

1. Reduce water level in the skimmer. Water level may be too high.
2. Makesurewaterisflowingthroughoutputtubing.Bubble production diffuser may be clogged, blocking water flow.
3. Changes in water chemistry. Readjust water-level adjustment dial to lower water level in skimmer.
4. Outputtubingispushedagainstwhitefilterpadinbubble- productiondiffuser. Allow1"ofspacebetweenbottomof output tubing and filter pad (white)."

Maybe check some of these things? (note this is from the troubleshooting section from your skimmer model - Sorry about the spaces in the text - I just copied and pasted.

Thanks a bunch! I will check these steps for sure!

 

[Doobie65]

So I found the problem! So the small fitting that the air hose attaches to was 3/4 way clogged and was not pulling in enough air. As soon as I hooked it back up the water level was perfect and pulling out skimmate!

 

[Doobie65]

I have always had this problem from day one but the level usually dropped after a few hours but its way worse now. Sometimes a week before it drops. Dont get me wrong, it still skims dark skimate but not as much as when its working correctly. When working correctly the water level sits about 2 inches from bottom of cup. Now its like 2 inches from top. So im getting a lot more water now than acual skim mate. More clear than dark like it should be. And I also have the water level adjustment dialed all the way down so....

 

[MnFish1]

So I found the problem! So the small fitting that the air hose attaches to was 3/4 way clogged and was not pulling in enough air. As soon as I hooked it back up the water level was perfect and pulling out skimmate!

Its always good to hear the solutions to problems!

 

[Doobie65]

Thanks a bunch! I will check these steps for sure!

So I found the problem! So the small fitting that the air hose attaches to was 3/4 way clogged and was not pulling in enough air. As soon as I hooked it back up the water level was perfect and pulling out skimmate!

 

[Billdogg]

That small fitting is the venturi. It needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent salt creep and/or calcification so that the air supply is not reduced.

 

[Doobie65]

That small fitting is the venturi. It needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent salt creep and/or calcification so that the air supply is not reduced.

Thanks , I will be checking regularly now!