Reef Dynamics Skimmer

Homer Allman · Feb 6, 2017

I have a reef dynamics skimmer with a eheim pump. It's just like the one pictured. I can hardly ever get this thing to work right. It's always overflowing. When I do get it to work I have to take the water adjusting outlet off and just let it flow wide open out of the skimmer. What am I doing wrong? Anyone have a suggestion?

mcarroll · Feb 6, 2017

Is it the same pump Reef Dynamics packaged the skimmer with?

Does it seem like it's making bubbles like it should?

If the bubble production is low, the pump will pump way too much water – might be what you're seeing.

Check for blockages on/in/around the venturi where the airline attaches to the pump.

Homer Allman · Feb 6, 2017

The pump is pictured in this post. It makes bubbles fine just overflows and needs constant attention. I will run a new air line just in case there is something in there, but it seems clear. thank you for helping.

mcarroll · Feb 6, 2017

Makes sure the air line itself is clear too, but I was specifically referring to where that hose connects to the pump.

A crusty tends to form there where the air and water mix. (the part sticking out of the pump with a nipple pointing straight up.)

Crust can actually be inside the hole where it's hard to see too, so I'd disassemble everything and clean it out with (e.g.) a toothpick to make sure you can probe/clean everywhere.

Skynyrd Fish · Mar 3, 2017

Your skimmer is going to go nuts for a while. Just back it way down and in a few hours or days it should be normal. These skimmers make a ton of froth. Mine went nuts for three days compared to my old skimmer.

How did it work out for you? I just realized this is a moth old.

mcarroll · Mar 3, 2017

Homer Allman said:
The pump is pictured in this post. It makes bubbles fine just overflows and needs constant attention.

That's a nice pump!

Make sure the area in and around the air intake nozzle is clear of any salt creep/buildup.

If that's not an issue, then it sounds like you may just have to use a lighter hand when tuning that beast!

In seriousness, this is the key for tuning any skimmer, so see if it will help:

To start, adjust the air so that the skimmer appears to be running with the correct level of bubbles.
The following day, adjust the skimmer based on the amount and consistency of the skimmate produced the previous day.
Make the adjustments small.
The following day, repeat.
Do this every day until skimmate is the correct amount/consistency for you.
There's no "correct" answer, but I like the cup to be about full when I'm ready to empty it....in general that means "wet skimming".

Blue Spot Octopus · Mar 3, 2017

How deep is the water level in your sump? Is it constant? that looks like a INS 80 skimmer and the eheim is too large, so either you have the wrong skimmer shown or the wrong pump on it. Or it is a INS 135 model and they did have a eheim pump on it I think. the eheim. I have a CS 180 and it has the eheim pump on it 8'' body skimmer and 24'' tall.

FishGuyBri · Mar 3, 2017

Although not Reef dynamics, my skimmer took two weeks to break in. I left it run without the skimmer cup until I could finally work it out. Then bam!! It was perfect one day. Seriously.

hybridazn · Mar 4, 2017

Blue Spot Octopus said:
How deep is the water level in your sump? Is it constant? that looks like a INS 80 skimmer and the eheim is too large, so either you have the wrong skimmer shown or the wrong pump on it. Or it is a INS 135 model and they did have a eheim pump on it I think. the eheim. I have a CS 180 and it has the eheim pump on it 8'' body skimmer and 24'' tall.

^this...

Make sure the water level it sits in is consistent and at the proper height. Also if that is the ehiem 1262 that's a lot of pump for that skimmer. It should have the sicce pump I believe.

Homer Allman · Mar 4, 2017

Thank you guys for all the suggestions. I finally figured it out thanks to all the tips. I have three drain lines from the display to the sump area. If I have too much water coming in the skimmer end of the sump it overflows the cup. So yes it was a water level issue, too deep, by only 1/2" and it makes the skimmer go crazy. I have now tuned my three drains accordingly and it works prefect.

Blue Spot Octopus · Mar 4, 2017

That skimmer should be in 7'' of water.

Homer Allman · Mar 4, 2017

I just measured it and it's 7 and 3/8ths deep. So it looks like I need to raise it a bit. thank you

mcarroll · Mar 4, 2017

Homer Allman said:
So yes it was a water level issue, too deep, by only 1/2" and it makes the skimmer go crazy.

+1

The skimmer compartment should definitely be level controlled. My sump is an open tank, so the ATO controls the whole sump level and it doesn't make the skimmer freak out. It's an Ultralife Float Switch, so a typical reed-switch is good enough.