Skimmer height level.

[tyler1503]

Hi everyone! I've just started using my old skimmer again on my 120, not the 24 like last time. This skimmer is a HOB as well as an in sump skimmer. Is the water level in the sump as important in a HOB and in sump skimmer as it is in one that's just for in sump use?
I ask because I can vary the water level in the neck of the skimmer by a couple of inches just by adjusting the knobs and isn't the water level in the neck the important part? Not the surrounding water level?
I've only ran HOB skimmers in my personal tanks so they've always been at the right height already with only slight tweaks being needed. Having a large tank is completely different to nanos and I've found most things are different with a big tank so I have lots of questions I used to know the answers to lol.
Thanks everyone!

 

[ReeferIX]

From my experience all in sump skimmers I have owned which haven't been HOB. There's a sweet spot in the depth of water it is placed in. If the surround water volume is higher the pump has to push more of the air bubbles though the water to get to the neck of the skimmer & the wetter the skimmate. I have had an SWC 160 and now the Bubble King mini 180 both which I had in about 8"-9" of water which worked really good for me. If I had them any deeper my skimmer cup would always overflow. I would just start at a depth that the manufacturer suggest, and tweak it from there if not as foamy as you like. Here is a pic of a skimmer stand I made out of pvc pipe and egg-crate for my BK mini 180.

 

[JMSKI333]

The exterior and interior water height is different from skimmer to skimmer. What type (brand/model) of skimmer do you have? You can probabaly google search the manufactures reccomendations to get you started. On my reef octopus extreme 200, I have the exterior water height at 8" and the interior water level about a 1/2" below the bottom of the collection cup.

 

[afamousjohnson]

I would think HOB or not if it is in sump it would fall to an in sump skimmer rule - seems most vary between 6-9" deep - but that all depends on yours. I can deff see a difference when my skimmer was off vs on the stand to give height. That chamber holds about 11-12"water so i had to bring the skimmer up a good 4" or so.

 

[tyler1503]

Thanks or the info and tips guys
I'll raise it to 9" and raise it further until I feel it's just right.
I still don't understand the significance of the external water level though. My logic tells me because it's pump driven, as long as the pump is submerged the entire time assuming and the valves aren't played with, the same amount of water will be pumped into the body of the skimmer regardless of the water level. That's where my confusion lies.
My logic says if it's in 6 inches of water, but the internal water level is only 3 inches (for example) from the top of the neck of the skimmer, it will skim the same as if the sump water level was 9 inches and the internal water level is still only 3 inches from the top of the neck of the skimmer.
I guess I'm missing something :S