Skimmer help? Guess I need to downsize...

[Greenjeans]

While putting together my first tank I figured bigger would be better, and I got the biggest skimmer that would fit in my sump:
- 4x2x2 display (~120g?)
- Trigger Triton 44v2 sump (~30g?)
- ReefOctopus Regal 200-int, rated 175(heavy) - 400g(light)

I don't really have any corals yet aside from a few tester frags. For fish:
- 2 clowns
- 3 red firefish
- 1 randalls goby
- 5 green chromis
- 1 pintail fairy wrasse
- 1 foxface lo

I've been playing with the skimmer depth, DC pump rate, the level in the neck...I can't get a consistent skim no matter what I try! I can sometimes get it to produce a very very wet skimmate for a short period, or else coat the inside of the neck without pushing anything into the cup.

Any tips for making this skimmer work? I've even placed an acrylic sheet in the neck to divide it in two (kinda like the wiper on the RSK 300)...maybe it helps a little? Should I run the pump fast or slow? should it sit deep or shallow?

I'm starting to feel like I'll need to purchase a more appropriately sized skimmer. What would folks recommend for my system? I've been looking at the RSK 300, eSsence S-130, Bubble Magus Curve 7 Elite...

 

[Miller535]

I have the same skimmer on my 125. What height do you have it at in your sump? I can not remember what mine is at. I want to say somewhere around 8".

Also how long has the tank been running? And how long have you been using the skimmer?

 

[Soulpher]

Skimmer takes time to break in. but there is such a thing as over skimming. Skimmer depth is important. I use this for my skimmer,

 

[Snoopy 67]

This is why over sizing a skimmer can be trouble.
It needs dissolved organics to work . If there is not enough it will just sit there until it gets what it needs to work again & then just sit there again.

 

[Soulpher]

Agreed. Once you get more bio load things will be better. You might have to run the skimmer like 4hrs a day. Again depends on bio load. Hey look at the bright side, this skimmer is perfect for the bigger tank you know you want. I bought the 200 series ReefOctopus in 2011 when i had a 90 gallon and now I have a 220 tank.

 

[Greenjeans]

I've played with different depths, it's currently sitting at 7.5".

It should be well broken in, it's been running for at least two months.

I guess it will work better once I've got a higher bio load, but that won't happen very soon/quickly as I'm quarantining all new additions.

I suppose I could only run it for 4hrs a day, but I'd rather run it constantly and never let my doc's spike.

I could probably buy a slightly undersized skimmer, and keep this skimmer once my bio-load is high enough to sustain it?

What skimmer would folks recommend for my system?

 

[Soulpher]

I run a reef octopus skimmer on my 220 display and 60 gallon low bow frag tank. My 2cents don't spend more money on another skimmer. Just look at the recommended manufacture height. Use the stand I sent you. Tune the skimmer so micro bubble stay under the neck and larger bubble move up the neck. You will get dry/wet skim mate. Let it run all day. I let my run all day even if i don't have skim mate because the skimmer process removes CO2 from the tank and helps keep the PH in your tank a bit higher.

My 60 gallon uses:

Reef Octopus

Classic 150INT 6” Internal Protein Skimmer