Skimmer not performing

[ReefHunter006]

Rsk 900 appears to not be getting enough air. Water level is constantly above the neck with no solid foam head.

This happens for weeks at a time. I’ve replaced the pump, cleaned the neck, opened the airway.

Po4 is 1ppm and no3 is 50.

40 fish in the tank. There should be plenty to take out but it hardly removes anything.

Any ideas why this skimmer won’t seem to perform correctly? I’ve had Red Sea skimmers for 3 years. This one is an outlier in its performance.

 

[Coolcasino]

Its not looking too bad... How big is the tank? Is it at the recommended height? Maybe you need to raise the water level its sitting on and lower the water level inside the skimmer.

 

[ReefHunter006]

Its not looking too bad... How big is the tank? Is it at the recommended height? Maybe you need to raise the water level its sitting on and lower the water level inside the skimmer.

Currently above recommended water level to reduce head pressure and increase air draw. Didn’t resolve.

 

[Coolcasino]

Currently above recommended water level to reduce head pressure and increase air draw. Didn’t resolve.

How about lowering it to the recommended level? Sometimes skimmers have nothing to pull.

 

[ReefHunter006]

How about lowering it to the recommended level? Sometimes skimmers have nothing to pull.

The problem started while at recommended level. I have also lowered the water level to try an resolve.

I’ve turned the pump speed ip and down, reduced and improved air flow, and aided and lower the water level.

 

[Coolcasino]

Wait. Did you do the new DC conversion with the new sensors?

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Are you running a roller filter?

 

[ReefHunter006]

Wait. Did you do the new DC conversion with the new sensors?

What?

My psk1200 pump that came with the skimmer started producing a crappy foam head, exactly like the one in my video.

I went out and bought one of the new sicce PSK1200 that you can control to see if I could solve the issue.

It didn’t solve it so I am not sure what else could be wrong with this thing.

 

[ReefHunter006]

Are you running a roller filter?

Filter socks, every three days

 

[Coolcasino]

Yeah. Red sea makes a new DC conversion kit. Or you buy the skimmer with the kit already installed. They come with 2 sensors that are installed in the collection cup. 1 tells the pump to ramp down when the cup is full. The other ramps the pump up and down depending where the foam head is so it doesn't overflow. The level is nowhere near where the 1st sensor would be. But the second sensor would be getting triggered in your pic if you had the sensors installed. I would just let the skimmer break in some more. Again there might not be anything to skim. In the video you were getting a noticeable foam but I get what your saying. It should be more. Give it some time and see if it improves with time.

 

[Coolcasino]

Also why do you have that bowl? Did you check the silencer to make sure it hasn't become obstructed with anything? Have you checked the venturi for the same?

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Filter socks, every three days

I get a similar performance out of my RSK 300 when I run my TP. It just pulls too much stuff out. Filter socks should still leave enough. But it is not like it is not working as per your video. You are creating foam, you are making skimmate. To be honest, my skimmers all behave differently on my tanks. My inputs are pretty much the same on all the tanks. Export, slightly different.

 

[ReefHunter006]

Also why do you have that bowl? Did you check the silencer to make sure it hasn't become obstructed with anything? Have you checked the venturi for the same?

Bowl keeps any overflows contained and drips back into the tank instead of bubbles popping water everywhere.

The pump is three days old. The performance issue has been happening with the old pump and the new pump, so I’ve ruled out the pump being an issue currently.

Air line is clean.

Thanks for helping.

 

[CBonito]

I don't see a problem here. Just let it eat.

 

[ReefHunter006]

I don't see a problem here. Just let it eat.

Red Sea confirmed it wasn’t operating correctly based on the video.

I have had these skimmers for years. This is not how they work.

 

[ReefHunter006]

Why would shutting it off and turning it back on solve that causes it to start operating correctly?

 

[Coolcasino]

Its just one of those things that happens in this hobby. Maybe it had something somewhere blocking the air and a good restart dislodged it? Maybe the wall plug/light strip wasn't giving it enough juice somehow... who knows??? Either way I'm glad its skimming properly now.

 

[jda]

Not all skimmers are good. I have a theory that the great ones over the years were more a product of luck than design. There are good Reef Octopus, lots of so-so ones and also some bad ones, for example. If the skimmer never worked well, then it could be a dud. If the skimmer worked well in the past, then it should be able to again.

Most Sicce PSK skimmers do work better than most. Check and see if your venturi in the vloute is clogged with salt creep - I keep an awl near the tank to clean these out on occasion. I have also used a drill bit to enlarge the nipple in the venturi/vloute if need be. However, more air is not always a good thing, but sometimes it is.