Skimmer problem

[Andre.nicolau]

Hello!

My skimmer is having some trouble. The bubles keep coming up and down and don't stay in the same height. It happened right after I added a UV sterilizer, is it possible that it is a consequence? It is a vertex alpha 150. Do you guys have any idea?? The photos show a 30 seconds interval.

Thanks!!

 

[MounteeFrag]

It needs adjusted. Make the fine white bubbles come upto the cup. How old is the skimmer?

 

[Andre.nicolau]

It was doing fine. It is 4 months old. The problem is that it is not staying in the height I adjust.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm not familiar with the skimmer, but it only looks like it's in a couple inches of water. What is the recommended water depth for this skimmer? The other questions is what pump in on this skimmer; when was it last cleaned? If it's a mesh wheel, I've found that a couple nylon washers on the mesh wheel side makes it run smooth. My guess is that it keeps the mesh off the front plate of the pump.

 

[Reefing Madness]

If you just added the sterilizer id say there is your problem, the resin on the plastic is in the water now, it should be ok in a few hours.

 

[Andre.nicolau]

It was working fine. Actually, I added a Tech Chiller with the UV sterilizer last wednesday...

 

[Reefing Madness]

New equipment for SW tanks come with a resin on them, usually takes some time for it to come off.

 

[heathd.hd]

Your water height does seem low to me also. My skimmer doesn't like lower water levels at all. Acted all sorts of weird in 7.5 inches of water. Sits in 9 now and is a beast.

 

[tigerdragon]

Looks more like omega 150. If so water depth at 8". No deeper will have probs adjusting

 

[gtbarsi]

1st Make sure your water height is correct per the manufacturer's specifications.

2nd you are going to need to slowly and carefully adjust the skimmer.

The reaction chamber of the skimmer generally has two states: active and non-active. When it is active the bubbles build and skimate is deposited in to the collection cup. After the skimmer has processed everything it can out of the water the bubbles should lower until the DOCs in the water increase enough for it to go to the active state again.

I recommend you start with it wide open and slowly, 1 notch every hour close it up until you just have the bubbles reaching the top of the neck. Then from there adjust it 1/2 notch every 12 hours until you are collecting the type of skimate you desire. If you do it correctly the first skimate you get will be fairly dry, and very dense. 12 hours later you will probably not be skimming any more and will have to adjust it closed 1/2 notch. You may get little to no additional skimate over the next 12 hours. Keep waiting at least 12 hours between adjustments, and when you thing you are only 1/2 notch away from being where you want to be empty the collection cup so you can see exactly what you get over those 24 hours. If you still want to skim off adjust it empty the cup and go another 1/2 notch for the next 24 hours.