Some Skimz love

[bubbaque]

I don’t see much Skimz skimmer love or anyone really recommend them. I bought mine about a year ago and have had nothing but good things from it.

Before the Skimz I owned a Deltec skimmer and Reef Octopus and the Skimz has preformed better than any of them.

I would recommend anyone to pick one up. I believe BRS uses one on their 160.

 

[dansreef]

Huge fan of Skimz. I have two and they are bullet proof... imho. This one is on my 180 mixed reef!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Nice! Who else uses these?

 

[AngryOwl]

Good timing on this post as I'm having trouble with keeping my Skimz161 dialed in. I have it in 9 inches of water and it doesn't stay dialed in for more than a few days or a week tops. Also every so often at night it will overflow, not sure why. Any advice on tuning this thing better?

 

[JaimeAdams]

I have a Skimz on my office tank and one on my tank at home. Love them. BRS handles all of the warranty claims as well, so that makes it super easy in the event that something does go wrong.

 

[dansreef]

Good timing on this post as I'm having trouble with keeping my Skimz161 dialed in. I have it in 9 inches of water and it doesn't stay dialed in for more than a few days or a week tops. Also every so often at night it will overflow, not sure why. Any advice on tuning this thing better?

My first one was the same... I was feeding in too much air... I dialed back the amount of air going in... and increased the flow of water in... Use the water gate setting and needle valve to control... I had one "expert" tell me the bubbles should fracture underneath the neck ring under the collection cup... if it is too high up into the cup or two low into the reactor chamber... then it needs to be adjusted. Once you get the hang of it...and get it dialed in the only things that will throw it off are inconsistent water levels... such as ATOs that cause water level fluctuation or stuff you add into your system. I initially had a delay on my controller that managed the ATO... There would be about a .25" flux on the water level...and yeah.... that caused hell on my settings. The delay prevented the float switching the controller on and off constantly in the sump. I have since switched to a Tunze controlled ATO... and it keeps the levels very constant... I have had times where I have fed the tank after dark...to feed the corals... and that has caused excessive foaming...

 

[bubbaque]

Good timing on this post as I'm having trouble with keeping my Skimz161 dialed in. I have it in 9 inches of water and it doesn't stay dialed in for more than a few days or a week tops. Also every so often at night it will overflow, not sure why. Any advice on tuning this thing better?

I never had issues dialing mine in and it doesn't overflow unless I forget to turn it off when I turn off the return pump and the water level rises in the sump. Is the water you have your skimmer stay a consistent height? I know if the water doesn't stay the same always you will have issues.

 

[AngryOwl]

I never had issues dialing mine in and it doesn't overflow unless I forget to turn it off when I turn off the return pump and the water level rises in the sump. Is the water you have your skimmer stay a consistent height? I know if the water doesn't stay the same always you will have issues.

Yea I run an ATO and level never changes. What is the water level you run it at? I have no idea why I can't keep it dialed in.

My first one was the same... I was feeding in too much air... I dialed back the amount of air going in... and increased the flow of water in... Use the water gate setting and needle valve to control... I had one "expert" tell me the bubbles should fracture underneath the neck ring under the collection cup... if it is too high up into the cup or two low into the reactor chamber... then it needs to be adjusted. Once you get the hang of it...and get it dialed in the only things that will throw it off are inconsistent water levels... such as ATOs that cause water level fluctuation or stuff you add into your system. I initially had a delay on my controller that managed the ATO... There would be about a .25" flux on the water level...and yeah.... that caused hell on my settings. The delay prevented the float switching the controller on and off constantly in the sump. I have since switched to a Tunze controlled ATO... and it keeps the levels very constant... I have had times where I have fed the tank after dark...to feed the corals... and that has caused excessive foaming...

When you say "water gauge" are you referencing the water outtake? Also what do you use to preform your small adjustments? Air intake or water outtake?

 

[dansreef]

Yes... water outlet... is actually a gate... I would adjust the water and air to have the air bubble fracturing right below the white ring under the collection cup. you will still have foam build up into the neck.... but the majority of the bubbles... fracture... or pop below that ring. Let it then settle...a few hours or a day.... You will get some materials that will collect and push up to the collection cup.... It will be what people call a dry skim if you will... Then use the needle air valve to make small adjustments. You want to keep the majority of air bubbles fracturing under that white ring... But... you may want to adjust the air a bit... so by closing the needle.... less air...so it isn't as turbulent.... then opening the water gate a bit... will allow you to keep that level right at the white ring. If you find it is too dry... or too dark.... you can close the needle a bit more... and the water level in the neck will rise a bit. less air... marginally.

The air needle is for small adjustments.... up or down of the water in that neck of the skimmer. For my skimmers.... If I were to take the collection cup off.... the bubbles should dome just to the top of that neck....no water flowing over.... As more waste collects...the foam will grow and the bubbles will push up into the collection cup. From there... a visual check of the collection cup... and I am good. You will see levels of foam change. See my picture? I have not touched a setting on that skimmer in months. The foam is coming up into the collection cup...and pushes out of the holes.... if I have fed the tank and fish particularly well... I have even seen the foam build an lift the top right off the collection cup. I will pull the cup and clean it... Reinstall it....and I am good. The majority of the bubbles still fracture - or pop below that white ring.

I do visually inspect.... daily...and clean as needed. The sump is in the basement and each morning when I do workouts down there.... I also check the collection cup. I have never used the fitting under the collection cup to run the skimate to a collection tank. I guess I could.... but I also like to clean the cup well....every couple of days...

I hope this helps....

 

[AngryOwl]

Yes... water outlet... is actually a gate... I would adjust the water and air to have the air bubble fracturing right below the white ring under the collection cup. you will still have foam build up into the neck.... but the majority of the bubbles... fracture... or pop below that ring. Let it then settle...a few hours or a day.... You will get some materials that will collect and push up to the collection cup.... It will be what people call a dry skim if you will... Then use the needle air valve to make small adjustments. You want to keep the majority of air bubbles fracturing under that white ring... But... you may want to adjust the air a bit... so by closing the needle.... less air...so it isn't as turbulent.... then opening the water gate a bit... will allow you to keep that level right at the white ring. If you find it is too dry... or too dark.... you can close the needle a bit more... and the water level in the neck will rise a bit. less air... marginally.

The air needle is for small adjustments.... up or down of the water in that neck of the skimmer. For my skimmers.... If I were to take the collection cup off.... the bubbles should dome just to the top of that neck....no water flowing over.... As more waste collects...the foam will grow and the bubbles will push up into the collection cup. From there... a visual check of the collection cup... and I am good. You will see levels of foam change. See my picture? I have not touched a setting on that skimmer in months. The foam is coming up into the collection cup...and pushes out of the holes.... if I have fed the tank and fish particularly well... I have even seen the foam build an lift the top right off the collection cup. I will pull the cup and clean it... Reinstall it....and I am good. The majority of the bubbles still fracture - or pop below that white ring.

I do visually inspect.... daily...and clean as needed. The sump is in the basement and each morning when I do workouts down there.... I also check the collection cup. I have never used the fitting under the collection cup to run the skimate to a collection tank. I guess I could.... but I also like to clean the cup well....every couple of days...

I hope this helps....

That is how I've been dialing it in but it just doesn't stay dialed in for long. I guess I have to keep playing with it. How would you suggest I start? Start with the air value wide open and adjust the water level first (outtake)?

 

[K. Steven]

I had nothing but problems with my first generation SN143. The DC pump was poor quality and died within 6 months, impellers broke, and the O-rings and neck weren't sized properly so the cup was difficult to remove. I had to lubricate the O-rings with silicone grease every time I cleaned the collection cup. It's a shame since I assume Skimz is a good brand. I see it is no longer sold at BRS and the new generation looks like it was greatly improved.

 

[dansreef]

Is your water level fluctuating? Are you dosing something into your tank that is causing it to foam up? What is the frequency you clean the cup?

Remove the cup. Close your air down completely. Open / close the water gate to get the water level even with the top of the neck of the skimmer ...top of the white ring.... but not flowing over. Then slowly open the airvalve. That should lower the water level.... as the pump is not moving as much water.... See if the water and bubble level will maintain a level below the white ring. Leave it settle.... replace the cup and see how things work. You may need to close the air needle...to increase the water in the skimmer... go ahead in small increments. See if that works. This should prevent a lot of the turbulence in the neck of the skimmer.....which may be your issue.

Too much air being introduced into the skimmer causes a lot of turbulence which means the bubbles cant hold the proteins until they can reach the neck and then up to the cup. This causes a build up in the main body of the skimmer. Causing too much foam....which may be the blowout you are experiencing...

 

[dansreef]

I had nothing but problems with my first generation SN143. The DC pump was poor quality and died within 6 months, impellers broke, and the O-rings and neck weren't sized properly so the cup was difficult to remove. I had to lubricate the O-rings with silicone grease every time I cleaned the collection cup. It's a shame since I assume Skimz is a good brand. I see it is no longer sold at BRS and the new generation looks like it was greatly improved.

Interesting. I didn't want a DC pump. I had heard there were reliability issues.... so opted for a standard one. I have never lubed up an o-ring. That can cause havoc on the skim... The only issue I have had with a Skimz Skimmer was a collection cup that had a seal issue of the cup itself...it would leak skimmate back into the tank.... very small leak... but it was an issue. BRS replaced it... Great Service.