What’s the trick to a consistent skimmer?

[b4tn]

I have been using the same skimmer for 4 years it’s a reef octopus 150 int classic. It’s at about 8” depth and I have no issues dialing it in but.... any time I turn it off for a water change, feeding, filter sock change, etc I have to spend the next couple hours getting it dialed in again. Shouldn’t it be a set and forget type item? Or do you all have to continue to readjust?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have been using the same skimmer for 4 years it’s a reef octopus 150 int classic. It’s at about 8” depth and I have no issues dialing it in but.... any time I turn it off for a water change, feeding, filter sock change, etc I have to spend the next couple hours getting it dialed in again. Shouldn’t it be a set and forget type item? Or do you all have to continue to readjust?

I have the same skimmer. When changing socks or water change, it will act up. I always turn down the flow in it while it stabilizes. Any skimmer will do this, Any.

 

[Zos4me]

i have the same one. I turn off the skimmer and pump when i do anything and then turn back on when im done and nothing seems to change . Never had to readjust

 

[hart24601]

That's interesting, I rarely ever need to adjust my skimmer unless I am going my lighter or darker for some reason. Goes months without changing it. Change socks every few days , no need to mess with it. Flippers you think every skimmer has to be modified when changing socks?

 

[b4tn]

Yeah putting in a clean filter sock makes the skimmer go ham! Water changes are the same it over flows as soon as I turn it on. I have a macro in my controller called “change filter sock” and it shuts off my skimmer for 3 hours after changing anything. It works some of the time but most of the time I have to readjust again. It’s just a pain re adjusting the skimmer every 3 days. Especially when it seems to take a couple days to get it fine tuned just to change a filter sock the next day.

 

[C-Reefer]

It could be the fluctuation of water level when you pull a sock out or turn a pump off. I always just turn my skimmer off when I'm doing anything in the sump, and turn it back on after everything is back on. No fluctuations.

 

[ca1ore]

Another in the long list of reasons to not use socks lol. The only thing that buggars up my skimmer is clogged injectors.

 

[Flippers4pups]

That's interesting, I rarely ever need to adjust my skimmer unless I am going my lighter or darker for some reason. Goes months without changing it. Change socks every few days , no need to mess with it. Flippers you think every skimmer has to be modified when changing socks?

Not modified, cleaned dry socks when placed into a skimmer section will most certainly cause a skimmer to act up.

 

[User1]

I'm not going to nock any skimmer since I've owned three since I joined this hobby in '89. ETSS - very inconsistent due to water level in the sump ATO or not - just always fiddling with it. CPR Bak Pak that I use on a 40 breeder. No issues. It just works. Packed up and put away for emergency and QT. Life Reef skimmer since 2000 and it is a breeze. It just works.

The general rule of thumb at least in my opinion for any skimmer is that if it is in the sump or plumbed to the sump then you need a consistent water level in there otherwise you are fighting possibly back pressure, etc. If that is dialed in there shouldn't be any messing with the skimmer regardless of brand. If there is then I'd suggest you pick up a new skimmer. That is why I ditched the ETSS years ago.