|
| |
|
FAQs about Skimmer Operation/Maintenance 19
Related FAQs: Best Skimmer Op./Maint. FAQs, Skimmer
Maintenance, Skimmer Operation/Maintenance 2,
Skimmer
Op/Maint. 3, Skimmer Op/Maint. 4, Skimmer
Op/Maint. 5, Skimmer Op/Maint. 6, Skimmer
Op/Maint 7, Skimmer Op/Maint. 8, Skimmer
Selection 9, Skimmer Op/Maint 10,Skimmer
Op/Maint 11, Skimmer Op/Maint 12,
Skimmer Op/Maint 13,
Skimmer Op/Maint 14,
Skimmer Op/Maint 15,
Skimmer Op/Maint 16,
Skimmer Op/Maint 17,
Skimmer Op/Maint 18, &
Best Skimmer FAQs, Skimmers
2, To Skim or Not to Skim,
Best Skimmer Selection FAQs, Skimmer Selection,
Skimmer Selection 2, Skimmer
Selection 3, Skimmer
Selection 4, Skimmer Selection 5, Skimmer
Selection 6, Skimmer Selection 7, DIY
Skimmers, Hang-On
Models, Algae Control, CPR
Skimmers,
Deltec Skimmers,
ETSS Skimmers,
Euro-Reef Skimmers,
Prizm Skimmers,
SeaClone
Skimmers, Skimmers for Eclipse
Systems,
Skimmers for Small Systems, Skilter
Skimmers, Tunze Skimmers,
Algae Control
Related Articles:
Skimmers by Steven Pro,
Protein
Skimmer Impressions
By
Steven Pro,
Marine
Filtration, Mechanical, Physical
& Chemical, and
FAQs,
Tiny Bubbles (not the Don Ho classic) and Larger Ones &
Bubble Troubles 1,
Bubble Troubles 2,
|
Big, dirty fish? Big, efficient skimming
|
Skimmer, Omni Life... – 07/16/08
Hello
I am looking for any information on an Omni Life skimmer. I just recently
purchased one, It came without a pump.
<Can fit most any on, and throttle up/down... does not work well in any case...>
I just need to know if anyone knows anything about this company
Thanks, Curt
<Mmm, is a puny, un-engineered very low use tool... I would put it back on the
Net or the garage... whence it came. Bob Fenner>
Overskimming? Fact or Fiction? - 6/30/08
Dear Crew --
<Hallo! Benjamin with you today!>
A very quick skimmer question. We have a hang-on-the-side BakPak2 skimmer on a
55 gallon tank. We recently cleaned the skimmer (for the
first time in almost a year). We followed all the instructions and it seems to
be working well. My question is ... is it possible to overskim a tank?
<For all practical purposes, no>
The skimmer was pulling out about a quarter of the skimming-cup once a week, now
it is pulling out that much in every couple of days, maybe even every day. Is it
possible to overskim the tank? Could that hurt sponges or other things that are
doing in-tank filtration?
<No fears, this is by no means out of line- I would consider it a big
improvement. The efficiency of a skimmer lowers in a directly proportional
relationship to the amount of dissolved polar molecules. In essence, it is a
negative feedback; for every 1% DOC the skimmer removes, the next 1% will be
slightly harder to fractionate. I digress; all this to say that it would take
much, much more than a Bak-Pak II to provide the needed power to overskim a 55
gallon tank- overskimming in hobbyist systems is virtually unheard of, and
almost impossible.>
If it is overskimming, how can we tune it to skim less? I'd prefer not to cycle
it on and off because it provides a nice flow in that corner of the tank.
<All is well, and I'd recommend cleaning it at least monthly to keep up good
nutrient export.
Thanks for all your help
<Very welcome.>
thanks
Dave and Laura
<Benjamin>
Euro-Reef Modified Eheim Pumps For
Small ER Skimmers (Not Yet!) – 06/17/08
Hi,
<<Hello!>>
I have a question about the Euro-Reef RS100.
<<I am a huge fan of ER skimmers…I own a CS12=3 with ER-modded Eheim
1262 pumps, myself>>
I called them up and was hoping I could switch out the Sedra pump for an
Eheim.
<<Hmmm…the RS100 uses a ER-modified Sedra 3500 pump…I believe the only
ER-modified Eheim pump is the Eheim 1262…too much pump for RS100
skimmer>>
Since this pump performs much better and is quieter.
<<The Eheim pumps “are” a much better pump than many…agreed>>
I couldn’t get anyone over there.
<<Keep trying… I have chatted with these fine folks on several
occasions…they were likely busy and just couldn’t get to the phone>>
Is this a possibility?
<<I’m skeptical (unless you can get a custom mod on a smaller Eheim
model)…but you need to speak to the folks at Euro-Reef about it>>
Can you recommend an Eheim pump for this size skimmer?
<<Not with the required needle-wheel or pin-wheel mod currently offered
by Euro-Reef and sized for their RS100 skimmer. You could try looking
around the NET to see if anyone offers a smaller needle-wheel modified
Eheim pump. H&S skimmers use such modified Eheim pumps…1260s I believe
(and about $300 a pop)…but this is still probably too much pump for the
ER RS100 skimmer. A needle-wheel modified Eheim 1250 is what you need to
look for…good luck. Another option would be to replace the Sedra pump
that comes with the skimmer with a needle-wheel modified Ocean Runner
pump of comparable size. It will be a fraction of the cost of the Eheim
(though I do like those Eheims!) and I find this brand of pump very
quiet and reliable as well…though they are a bit bulky/large. Be aware,
any pump you get that was not modified/designed/intended by Euro-Reef to
be used with their skimmers will very probably require some
modification/imagination to get it to “mate-up” with the ER skimmer (and
will probably also void any warranties)>>
Thank you.
<<Good luck with your “hunt.” EricR>>
Re: Euro-Reef Modified Eheim Pumps
For Small ER Skimmers (Not Yet!) – 06/18/08
Hi Eric,
<<Sal>>
Thanks for the quick reply.
<<Quite welcome>>
Do you know if the Sedra pump is very loud?
<<They’re not “too” bad…no more so than a Mag-Drive pump in my
experience. The single Sedra-3500 that comes with the ER RS100 skimmer
would not make much noise I would think…especially if you take steps to
limit vibration by placing the pump and skimmer body on some sort of
“resilient” material like computer mouse pads, a piece of sealed-foam
insulation, etc.>>
One of the reasons I want an Eheim is because I've read they are very
quiet.
<<They are indeed…there just isn’t one available with a needle-wheel
sized for the RS100 skimmer>>
I don’t want to hear the skimmer going throughout my entire condo.
<<Understandable>>
Any help/ideas are greatly appreciated. <<Provide some vibration
dampening under the skimmer/pump and I think you will be fine>>
Peace
Sent from my iPhone
<<Regards, EricR (sent from my work computer…shhh!)>>
R2: Euro-Reef Modified Eheim Pumps
For Small ER Skimmers (Not Yet!) – 06/19/08
Thanks Eric,
<<Welcome Sal>>
Just want to get this straight.
<<Okay>>
You want me to put a mouse pad in my sump under my skimmer....
underwater?
<<Yep… It doesn’t have to be a mouse pad per se (though I have heard of
folks using these), just some type of non-reactive and resilient
material to absorb vibration from the pump and skimmer body. In my
system, I have my in-sump skimmer w/pumps and my submersible return
pumps all “cushioned” with bits of closed-cell foam insulation (1/4”)
like that found at any home center (Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc.). This can
go a long way towards reducing noise from a vibrating pump. Regards,
EricR>>
|
Protein Skimmer Performance Question
6/18/08
WWM Crew,
<Hello.>
I have a Turboflotor 1000 Multi currently installed as a hang-on in my sump.
Tank overflow feeds directly into the side of the sump that the skimmer is
installed on so the water level remains constant with the skimmer pump sitting
approximately 4-5” under the water. The problem I’m experiencing is, after I
empty and clean the skimmer cup (1-2 X’s per week), the skimmer will produce
about 1” of nice dark skimmate in the cup but it seems to stop after that (The
level of skimmate never rises). It does go from a weak tea color to dark
(literally almost black) color but the level of production never seems to
increase.
<OK>
From a clean, dry cup I will have that 1” of weak colored tea within 24 hours;
after that, the only “production” I see is the color of the skimmate getting
darker and darker. I think foam is no longer entering the cup because when I
remove the cup to clean it, there is very thick, dry foam all the way up the
center of the cup and attached to the lid of the cup as well. Could this dry
foam be preventing new foam from entering the cup or is this normal production?
<Your skimmate production will decrease, in this case go toward the drier end,
as the neck of the cup get dirty.>
I clean the needle-wheel pump, venturi, & air lines once a month .
<All good practice.>
I’ve had other skimmers before this one, most recently a Coralife Super
Needle-Wheel 125 and while it didn’t produce this dark colored skimmate, the
level of production in the cup did slowly rise each day as more foam entered the
cup.
<The darker the skimmate, the lower in volume it will be, not necessarily a bad
thing.>
I’ve read several pages of your skimmer FAQ’s and have been unable to find any
other symptom similar to this.
<Sounds like normal skimmer operation. If you would like a wet foam, raise the
water level in the skimmer. Another option is to clean the collection cup daily
to get the wet skimmate. Best of luck, Scott V.>
Protein Skimmer Acting Up 6/18/08
Hey,
<Hello.>
I recently did a water change, 15 gallons on a 55 gallon tank, using a new salt,
Tropic Marin, and cleaned the filters (in fresh salt water) and changed out the
carbon and Kent Marine Nitrate Sponge from my Fluval 405. I unplugged the whole
system for the cleaning, for about 15 minutes at most. I plugged everything back
in and when the skimmer (sea clone 100) turned on, it began to spit out more
bubbles than typical. Now the collection cup fills up with clean water within
3-5 minutes.
<This can happen with water changes, vitamins, some supplements, filter
cleaning, all of the above.>
Also, if I turn the skimmer onto low it spits out a lot of bubbles and a thin
scum starts to build on the top of the water. I have tested the water, and
nothing major was out of line. My nitrates were 15ppm (pinpoint monitor just
calibrated), and salinity was 1.025. any help would be great, as I have looked
all over the internet, and you are the only ones that I know could have a
solution for me.
<Give it time, a few hours and it should be back to normal. If it is not you
will want to clean the pump and airline. Obstructions here can do this also.>
I know adding a sump would be ideal, but I have a glass tank and don’t know
exactly how to do this.
<A hang on the back overflow or drilling the tank are the two options. Visit:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ovrflowboxfaq4.htm for more information on overflows;
getting water to a sump.>
Thank you,
Brady
<Welcome, good luck, Scott V.>
Re: Protein Skimmer Acting Up 6/19/08
It’s been over 5 hours and 2 and a half gallons of water I’ve removed
because of the protein skimmer. It’s still not working. I replaced the water I
removed with standard RO water.
<Do check and watch your salinity, this will be saltwater you are removing in
this case. Replacing it with fresh will lower your SPG.>
Any other suggestions to help this issue?
< If your pump and air intake are clean, give it time, shut the skimmer off for
a bit if it is accumulating this much water. Cleaning and water changes in the
tank can make a skimmer go nuts for a while, sometimes a day or more. Sit tight,
Scott V.>
Protein Skimmer Question 06/02/2008
Good afternoon guys,
<<And Gals i hope... Andrew with you today>>
First let me say your site is amazing, this is my first question to you b/c I
have always been able to find the answers I needed by searching.
<<Thanks for the kind words>>
However for this one I seem to be having a little trouble (although I'm sure
it's here somewhere.) First my set up which has been running for 7 months now
and has consistently had the numbers to follow: 45 Gal. (high), custom show tank
(reef), 55 lbs of live rock making pinnacles and caves modeled on a site/reef I
dived and photographed in the Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi (avid underwater phtog
here), 3 - 5 inches of live sand sloping back. My numbers Ammonia, Trite &
Trates all 0, Ph 8.3, Calcium 423, Mag 1270, DKH 10.5, Phosphates 0 and
strontium 15. Aqua C Remora Pro skimmer and 1 - 150 watt Metal Halide with 14 K
bulb and 1 PC dual compact 80 w (1 pure daylight & 1 pure actinic) all in all ~
6 watts per gallon. Inhabitants are 1 true percula, 2 cardinal fish, a mated
pair of Coral Banded Shrimp (she's constantly carrying and laying eggs which are
a nice supplemental feedings for the tank and both are gentle with the tank
mates - coral not so much), btwn 5 - 10 (of each) blue legged hermits,
Nassarius, cone head and margarita snails. Corals are 6 different types of
mushroom (orange, blue, red and green, 1 Palythoa polyp, 1 open brain coral
(red) and after much reading prior to buying I now have a gorgeous Goniopora sp.
(green) the size of a child's basketball (the ones pizza hut used to give away
at the final four) and that's just when he does not feel like coming all the way
out - he usually does and he's bigger at times and is always out when the lights
are on from day 1 (even in the acclimating container.. =).
<<Sounds like a wonderful setup you have there>>
Well needless to say I love him and have taken it upon myself to read everything
I can get my hands on on their care and difficulty of care. Spot feedings of
Cyclops-eeze mixed with zoo, brine shrimp shavings and DT's oyster eggs several
times per week. OK enough about my tank and on to the real question:
<<Ok>>
I have always been running the protein skimmer constantly 24 hrs. per day except
while feeding when it is off and timed for 1 1/2 hrs. when I first started in
reefing I didn't even think about how long may be good or not good to run the
skimmer. So I started to do a little research and found out others only run
theirs for several hours per day. What would you (the pro's) advise for my
situation and tank?
<<To be honest, personal preference. I would have to say its about a split 50 /
50 of people i know who run all the time, a nd some on timers. Personally, i
don't run one at all. If you can run 24/7, then i don't see any harm in it, this
is usually the common advise to give. Some of the people i know who run their
skimmer for only part of the day, actually only do this to cut down their
electric consumption>>
I'm thinking a timer kicking it on during the night-time & off ___________?
would be nice so I don't have to see all the micro-bubbles = ), but you...?
<<If you have a micro bubble issue with the skimmer, then i would attempt all
avenues possible to rectify this. I do know that sometimes, no matter what is
done, it cannot be stopped. So, if you do only want to run it for part of the
day, then yes, run it through the night while tank viewing is not being done>>
Can you advise a time estimate for my skimmer? Or anything I could read upon for
the Goni, I have all the common books, but maybe I'm missing one or two. Thanks
so much for your time and all you do to help us little guys out. Alex -
Manhattan, NYC where I can't SCUBA dive without a shot...
<<Please do read more on the Goniopora here including linked articles and FAQ's
http://wetwebmedia.com/poritidae.htm >>
<<Thanks for the questions, hope this helps. A Nixon>>
Re: Protein Skimmer Question 06/03/2008
Thanks for the great advise and feedback Andrew.
<<No problem at all, glad to be of assistance>>
Definitely gal's as well. I'm fortunate enough to live in an apartment building
where I don't pay for electricity so that is never a problem. I will take your
advise since it has been working since start-up and keep running the skimmer
24-7. Thanks again for the link to more readings on the Goni - heading there
right now. Look forward to the next time we get a chance to chat.
<<Me too Alex, enjoy reading, learning, enjoying. Good day. A Nixon>> | |
|
