Must have more bubbles!!!!

[DaneDodger]

We started our 130 gall tank with a Seaclone skimmer. It absolutely stank on ice so my sweetie got this bright idea to make his own super skimmer (heaven preserve us all from testosterone and the associated "MORE POWER!!!" syndrome :roll ) This thing is a monster! It's like 7 feet tall for heaven's sake!! :lol We aren't getting good skimmate going through and he thinks it's because we don't have quite enough bubbles yet. We get some but I don't think enough and it's too "dry", doesn't collapse back into a liquid in the collection cup, just forms a really nasty almost black green sludge. He's using 6 limewood blocks run off of two air pumps. Any suggestions from you DIYers?
Jenn

[falcondob]

If it is that tall, it sounds like you really don't have enough power, you need something that will move a lot of water. I had a venturi skimmer and it ran off a Panworld pressure-rated pump. Is this his furst skimmer? We have a lot of people here with a lot of background in building and tuning skimmers. Me? I gave up and bought a EuroReef. Never looked back....

[brewercm]

What size pump is he using to run water through the skimmer. I wouldn't go too high because this is a skimmer that is run off of air stones so to much water will give you less contact time but you definately need to make sure you have enough.
I don't know his design but if there is any way that he can get his water column a little higher in the skimmer he can get a wetter skimate.