protein skimmer help

[cailan]

okay, i finally have a chance to update everyone. it is an in-sump skimmer and it does drain into a container. the pump is an air pump. i haven't been running it at all. based on what everyone has said so far, i think that the pump is too powerful. my problem sounded similar to reefguy, but the second problem is that the pump doesn't turn down any lower. i get it as low as it will go and it is still pumping too hard, then i try a little lower and it cuts off. i don't thing anything i do is going to make it efficent so i will probably just buy a new one. any suggestions on brand, what do you all prefer as far as HOB or in sump?

[matt]

So, you have an airstone skimmer? Meaning, there is a little wooden airstone connected to an airpump, and another small water pump, or does the action of the airpump draw water into the skimmer. I've never seen an airstone in sump skimmer; typically they hang on the side of the tank. If it's an airstone skimmer, you should be able to raise the whole skimmer up so that it sits in less water. If you have an adjustable airpump, chances are it's a tetra luft; is this right? I've also never experienced an airpump that's "too powerful" for a skimmer; almost always it's the reverse. Are you sure this skimmer is run by an airpump? Or is it a water pump with a venturi, meaning you adjust a knob to let air into the water stream. Maybe you could post a picture.

As far as recommending an in sump skimmer, I'd need information about your system; how big is it, what kind of livestock do you have, and what is your budget for this?

[TAXMAN]

A piture would be great. My old in sump skimmer used a small pump to introduce the water and 1 flow rate. I then adjusted the air to maintain a level. More air would lower the water level in the skimmer and keep it from overflowing. If you have this type, I had to check it everyday to keep the level right. With this type of skimmer, the water level in the sump may have something to do with it. With mine, the higher the sump water, the higher the water line would be in my skimmer. Thus I had to check it all the time because of the evaporation.

And with clear water comeing out, your just overflowing the skimmer.

My current skimmer has a valve on the pump and a tube for the air intake that has no adjustment. It will fill a gallon jug in 1 day if the pump is too high. But it's just water. Not skimmate. So I adjust the water flow to control the amount of skimming.

[cailan]

i tried to get some pics loaded onto my computer couldn't get them to work. i rechecked the pump, it is a water pump. i can't adjust the water level because i can't move the cylindar any higher or lower than it is and i won't even try to expain why :lol: ! based on what taxman said i think i'm going to just give up on this one and buy a new one. the type i have sounds like too much trouble for me.

its a 55 gallon tank. right now i have 3 damsels in it but i eventually want to make it into a reef tank with clowns, tangs, etc. as far as budget goes, i'm really not quite sure. budget is not that much of a problem and i would like to just get opinion on styles and brands and take it from there.
thanks!

[TAXMAN]

I would come by to look at it, but I'm not very close. Hopefully someone may be able to stop by and give you a hand with it.

[matt]

A 55 is kind of tough to find a GOOD skimmer for. My suggestion is to get a decent insump skimmer rated for a much bigger tank. Either the smallest PM or aquaC EV will work. IMO the remora, urchin, and bakpak, or any other small skimmer run a by a powerhead will not be sufficient. I'm sure there are those who will disagree, though!

[Ram_Puppy]

well, all I can say is I have a remora pro that has been running on a rubbermaid tub (about 60 gallons or so) of water with my 30 lbs of crappy lalo live rock in it... I added the remora pro (with mag 3) on Friday around midnight, instructions said to wash it so it would start skimming faster, so I ran hot water through it, slapped it on the tub, and by saturday morning had a thick wet skimate, about 1cm worth on the bottom of the collection cup. I was expecting it to take longer than 5 hours (got home from work at midnight, left for work at 5 AM).

It has slowed down now, I think it 'caught up' (in other words cleaned out the muck and is not holding steady) but I was really suprised at how fast it started working, I had understood that new skimmers took a couple of days to break in. If this is what it can do breaking in, I am even happier.

The remora pro is rated, I believe, for tanks over 70 gallons, so if you want a hang on back skimmer, or a ready made in-sump skimmer (urchin) then I don't think they are bad choices. Certainly having one of our wizards of maast make you a customized one, or going with some of the other first rate skimmers would not be a bad idea either.

[cailan]

thanks for the help guys, i appreciate it. i'm probably going to go to alamo in the next couple of days and get a skimmer. ;)

[Ram_Puppy]

don't box yourself into one store, I just got my remora pro from CB pets, and they matched the prices of the online stores. price around, see what you can get.