Skimmer problem proposed solution ???

[ShooterRick]

My skimmer supply pump is to much flow for this skimmer. I cannot adjust it down far enoeph to get a dry skim and will fill the cup with liquid easily in 8 hrs or less when it is producing. I think if I change this utility pump out for a maxijet 1200 I have, this may solve the problem. Does this sound about right. Alternately I can go buy the plumbing for a bleed off valve for the supply line but I would prefer not to complicate the set up more than it is. Thought?

[chrisfont23]

A few options:

- Move the cup as far as it goes
- Reduce the amount of air flow from the intake
- Throttle back the pump with a ball valve

[Reefing Madness]

Never throttle back the I take side of a pump, this will ruin it. Does it have a ball valve on the return pipe? That's the portion you should throttle back. I would not put a smaller pump on it, I would think it would not produce correctly.

[JeroenB]

I put my skimmer on some stones so the water level was lower. This reduced the amount of water in my cup. My intake pump is now just below the water level.

[ShooterRick]

Never throttle back the I take side of a pump, this will ruin it. Does it have a ball valve on the return pipe? That's the portion you should throttle back. I would not put a smaller pump on it, I would think it would not produce correctly.

There is a ball valve on the return pipe. It is open as far as it will go allowing more water to bypass the skimmer now. If you close that ball valve it holds more water in the skimmer raising the water level in the skimmer. What about a bleed off valve like on the display tank return to lessen the flow to the skimmer? The cup is as high in the stand as it will go. The air supply has no adjustment.

[chrisfont23]

Never throttle back the I take side of a pump, this will ruin it. Does it have a ball valve on the return pipe? That's the portion you should throttle back. I would not put a smaller pump on it, I would think it would not produce correctly.

Come to think of it, my Eheim 1262 on my overflow is wide open.

[Reefing Madness]

There is a ball valve on the return pipe. It is open as far as it will go allowing more water to bypass the skimmer now. If you close that ball valve it holds more water in the skimmer raising the water level in the skimmer. What about a bleed off valve like on the display tank return to lessen the flow to the skimmer? The cup is as high in the stand as it will go. The air supply has no adjustment.

Ok, is the liquid in the cup a tea color? If it is, then I'd leave it alone it is working the way its supposed to. You might want to run a line from the cup to a one gallon milk jug for overfill. I use one on mine, the cup doesn't really hold all that much. Also, is your skimmer high enough in the sump? I know we had some trouble with it. Can you get it up another inch?

[ShooterRick]

Ok, is the liquid in the cup a tea color? If it is, then I'd leave it alone it is working the way its supposed to. You might want to run a line from the cup to a one gallon milk jug for overfill. I use one on mine, the cup doesn't really hold all that much. Also, is your skimmer high enough in the sump? I know we had some trouble with it. Can you get it up another inch?

The liquid in the cup looks lighter color than tea. I would say it looks like over creamed coffee, not white but slightly tinged and milky. I have a line from the cup with a ball valve on it to empty into a bowl to dump. The skimmer is outside the sump as high as the stand will allow. When all is running the airated water level rises to the point the inverted funnel starts to neck down to the tube that runs to the cup. Foam is flowing up this riser tube or whatever it is called, at a significant pace as soon as I introduced organics to the tank to cycle. The cup filled half way in just a few minutes before I chose to drain it.

The supply pump to the skimmer is a mag drive utility pump of the Danner variety. Its GPH is unknown as the info has worn of its labeling. It came with the used tank but functions well. What about a bleed off valve on the supply pump going to the skimmer to tame the flow down? I believe the manufacturer suggests a pump only 1.5 times the size of the pump mounted on the skimmer.

[ShooterRick]

I just looked up the supply pump requirements for this DNW 150 SWC OCT skimmer. It is a supply pump rated at 1.5 total system volume. The Tank is 72 gal. The sump is 20 gal. Figureing conservatively that with rock and substrate displacement is I guess 80 Gal. So If I understand the math a pump rated at 120 gal per minute is suggested. That seems small to me. Would the MJ1200 accomplish that volume?

[Reefing Madness]

I just looked up the supply pump requirements for this DNW 150 SWC OCT skimmer. It is a supply pump rated at 1.5 total system volume. The Tank is 72 gal. The sump is 20 gal. Figureing conservatively that with rock and substrate displacement is I guess 80 Gal. So If I understand the math a pump rated at 120 gal per minute is suggested. That seems small to me. Would the MJ1200 accomplish that volume?

Worth a shot at this point I think. Got no other answers for you.

[ShooterRick]

Worth a shot at this point I think. Got no other answers for you.

I started the cycle yesterday and since my fowlr cycled without the skimmer I will change the pumps out Saturday and see what happens. I will report back then on this subject.

[ShooterRick]

I swapped out the utility pump supplying my skimmer from a Danner that was way too much input to a Maxi Jet 1200 power head this morning as discussed. There was some improvement in the problem but not enoeph. I then noticed on the air line cannister filter a second air hose connection where the skimmer took in air. I cut about a 3 inch piece of air tubing and put a gate valve on it and connected the whole thing to the skimmers air intake filter.

Eureka! Not only is my foam now not overflowing the cup but I have additional adjustment if needed to keep the foam at about any level close to the cup or as high as I want. There is still tons of foam but it is under control now. I now need to figure the optimum dial in for the skimmer.

The foam being produce as of 10 am is cream color. I would assume as the tank continues to cycle and more yuk is in the tank it will get darker. The tank tested last night at 1.0 ppm amonia up from .25 ppm monday.

[Reefing Madness]

Learn something new every day. Very cool.