Skimmer works too well??

[orion25]

I have a Berlin Turbo skimmer. I am using a two liter Coke bottle with the collection cup fitting and tube for skimmate collection.

My problem is the foam that the skimmer is pulling is so dry and so thick that it will not drain out of the cup to the bottle. This stuff is so thick that it causes the top of the skimmer to come off and the foam overflows the cup.

What could be the cause of this and what can I do to fix it. Cleaning the cup every other day sucks.

Thanks,
Ryan

[wuelfman]

clean the cup everyday
think about it
you have LOTS of junk its pulling out
give it time and it will catch up (and there wont be as much to pull out)
and you will have a great healthy tank

[RobG]

I have the berlin turbo too, don't have the same problem as you do, but I can't for the life of me picture how you have the 2 liter bottle rigged into the thing? Can you post a pic or describe how you have it hooked up?

Not the best solution, but you could always try turning down the skimmer or reducing the air intake if you're getting too much skimmate out of the thing...

[orion25]

RobG,

My Turbo came with a piece of plastic tubing (like airline tubing only larger diameter) and a hose barb. To attach it I removed the plastic screw in plug that comes installed on the bottom of the collection cup and inserted the barb in the hole. After screwing in the barb I drilled a hole in the top of the Coke bottle for the tube to fit through. Finally I hooked the tube to the barb and put the other end through the hole in the bottle top.

Wish I had a pic but a digital camera is on the list after my corals.

HTH,
Ryan

[scubadude]

Originally posted by orion25
RobG,

After screwing in the barb I drilled a hole in the top of the Coke bottle for the tube to fit through.

HTH,
Ryan

Hi orion
Im just curious if you should maybe drill a small vent hole in the top of the coke bottle to....cuz if you have all or even one of your tops on these skimmers they can create back pressure in your skimmer....thus the air not venting, sounds to me like the air isnt getting out of the skimmer like it should be which = backpressure ....just a thought

The above possible solutions may be just as valid though...and heres a pic of my drain off into a 2 litre juice plastic bottle



as you can see I just have my hose inside the juice bottle with no cap...so the air can bleed out

[orion25]

Thanks Scubadude! I'm going to try that. I'll let you know if it helps.

Ryan