asm G1 skimmer

[L8so]

Just upgrated skimmer to a asm G1. Its been in my sump about two weeks .can't seem to get it to skimm wright.so far no gunk or foam in collection cup.tried ajusting a few times and no results any advice?

[gregony]

What's the water level in the sump? Have you checked the needlewheel to make its spinning right and that all the needles are there? Are you getting good air flow into the skimmer pump (you can check this by blowing into the air inlet and seeing if bubbles burp out, you should also be able to hear the air entering the line). Is the water in the sump somewhat calm or is it thrashing around? Are you getting any bubbles and if so can you intentionally adjust them so they overflow into the cup? If all these answers are yes and your water level is the recommended amount (almost always 8 to 10" for a needlewheel skimmer) then you're probably not setting the bubbles to start at the right spot in the column. Do a search on Youtube for ASM skimmer videos. See how the other people have set their bubble line. If you still can't get it working, do like Steve - send it back and get a Royal Exclusive Alpha 170

[L8so]

Hey thanks greg. Water level in sumpb is about 6-7" pump is getting air I checked it just like you said I could even hear it sucking in air.I checked the water in the skimmer I can adjut it where the bubbles overflow from the collection cup. I didn't get a chance to check the needle wheel and needles .when I bought it all I did was rinse it and put it in my sump.I didn't check any of the mechanical parts.you mentioned adjusting the bubbles with the column where do I start.

[gregony]

These are instructions that were posted on ReefCentral back in 2005 by NwG. Pay special attn to note 11. I read more of the thread and 6 to 8 inches is the recommended water height for ASM's. This is a link to the thread in its entirety: ASM Skimmer FAQ's - Reef Central Online Community
All the skimmers I've had, you adjusted the air intake as well as the water level. From what I can garner from the instructions, you just run the ASM's air wide open and adjust the water level. Finding just the right spot for the skimmer often takes a couple of weeks if not a month or so. As long as you can adjust the bubbles so they overflow the skimmer, you'll almost certainly be able to adjust the skimmer to point where it will work.

1. Remove the skimmer from box and look to see that all parts are present and not broken or cracked.
-1.) Skimmer Body.
-2.) Collection Cup with Lid.
-3.) O-Ring on Simmer Body for Collection Cup.
-4.) Larger skimmers will have a seperate taper body section, unlike the smaller skimmers that are permanently attached to the collection cup.
-5.) O-Ring on Seperate Taper Body Section for Collection Cup on the larger skimmers.
-6.) Grey 90 degree PVC Socket Elbow.
(some older, smaller skimmers will not have the PVC elbow)
- 7.) Adjustable Riser Pipe.
(should be in the vertical PVC pipe on the skimmer body, i.e. skimmer outlet)
- 8.) Grey Foam Filter Tube.
- 9.) Needle-Wheel Sedra Pump with Venturi and Silicone Airline tubing.
2. With a moist rag, wipe any visible oil/manufacturing residue off all the parts.
3. Set up the skimmer dry to get a feel of how it should look. Use the diagram that came with your skimmer to accomplish this.
4. Fill a plastic container, large sink, bathtub or whatever else you can think of that will be able to hold the assembled skimmer in warm/hot tap water. Set the skimmer in the water and connect the Sedra plug to an electrical outlet. The pump will slowly fill the skimmer body.
(Attention - The skimmer will not produce fine bubbles in freshwater! Your skimmer will produce fine bubble only in saltwater!)
5. Let the skimmer run for 1 to 24 hours in freshwater to remove any oily manufacturing residue left from the manufacturing process. When you do this rinse, you cut down on your break-in period.
6. Unplug the Sedra from the electrical outlet and dry everything off.
7. Clear a space in your sump for the skimmer.
(ASM skimmers can not be run externally.)
8. Set the skimmer in your sump. Make sure the skimmer and pumps don't touch the walls of the sump, this can cause unwanted noise.
9. Set the riser pipe low and plug the Sedra pump to an electrical outlet. Make sure you have water drip loop on the Sedra's electrical cord to assure that water will not reach the electrical outlet.
10. Run the skimmer with the riser pipe at the lowest setting for half a day to allow the skimmer to start producing skimmate.
11. Adjust the riser pipe slowly so that the skimate produced is within an inch of the top of the skimmer neck that is inside the collection cup.
12. The skimmer needs time to break-in and this can take as long as a few weeks. During the break-in time a "slime coat" will form inside the skimmer body and adjustments to the riser pipe should be made in 1/8 to 1/2 inch increments. The skimmer won't be consistent until after it is broken-in.
13. Skim Away!!!! You can make adjustment to the water level in the skimmer adjusting the riser pipe on the skimmer output. Raise the skimmer riser pipe for wetter skimmate. Lower the skimmer riser pipe for dryer skimmate.