I NEED SKIMMER HELP!! - MRC MR-2 - Return under water

fluidimagery · 02/23/2007, 10:27 PM

I'm driving myself insane here...

I have a MRC - MR2 using a single beckett on a Blueline 55 pump. I got everything hooked up today. Unfortunately due to the height of the stand and the water level in the sump, the return for the skimmer had to be under water.

I was able to use the skimmer with the blueline 55 turned down to about 75% and not have the skimmer flooding with clean water.

The issue now is massive amount of microbubbles. I'm trying to think of a way to rig up a filter sock, but it makes it very difficult being that the return is under water. Any help would be awesome!

Pics:

Still dry:

cmulawka · 02/23/2007, 10:50 PM

i have sort of the same problem it you get a filter sock that has draw strings from marinedepot. It looks like enough of a lip to tie it and the end of the skimmer return beware of the sock getting dirty though it can flood the skimmer.

Hop · 02/23/2007, 10:59 PM

The return is fine. But you will need to do the U-tube mod to get microbubbles under control. Filter socks are only going to help a little bit with the MRC... They make some bubbles

When I did the u-tube mod, my bubbles decreased by about 80% (that's a guess, I did not do an official bubble count).

lvpd186 · 02/23/2007, 11:00 PM

If that is a brand new skimmer you might have to just give it some time to break in. That might be part of your problem. In the mean time you could always get a piece of acrylic and place it after your skimmers return, kind of a temp bubble trap.

Hop · 02/23/2007, 11:08 PM

Trust me... The two best mods I did to the MRC was the u-tube mod and plumbed my air intake outside the wetroom. For some reason the varying humidity levels fluctuated the water/bubble foam level which resulted in a hard to control foam head

HippieSmell · 02/24/2007, 12:20 AM

I've got that skimmer too, and I agree with Hop, do the U-tube mod. Also, it might help to put a couple elbows on the skimmer drain (inside the sump) to get it above the water line. That way it won't ever create a siphon and mess up the water level in the skimmer. Then you should be able to run the pump at 100%, which I HIGHLY recommend. You're losing a lot of performance otherwise.

fluidimagery · 02/24/2007, 08:16 AM

The U Tube mod sounds like what I need... I'm tired of messing around with 45s trying to get it above the waterlevel so I can strap a filter sock on.

Can anyone point me to a U-Tube mod thread?

HippieSmell · 02/24/2007, 11:50 AM

If you don't get the skimmer drain above the water line, the water level in the skimmer may be erratic and won't work very well. It will cycle between little skimming to flooding the cup with water. Just a heads up.

The U-tube mod is buried in the MRC skimmer thread somewhere. A search should find it for you.

fluidimagery · 02/24/2007, 11:14 PM

I got the skimmer working perfectly tonight. Well...so far so good.

What I did was hook a 100 micron filter sock to the return with a drawstring. Of course I'll have to keep on top of cleaning it, but for now I couldn't be happier.

I'm able to turn the blueline 55 all the way up and just tune the air intake to create the skim I want. I'm sure some more adjusting will need to be done since it's only been running for about 7 hours.

Thanks for all the help.

dabears1983 · 02/25/2007, 08:20 PM

Hi,
I have the same skimmer, i have two mag 11`s, on one beckett, and the skimmer is the sump, can I do the u-tube mod, and if yes, what is it,
thanks

fluidimagery · 02/25/2007, 08:40 PM

This is a link to some pictures of the U Tube mod... I'm still using the filter bag myself.

http://www.steve68.com/other.htm

02/23/2007, 10:27 PM	#1
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	I NEED SKIMMER HELP!! - MRC MR-2 - Return under water I'm driving myself insane here... I have a MRC - MR2 using a single beckett on a Blueline 55 pump. I got everything hooked up today. Unfortunately due to the height of the stand and the water level in the sump, the return for the skimmer had to be under water. I was able to use the skimmer with the blueline 55 turned down to about 75% and not have the skimmer flooding with clean water. The issue now is massive amount of microbubbles. I'm trying to think of a way to rig up a filter sock, but it makes it very difficult being that the return is under water. Any help would be awesome! Pics: Still dry:

02/23/2007, 10:59 PM	#3
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	The return is fine. But you will need to do the U-tube mod to get microbubbles under control. Filter socks are only going to help a little bit with the MRC... They make some bubbles When I did the u-tube mod, my bubbles decreased by about 80% (that's a guess, I did not do an official bubble count). __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

02/23/2007, 11:00 PM	#4
lvpd186 Reefing in NE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 1,485	If that is a brand new skimmer you might have to just give it some time to break in. That might be part of your problem. In the mean time you could always get a piece of acrylic and place it after your skimmers return, kind of a temp bubble trap. __________________ "A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby

02/23/2007, 11:08 PM	#5
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Trust me... The two best mods I did to the MRC was the u-tube mod and plumbed my air intake outside the wetroom. For some reason the varying humidity levels fluctuated the water/bubble foam level which resulted in a hard to control foam head __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

02/24/2007, 12:20 AM	#6
HippieSmell Occupy Reef Central Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orbiting Posts: 4,141	I've got that skimmer too, and I agree with Hop, do the U-tube mod. Also, it might help to put a couple elbows on the skimmer drain (inside the sump) to get it above the water line. That way it won't ever create a siphon and mess up the water level in the skimmer. Then you should be able to run the pump at 100%, which I HIGHLY recommend. You're losing a lot of performance otherwise. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. Current Tank Info: 78"x36"x27" acrylic, 6 Orphek Atlantik V3+ Compacts, MRC Orca Pro II w/washdown, CalcFeeder Pro AC3, Emperor Aquatics 80w UV, 80/20 aluminum stand, Vortech MP60's, Theiling Rollermat, GHL Profilux 3.1T EX, Kessil H380

02/23/2007, 10:50 PM	#2
cmulawka Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 770	i have sort of the same problem it you get a filter sock that has draw strings from marinedepot. It looks like enough of a lip to tie it and the end of the skimmer return beware of the sock getting dirty though it can flood the skimmer.

02/24/2007, 08:16 AM	#7
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	The U Tube mod sounds like what I need... I'm tired of messing around with 45s trying to get it above the waterlevel so I can strap a filter sock on. Can anyone point me to a U-Tube mod thread?

02/24/2007, 11:50 AM	#8
HippieSmell Occupy Reef Central Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orbiting Posts: 4,141	If you don't get the skimmer drain above the water line, the water level in the skimmer may be erratic and won't work very well. It will cycle between little skimming to flooding the cup with water. Just a heads up. The U-tube mod is buried in the MRC skimmer thread somewhere. A search should find it for you. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. Current Tank Info: 78"x36"x27" acrylic, 6 Orphek Atlantik V3+ Compacts, MRC Orca Pro II w/washdown, CalcFeeder Pro AC3, Emperor Aquatics 80w UV, 80/20 aluminum stand, Vortech MP60's, Theiling Rollermat, GHL Profilux 3.1T EX, Kessil H380

02/24/2007, 11:14 PM	#9
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	I got the skimmer working perfectly tonight. Well...so far so good. What I did was hook a 100 micron filter sock to the return with a drawstring. Of course I'll have to keep on top of cleaning it, but for now I couldn't be happier. I'm able to turn the blueline 55 all the way up and just tune the air intake to create the skim I want. I'm sure some more adjusting will need to be done since it's only been running for about 7 hours. Thanks for all the help.

02/25/2007, 08:20 PM	#10
dabears1983 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 162	Hi, I have the same skimmer, i have two mag 11`s, on one beckett, and the skimmer is the sump, can I do the u-tube mod, and if yes, what is it, thanks

02/25/2007, 08:40 PM	#11
fluidimagery Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westhampton Beach Posts: 160	This is a link to some pictures of the U Tube mod... I'm still using the filter bag myself. http://www.steve68.com/other.htm