why will this not skim

2000vert · 04/12/2007, 11:46 AM

I purchased a Via aqua 200 skimmer on sunday. I have adjusted it with low bubbles and raised the water to the cup. I have adjusted the bubbles high and lowered the water and I can not get it to skim anything. I like it with the bubbles low and the water high. When the bubbles are high it sends alot of bubbles into the sump where they get pumped into the main tank. are there skimmers any good. Does anybody have one and has had good luck with them? Any help would be great. Thanks

JRaquatics · 04/12/2007, 11:52 AM

I personally don't care for these skimmers there are so many better skimmers out there. You need to give any skimmer time to break in. the oils in the skimmer affect bubble production. I could take up to 2 weeks to break in.

luke33 · 04/12/2007, 12:11 PM

2000vert, check out the woot thread as it has alot of info on this skimmer from day one to now. Mine stock was pulling over a cup a day of dark green skimmate. This skimmer is a monster if you do it right. It will take a good week to break in, then another week to tune it right, you must be patient if you want it to work. You need the water level at the bottom of the riser tube, and just let it and leave it. Let me know if you need any further help.

luke33 · 04/12/2007, 12:12 PM

My skimmer is modded and will pull 2-3 cups per day of dark brown skimmate, it is completely milked out after the first inch. Its a monster! Don't listen to people sayin its junk....believe me, there good skimmers.

luke33 · 04/12/2007, 12:51 PM

Here's 24hrs of mine skimming wet. These are 23oz cups

Here's 24hrs a bit dryer. 26oz cup.

There great skimmers. Here it is after all my mod's for a total of $40.

So if people think this skimmer sucks.....well, thats there opinion. IMO, its a great skimmer, especially for the money. A total of around 130 bux and its a milked out 8-10diameter, 10 at the base and 8" above.

JRaquatics, a question, have you ever used this skimmer before?

gasman059 · 04/12/2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luke33
Here's 24hrs of mine skimming wet. These are 23oz cups

Here's 24hrs a bit dryer. 26oz cup.

There great skimmers. Here it is after all my mod's for a total of $40.

So if people think this skimmer sucks.....well, thats there opinion. IMO, its a great skimmer, especially for the money. A total of around 130 bux and its a milked out 8-10diameter, 10 at the base and 8" above.

JRaquatics, a question, have you ever used this skimmer before?

It works ?to what extent that's the question_Venturi skimmers are fortunately for us a thing of the past.

luke33 · 04/12/2007, 01:28 PM

I've turned mine into a NW skimmer, but when it was a venturi with a meshmod, it worked pretty good. To what extent does it work.........how can you question skimmate? I don't get it? Someone has a inexpensive skimmer that works and people want to tell them there skimmer is crap. Its funny to me. Not going to drop 500-100 for acrylic when yo can have a good skimmer for under 150.

kodyboy · 04/12/2007, 01:31 PM

air and water mixed in a tube of plastic is not rocket science, fine tuning it is an art, but the basic concept is pretty simple.
The via aqua works fine, actually it is amazing for the price, but like all less expensive units it takes time to dial in

luke33 · 04/12/2007, 01:47 PM

True, it seems the less expensive skimmers are tougher to tune and FWIW gasman, this particular venturi model stock is unlike a true venturi, as the air inductor is before the inlet, unlike a true venturi of after the return. Just thought i'd clear that up.

oldimpala · 04/12/2007, 02:17 PM

Not only that....

But Venturi skimmers are far from dead. Think Beckett. Or the dozens of Venturi skimmer manufacturers out there, like LifeReef.

That comment is quite untrue. I've owned a NW skimmer, and when my tank expanded; I went Beckett; happily. And I haven't looked back....

-Andy

04/12/2007, 11:46 AM	#1
2000vert Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Colo Posts: 101	why will this not skim I purchased a Via aqua 200 skimmer on sunday. I have adjusted it with low bubbles and raised the water to the cup. I have adjusted the bubbles high and lowered the water and I can not get it to skim anything. I like it with the bubbles low and the water high. When the bubbles are high it sends alot of bubbles into the sump where they get pumped into the main tank. are there skimmers any good. Does anybody have one and has had good luck with them? Any help would be great. Thanks

04/12/2007, 11:52 AM	#2
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	I personally don't care for these skimmers there are so many better skimmers out there. You need to give any skimmer time to break in. the oils in the skimmer affect bubble production. I could take up to 2 weeks to break in.

04/12/2007, 12:11 PM	#3
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	2000vert, check out the woot thread as it has alot of info on this skimmer from day one to now. Mine stock was pulling over a cup a day of dark green skimmate. This skimmer is a monster if you do it right. It will take a good week to break in, then another week to tune it right, you must be patient if you want it to work. You need the water level at the bottom of the riser tube, and just let it and leave it. Let me know if you need any further help.

04/12/2007, 12:12 PM	#4
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	My skimmer is modded and will pull 2-3 cups per day of dark brown skimmate, it is completely milked out after the first inch. Its a monster! Don't listen to people sayin its junk....believe me, there good skimmers.

04/12/2007, 12:51 PM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Here's 24hrs of mine skimming wet. These are 23oz cups Here's 24hrs a bit dryer. 26oz cup. There great skimmers. Here it is after all my mod's for a total of $40. So if people think this skimmer sucks.....well, thats there opinion. IMO, its a great skimmer, especially for the money. A total of around 130 bux and its a milked out 8-10diameter, 10 at the base and 8" above. JRaquatics, a question, have you ever used this skimmer before?

04/12/2007, 01:28 PM	#7
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I've turned mine into a NW skimmer, but when it was a venturi with a meshmod, it worked pretty good. To what extent does it work.........how can you question skimmate? I don't get it? Someone has a inexpensive skimmer that works and people want to tell them there skimmer is crap. Its funny to me. Not going to drop 500-100 for acrylic when yo can have a good skimmer for under 150.

04/12/2007, 01:31 PM	#8
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	air and water mixed in a tube of plastic is not rocket science, fine tuning it is an art, but the basic concept is pretty simple. The via aqua works fine, actually it is amazing for the price, but like all less expensive units it takes time to dial in

04/12/2007, 01:47 PM	#9
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	True, it seems the less expensive skimmers are tougher to tune and FWIW gasman, this particular venturi model stock is unlike a true venturi, as the air inductor is before the inlet, unlike a true venturi of after the return. Just thought i'd clear that up.

04/12/2007, 02:17 PM	#10
oldimpala Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 571	Not only that.... But Venturi skimmers are far from dead. Think Beckett. Or the dozens of Venturi skimmer manufacturers out there, like LifeReef. That comment is quite untrue. I've owned a NW skimmer, and when my tank expanded; I went Beckett; happily. And I haven't looked back.... -Andy