why hardly no skimmate?

woogy · 02/04/2008, 06:00 PM

I have a coralife ss65 on my 29 for about a week and hardly have any skimmate...today finally my collection cup has hardly about 1/8" of skimmate in it (I think)...it is very lightly green...shouldn't I have more??? The nitrate is about 40 tested with salifert, salinity 1.027 (I know a little high but I am topping off with r/o in a bit to bring it down)

Do I just need to have more patience???

LovinDaReef · 02/04/2008, 06:02 PM

Maybe you could adjust your skimmer to suck in more air. This was the problem I faced with my skimmer. Took me about a few minutes to find the right adjustment of te venturi tube so the foam moves up the tube.

woogy · 02/04/2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LovinDaReef
Maybe you could adjust your skimmer to suck in more air. This was the problem I faced with my skimmer. Took me about a few minutes to find the right adjustment of te venturi tube so the foam moves up the tube.

ok...not sure how to this though

smalls383 · 02/04/2008, 06:14 PM

Can you raise the water level in the skimmer, this would also bring the foam closer to the cup. You should be getting more skimmate then what you are...

woogy · 02/04/2008, 06:18 PM

yes I have tried that but it seems the cup fills up with just cloudy water...is this the skimmate??? I see pics of other skimmate and mine hardly looks like that

Dubbin1 · 02/04/2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woogy
yes I have tried that but it seems the cup fills up with just cloudy water...is this the skimmate??? I see pics of other skimmate and mine hardly looks like that

You need to hit the sweet spot with the water level in the skimmer. Once the skimmer is broke in and you find that sweet spot then they work pretty well.

cy88 · 02/04/2008, 06:33 PM

For the coralife skimmer, you will need to adjust the pump level in related to the water level. For my SS125, I have to place it no more than 3"-4" below the water line and I would imagine yours being similar.

I had it around 6"-7" under and it wasn't skimming anything (Although there wasn't much for it to skim to start with), but now after i put in the LR to start the curing process, I am getting around 1/8 of a cup for the first day already. I am doing dry skimming (the air valve opened to almost the lowest), which gives me very thick greenish stuff. There will also be a "break in" period of around 2 - 3 weeks as well for skimmers.

Use egg crates to level it up if it's in your sump, they work very well and they are cheap at home depot

Hope it helps.

woogy · 02/04/2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cy88
For the coralife skimmer, you will need to adjust the pump level in related to the water level. For my SS125, I have to place it no more than 3"-4" below the water line and I would imagine yours being similar.

I had it around 6"-7" under and it wasn't skimming anything (Although there wasn't much for it to skim to start with), but now after i put in the LR to start the curing process, I am getting around 1/8 of a cup for the first day already. I am doing dry skimming (the air valve opened to almost the lowest), which gives me very thick greenish stuff. There will also be a "break in" period of around 2 - 3 weeks as well for skimmers.

Use egg crates to level it up if it's in your sump, they work very well and they are cheap at home depot Hope it helps.

I have the pump about 1" below the water...is this too shallow...i was told the closer the better and by air valve u mean the red dial on top???

Aquarist007 · 02/04/2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
You need to hit the sweet spot with the water level in the skimmer. Once the skimmer is broke in and you find that sweet spot then they work pretty well.

does that apply for the berlin skimmer(turbo) as well?

Norward · 02/04/2008, 08:08 PM

I've got the same issue with my ac remora. I get foam at the top of the water column but little skimmate, usually light discolored water with residue on the plastic. I have the collection cup as far down as it will go. I just figured I am keeping a clean tank: weekly 10% water changes.

Dubbin1 · 02/04/2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woogy
I have the pump about 1" below the water...is this too shallow...i was told the closer the better and by air valve u mean the red dial on top???

I have my pump level with the bottom of the skimmer and it makes foam like mad.

woogy · 02/04/2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
I have my pump level with the bottom of the skimmer and it makes foam like mad.

wow really!!!...that would at least be 5 to 6" in the tank...most people to say to have it higher...i even took off the adjustment valve to get it closer...is this the skimmer u have?...u never said

stumpy08 · 02/04/2008, 10:43 PM

I have a Coralife 65. I'm just tagging along.

Dubbin1 · 02/05/2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woogy
wow really!!!...that would at least be 5 to 6" in the tank...most people to say to have it higher...i even took off the adjustment valve to get it closer...is this the skimmer u have?...u never said

Yes thats the skimmer I have on one of my tanks.

hndakd · 02/06/2008, 09:32 AM

i have one also, i have the pump about 3 inches from the surface of the water. you can adjust the water level by turning the red knob do it slowly though. you want the bubbles crackling right at the top of the tube

Tonblogna · 02/06/2008, 01:32 PM

You probably already realize this, but I thought I'd tthrow this out there due to your post. Topping off with fresh water will not lower your salinity, however if you have been topping off with salt water it will raise it. When your water evaporates, the salt stays behind. If you want to lower it, you will have to remove some water and replace with fresh.

02/04/2008, 06:00 PM	#1
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	why hardly no skimmate? I have a coralife ss65 on my 29 for about a week and hardly have any skimmate...today finally my collection cup has hardly about 1/8" of skimmate in it (I think)...it is very lightly green...shouldn't I have more??? The nitrate is about 40 tested with salifert, salinity 1.027 (I know a little high but I am topping off with r/o in a bit to bring it down) Do I just need to have more patience???

02/06/2008, 01:32 PM	#16
Tonblogna Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Waterloo, IL Posts: 748	You probably already realize this, but I thought I'd tthrow this out there due to your post. Topping off with fresh water will not lower your salinity, however if you have been topping off with salt water it will raise it. When your water evaporates, the salt stays behind. If you want to lower it, you will have to remove some water and replace with fresh. __________________ Hey man you just peed your pants!! "Naaah man, I just drop it like its hot." (From my future book Booking Room Dialogues. Current Tank Info: 150 tall & 100 gallon sump. Mixed reef.

02/04/2008, 06:02 PM	#2
LovinDaReef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 267	Maybe you could adjust your skimmer to suck in more air. This was the problem I faced with my skimmer. Took me about a few minutes to find the right adjustment of te venturi tube so the foam moves up the tube.

02/04/2008, 06:14 PM	#4
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	Can you raise the water level in the skimmer, this would also bring the foam closer to the cup. You should be getting more skimmate then what you are...

02/04/2008, 06:18 PM	#5
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	yes I have tried that but it seems the cup fills up with just cloudy water...is this the skimmate??? I see pics of other skimmate and mine hardly looks like that

02/04/2008, 06:33 PM	#7
cy88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 235	For the coralife skimmer, you will need to adjust the pump level in related to the water level. For my SS125, I have to place it no more than 3"-4" below the water line and I would imagine yours being similar. I had it around 6"-7" under and it wasn't skimming anything (Although there wasn't much for it to skim to start with), but now after i put in the LR to start the curing process, I am getting around 1/8 of a cup for the first day already. I am doing dry skimming (the air valve opened to almost the lowest), which gives me very thick greenish stuff. There will also be a "break in" period of around 2 - 3 weeks as well for skimmers. Use egg crates to level it up if it's in your sump, they work very well and they are cheap at home depot Hope it helps.

02/04/2008, 08:08 PM	#10
Norward Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Little Rock Posts: 407	I've got the same issue with my ac remora. I get foam at the top of the water column but little skimmate, usually light discolored water with residue on the plastic. I have the collection cup as far down as it will go. I just figured I am keeping a clean tank: weekly 10% water changes.

02/04/2008, 10:43 PM	#13
stumpy08 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Malden, WV Posts: 92	I have a Coralife 65. I'm just tagging along.

02/06/2008, 09:32 AM	#15
hndakd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 313	i have one also, i have the pump about 3 inches from the surface of the water. you can adjust the water level by turning the red knob do it slowly though. you want the bubbles crackling right at the top of the tube