New Skimmer - Does this look right?

Fishamatank · 03/23/2010, 09:46 PM

This skimmer is running in 6" of water as recommended in the instructions.
This is about 6-7 gallons of old tank water, and has been running for 2-3 hours.

This first picture is with the gate valve completely open, it ran this way for about 2 hours with no visible change.

This next picture is with the gate valve 100% closed, the water coming out of the skimmer is really moving quickly, but there's not much of it.

If I pull the air line off of the pump it is quite obvious that the pump is ok, it moves a TON of water when it's not sucking air. Is it normal for a skimmer to be this "dead" before it is broken in? I would think that it would be a little closer to actually skimming with the gate valve open, but maybe I'm wrong...

Let me know what y'all think.

ToddG. · 03/23/2010, 10:14 PM

well you dnt wana run the gate valve wide open you have to have a little back pressure you just have to use the valve to fine toon it when its in the tank its not gonna do much in thier.

Fishamatank · 03/23/2010, 10:17 PM

Yes, I know that, I was just using the pictures to show the range of what the skimmer does. I don't see how it will ever skim without the valve nearly completely closed.

Shouldn't there be enough waste in some old tank water to at least show what the skimmer will do? I don't expect it to skim for weeks in there, but I would expect it to do something for a day or two.

Fishamatank · 03/23/2010, 10:35 PM

I just closed the valve about 1/2 way, and dumped a cup or 2 of some skimmate from my current skimmer in the tub. There's a ton of nastiness in the water now, I'll see what it looks like in the morning.

rbnice1 · 03/23/2010, 11:47 PM

Well couple things.....

1. Skimmer will take a few weeks to break in and run correctly.

2. 6 inches seems pretty shallow.(If the search was working you could search, im pretty sure most are running it at 7-8 inches.)

90greefman · 03/24/2010, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

Well couple things.....

1. Skimmer will take a few weeks to break in and run correctly.

2. 6 inches seems pretty shallow.(If the search was working you could search, im pretty sure most are running it at 7-8 inches.)

+1. As anxious as you are to see what your skimmer can do, it will take time to break in. However, you have a very nice one so I don't think you will have any problems.

Fishamatank · 03/24/2010, 06:44 AM

Well, I was worried about nothing. It's getting a pretty good dry foam going this morning. This is the first skimmer like this I've ever had. I had no idea I could get over a foot of dry foam in the reaction chamber. My current skimmer will only build a head of foam an inch or 2 tall.
But, on the depth... The manufacturer recommends 6", that puts the water level right in the middle of the output, any deeper and it would be under water.

cham · 03/24/2010, 06:53 AM

I have the XP3000 cone and I have to run mine almost all the way closed even after break in. The word "closed" is a misnomer, there is a hole in the gate valve that still allows water out even when its closed.

6" is perfect for mine, I've never seen water quality as good since putting this skimmer on my system.

bglegs · 03/24/2010, 04:23 PM

I have the xp2000 running in 6.25" of water for the last week and a half and still not getting good skimmate.

cham · 03/24/2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bglegs

I have the xp2000 running in 6.25" of water for the last week and a half and still not getting good skimmate.

Keep closing the gate valve gradually until you start getting skimmate.

tufacody · 03/24/2010, 04:58 PM

just checking, but that is tank saltwater in there, right?

Fishamatank · 03/24/2010, 06:46 PM

Yes, and I dumped some skimmate from the skimmer that is on the current tank in the water to make sure there is plenty of funk in the water.

I'm playing with the water level a little, I think it needs more than 6" of water or the gate has to be nearly closed. I've got 7" in the tub now, and it seems to be a little better. I might try 7.5 or 8.

bglegs · 03/25/2010, 06:26 AM

tagging along

cvd55 · 03/25/2010, 07:20 AM

You should check out this thread a lot of info regarding the octo cones
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1716072[/URL]

and welcome to the club

cvd55 · 03/25/2010, 07:24 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1716072[/URL]

that might work better

03/23/2010, 09:46 PM	#1
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	New Skimmer - Does this look right? This skimmer is running in 6" of water as recommended in the instructions. This is about 6-7 gallons of old tank water, and has been running for 2-3 hours. This first picture is with the gate valve completely open, it ran this way for about 2 hours with no visible change. This next picture is with the gate valve 100% closed, the water coming out of the skimmer is really moving quickly, but there's not much of it. If I pull the air line off of the pump it is quite obvious that the pump is ok, it moves a TON of water when it's not sucking air. Is it normal for a skimmer to be this "dead" before it is broken in? I would think that it would be a little closer to actually skimming with the gate valve open, but maybe I'm wrong... Let me know what y'all think.

03/23/2010, 10:14 PM	#2
ToddG. Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 663	well you dnt wana run the gate valve wide open you have to have a little back pressure you just have to use the valve to fine toon it when its in the tank its not gonna do much in thier.

03/23/2010, 10:17 PM	#3
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Yes, I know that, I was just using the pictures to show the range of what the skimmer does. I don't see how it will ever skim without the valve nearly completely closed. Shouldn't there be enough waste in some old tank water to at least show what the skimmer will do? I don't expect it to skim for weeks in there, but I would expect it to do something for a day or two.

03/23/2010, 10:35 PM	#4
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	I just closed the valve about 1/2 way, and dumped a cup or 2 of some skimmate from my current skimmer in the tub. There's a ton of nastiness in the water now, I'll see what it looks like in the morning.

03/23/2010, 11:47 PM	#5
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Well couple things..... 1. Skimmer will take a few weeks to break in and run correctly. 2. 6 inches seems pretty shallow.(If the search was working you could search, im pretty sure most are running it at 7-8 inches.)

03/24/2010, 06:44 AM	#7
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Well, I was worried about nothing. It's getting a pretty good dry foam going this morning. This is the first skimmer like this I've ever had. I had no idea I could get over a foot of dry foam in the reaction chamber. My current skimmer will only build a head of foam an inch or 2 tall. But, on the depth... The manufacturer recommends 6", that puts the water level right in the middle of the output, any deeper and it would be under water.

03/24/2010, 06:53 AM	#8
cham Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 3,632	I have the XP3000 cone and I have to run mine almost all the way closed even after break in. The word "closed" is a misnomer, there is a hole in the gate valve that still allows water out even when its closed. 6" is perfect for mine, I've never seen water quality as good since putting this skimmer on my system.

03/24/2010, 04:23 PM	#9
bglegs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 267	I have the xp2000 running in 6.25" of water for the last week and a half and still not getting good skimmate.

03/24/2010, 04:58 PM	#11
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	just checking, but that is tank saltwater in there, right?

03/24/2010, 06:46 PM	#12
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	Yes, and I dumped some skimmate from the skimmer that is on the current tank in the water to make sure there is plenty of funk in the water. I'm playing with the water level a little, I think it needs more than 6" of water or the gate has to be nearly closed. I've got 7" in the tub now, and it seems to be a little better. I might try 7.5 or 8.

03/25/2010, 06:26 AM	#13
bglegs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 267	tagging along

03/25/2010, 07:20 AM	#14
cvd55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Coral Springs,FL Posts: 133	You should check out this thread a lot of info regarding the octo cones http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1716072[/URL] and welcome to the club

03/25/2010, 07:24 AM	#15
cvd55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Coral Springs,FL Posts: 133	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1716072[/URL] that might work better