Help with Alpha 250 Skimmer

[TXChewy]

This has been the worst skimmer to get dialed in. With that said I have to assume I am doing something wrong.

Please help out if you know the answer:

1 - What water depth are you running your Alpha 250?

2 - What red tube are you running with the pump (smaller one or the larger)?

3 - What position is your ventrui in, wide open, half way, nearly closed? I am unsure the tech name for the tube that you turn to adjust the amount of exit water flow.

4 - How often do you pull the pump and clean it?


My Problems:

1 - When I think the skimmer is adjusted to the correct level (begin to get foam in the neck) I always wake to find water on the floor.

2 - I can only turn the venturi tube a inch before water begins to exit the elbow that the air line attaches to.


My skimmer set up:

Skimmer is on a stand at a water depth of 8 inches. Stand is 4 inches tall. Total water depth of sump 12 inches.

I have switched the red tube to the smaller one that came with the pump. The reason for this is I was unable to get any nog with the stock red tube.

Total water volume around 250 gallons.

Any help would be great.

Thank You

[thi7b]

Brian,
Address this on the Premium Aquatics forum or call Jeremy. Jeremy at PA could answer must of your question. The Alpha 250 work best @ 10" depth. Everyone is using the red tube. Also have it able 60% close and work it up from there. There is a mod that give you a thicker foam head. Go to PA forum they talk alot able the Alpha 250 there. I just bought a 200 for my son tank. It was going to get the 250 but they talk me out of it.

[thi7b]

Sorry that about not (able). I was wondering what Alpha model you were running during the tank tour.

[TXChewy]

PA Forum - as in Premium Aquatics not Proline Aquatics

I first looked for Proline's forum, but I guess they are no longer a sponsor here.

I reposted the topic in the Premium Aquatics forum under Vertex Club - I think.

My red dragon came with 2 red tubes: 1 smaller than the stock. I was told the smaller allowed for more air ...

[TXChewy]

Stock Tube = the one that came in the pump

[thi7b]

Hey Brian,
I copy and paste the discussion about the mod for you.


You should like the difference with the 47mm nozzle. I'm getting the best results since I've had Alpha with this configuration.

The cut I did on the 59mm nozzle wound up being 47mm mostly and 46mm on a section. So, maybe we'll call it a 46.5mm mod, LOL!

Anyway, I think it's close enough honestly, I just want it perfect if I can have it that way. I'm getting skimmate the color of what you have in your pics with this new set up. Also, the gunk in the neck is a little further up the collar and giving me more actual skimmate in the cup as a result so far.

I think as time goes on it will only get better.


48mm - with Pictures

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Ok, so I had time today to do some experimenting per Jeremy's suggestions.

I started by getting a baseline with the Alpha 250 sitting in 10" of water using the 56mm (1800lph) red nozzle.

Baseline water level: 56mm nozzle, wedge 100% open, air line disconnected




Baseline air level: 56mm nozzle, wedge 100% open, air line connected




Next I cut the 59mm red nozzle down to 48mm, then did the same tests:

Before / After nozzle length:




48mm nozzle water level: wedge 100% open, air line disconnected
This yielded the same results (no change from the baseline)

48mm nozzle air level: wedge 100% open, air line connected



Then, I adjusted the wedge pipe to let the skimmer run with just this modification.
I closed the wedge pipe about 50% (as opposed to like 90% in the pictures from my posts a few pages back)






mkarston
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05/20/2009, 09:51 PM #227
mkarston
Premium Member





Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 482 48mm - with Pictures

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I then let it run for about 1 hour, and here where the results:






As you can see from the above pictures the skimmer is definitely drawing more air simply by shortening the red nozzle down to 48mm. The bubble action in the skimmer body is much different, and it is a completely different kind of foam.

If you compare the above foam head photos, with the photo I posted, from a few days back (below), you can tell there is a big difference in the density of the foam.


It is obviously too soon to determine whether this all equates to better performance, but I am going to let it run over night with just this modification and see what tomorrow brings.

I next plan to sand down the inside of the nozzle a little in an attempt to increase the water flow into the body of the skimmer as well.

Stay tuned...





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[TXChewy]

Where did you find the above information? What forum and which thread on what page?

I am unable to see any photos.

Thanks for the help