am i running an over rated skimmer that is causing no foam ?

chercm · 02/06/2011, 04:32 PM

my tank is 4x2x2 ft and i am running a deltec AP701

there is no foam being produced

chadfarmer · 02/06/2011, 05:44 PM

how old is the system and what is the bio load how about pic of your tank

is there a new sandbed

dzfish17 · 02/06/2011, 05:45 PM

How long has the skimmer been running? It can take a new skimmer a week or two before it is broken in and starts skimming efficiently.

USC-fan · 02/06/2011, 05:51 PM

Nah that not over rated.

imisky · 02/06/2011, 05:58 PM

i too dont think its over rated. I run a 30 gallon system with a SWC 160 cone

chercm · 02/06/2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imisky

i too dont think its over rated. I run a 30 gallon system with a SWC 160 cone

I am using aquabee 2k as input and my tank having one memo, pbt, yellow tang and 1 blue tang

chercm · 02/06/2011, 06:21 PM

I am running zeovit and a filter sock at the overflow to the sum

chercm · 02/06/2011, 10:07 PM

any idea?

c0mp|ex · 02/06/2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imisky

i too dont think its over rated. I run a 30 gallon system with a SWC 160 cone

I have a 29g with a 10g sump and i threw my SWC 150bmk on it and it can't keep a head of foam and barely skims anything, yet my $40 modded odyssea ps75 eBay skimmer pulls out black gunk. It forms a massive head of foam and starts skimming within seconds of putting it in.

Depends on the bioload/skimmer ratio the amount of DOC's in a tank i guess. If that's the case, a huge skimmer would never be able to pull 100% of DOC's out of one tank without the help of a smaller skimmer.

My bioload on my 29g is just one clown and one anemone.

USC-fan · 02/06/2011, 10:33 PM

Are you sure you have it set up correctly? Also how long has this been running?

chercm · 02/06/2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USC-fan

Are you sure you have it set up correctly? Also how long has this been running?

i have been running it at least 2 years

c0mp|ex · 02/06/2011, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USC-fan

Are you sure you have it set up correctly? Also how long has this been running?

It's been running for about a month. I know its running correctly because i've experimented by not running a skimmer for a few days. I theoretically let the DOC's build up in the tank and then a few days later i turned on the SWC150. It developed a head of dense foam within 6 hours and skimmed for about a day or two, after that, the head of foam was gone. After a few days of not being able to develop another head of foam (my theory is that the level of DOC's was not high enough for the neck diameter of the skimmer to keep a head of foam) I ran my Odyssea PS75 instead. It immediately developed a head of foam and started skimming.

My theory is that once the amount of DOC's in a tank reaches a level of ~10% or less (this is a completely made up number) it will take a smaller skimmer to skim out the rest of the DOC's because the bigger skimmer wont be able to keep a head of foam.

If this is the case, one skimmer alone will never skim out 100% of DOC's in the water and the bigger the skimmer you have, the more amount of DOC's will be left in the water, even if your skimmer is over rated for your tank.

Once again, this is theoretically speaking. The goal is not to remove 100% of dissolved organic compounds but to keep them low and at a level that is manageable.

Does a better skimmer remove more DOC's or does it just perform its job at a faster rate?
Just some food for thought.

USC-fan · 02/06/2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chercm

i have been running it at least 2 years

has it never work?

palmer373 · 02/06/2011, 11:14 PM

why dont you try skimming wetter? if i am not getting 'suficent' foam then i skim wetter. pulls out more crap in the long run.

chercm · 02/07/2011, 12:03 AM

can it be due to the fact i am running zeovit ?

chercm · 02/07/2011, 05:32 PM

any idea?

tkeracer619 · 02/07/2011, 05:41 PM

Yea remove the filter socks for a while.

How are you washing them? There might be some surfactants in the tank.

What are you feeding?

mojo~ · 02/07/2011, 05:48 PM

everything is fine. What is the through put on the skimmer. What are you using as a feed pump. You want to be about 2 to 2.5 x system volume for a feed pump. Lets start there. Feel free to pm me if you like but the 702 should be a great skimmer on that tank. It can go larger as well but give it some time.

Justdrew · 02/07/2011, 07:39 PM

I have been in that situation before. My 250 extreme could not hold a foam head on my 100 gallon tank. It would develop a head for abouut an hour after a feeding, otherwise it was just like soda fizz at the top of the skimmer.

moondoggy4 · 02/07/2011, 08:21 PM

Turn off your return pump and pour in some skimmate and see if you skimmer goes crazy, if it does exactly like it has been for two years you have a problem with the skimmer

chercm · 02/07/2011, 09:09 PM

i am using aquabee 2k tuned down to 1000l

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojo~

everything is fine. What is the through put on the skimmer. What are you using as a feed pump. You want to be about 2 to 2.5 x system volume for a feed pump. Lets start there. Feel free to pm me if you like but the 702 should be a great skimmer on that tank. It can go larger as well but give it some time.

Feeding frozen ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justdrew

I have been in that situation before. My 250 extreme could not hold a foam head on my 100 gallon tank. It would develop a head for abouut an hour after a feeding, otherwise it was just like soda fizz at the top of the skimmer.

i washed the filter sock with bleach but i did rinse the sock with running water

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Yea remove the filter socks for a while.

How are you washing them? There might be some surfactants in the tank.

What are you feeding?

tkeracer619 · 02/07/2011, 09:26 PM

Frozen what? Some frozen shrimp are extremely oily and will not let some skimmers function properly. Some skimmers are effected while some are not.

For example. I cannot feed PE Mysis without rinsing it and leaving it for a day then re rinsing it prior to feed. If I don't the skimmer won't function for at least 24h. At least I am pretty sure its PE (not at home).

chercm · 02/07/2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Frozen what? Some frozen shrimp are extremely oily and will not let some skimmers function properly. Some skimmers are effected while some are not.

For example. I cannot feed PE Mysis without rinsing it and leaving it for a day then re rinsing it prior to feed. If I don't the skimmer won't function for at least 24h. At least I am pretty sure its PE (not at home).

are you suspecting that there is no load ?

tkeracer619 · 02/07/2011, 10:02 PM

No, I don't.

chercm · 02/07/2011, 11:33 PM

very funny problem

02/06/2011, 04:32 PM	#1
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	am i running an over rated skimmer that is causing no foam ? my tank is 4x2x2 ft and i am running a deltec AP701 there is no foam being produced

02/06/2011, 05:44 PM	#2
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	how old is the system and what is the bio load how about pic of your tank is there a new sandbed __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

02/06/2011, 05:45 PM	#3
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	How long has the skimmer been running? It can take a new skimmer a week or two before it is broken in and starts skimming efficiently. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

02/06/2011, 05:58 PM	#5
imisky Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Langley, BC, Canada Posts: 302	i too dont think its over rated. I run a 30 gallon system with a SWC 160 cone __________________ www.kreativ-e.com (blog about everything that matters to me) Current Tank Info: 27g custom (36"x13.5"x13"), 14g Sump(24"x11"x13") ,Auto Dosing 2 Part, 5x OC Ice CooL.E.D 17.5K spotlights, 2x vortech MP40, SWC 160 cone skimmer

02/07/2011, 05:41 PM	#17
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Yea remove the filter socks for a while. How are you washing them? There might be some surfactants in the tank. What are you feeding? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/06/2011, 05:51 PM	#4
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	Nah that not over rated.

02/06/2011, 06:21 PM	#7
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	I am running zeovit and a filter sock at the overflow to the sum

02/06/2011, 10:07 PM	#8
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	any idea?

02/06/2011, 10:33 PM	#10
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	Are you sure you have it set up correctly? Also how long has this been running?

02/06/2011, 11:14 PM	#14
palmer373 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,268	why dont you try skimming wetter? if i am not getting 'suficent' foam then i skim wetter. pulls out more crap in the long run.

02/07/2011, 12:03 AM	#15
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	can it be due to the fact i am running zeovit ?

02/07/2011, 05:32 PM	#16
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	any idea?

02/07/2011, 05:48 PM	#18
mojo~ Skimmer Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN Posts: 5,647	everything is fine. What is the through put on the skimmer. What are you using as a feed pump. You want to be about 2 to 2.5 x system volume for a feed pump. Lets start there. Feel free to pm me if you like but the 702 should be a great skimmer on that tank. It can go larger as well but give it some time. __________________ Mojo~

02/07/2011, 07:39 PM	#19
Justdrew Dad with Triplets! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 583	I have been in that situation before. My 250 extreme could not hold a foam head on my 100 gallon tank. It would develop a head for abouut an hour after a feeding, otherwise it was just like soda fizz at the top of the skimmer. __________________ "As Far As You Know!" -Fletch Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 2X Radion XR15W, Vortech MP40 & MP10, Simplicity Aquatics 240DC Skimmer, Apex Controlled

02/07/2011, 08:21 PM	#20
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Turn off your return pump and pour in some skimmate and see if you skimmer goes crazy, if it does exactly like it has been for two years you have a problem with the skimmer

02/07/2011, 09:26 PM	#22
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Frozen what? Some frozen shrimp are extremely oily and will not let some skimmers function properly. Some skimmers are effected while some are not. For example. I cannot feed PE Mysis without rinsing it and leaving it for a day then re rinsing it prior to feed. If I don't the skimmer won't function for at least 24h. At least I am pretty sure its PE (not at home). __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/07/2011, 10:02 PM	#24
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	No, I don't. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/07/2011, 11:33 PM	#25
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	very funny problem

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