Skimmer not producing much skimmate...

gofor100 · 05/24/2006, 10:21 PM

I have had my tank running for about 2 years or so with the same EuroReef Skimmer that I bought used from a friend (I am not sure how long it had been used but it looked in pretty good shape)

About 6 months ago I replaced the pump feeding the skimmer and about 3 months ago I noticed that the skimmer was not producing much skimmate. I have a pretty decent bioload as can be seen in my signature, and feed about twice a day, so I know that there must be fish poop and the excess nutrients/ammonia that comes with it that the skimmer should be extracting from the water.

Is there a part of skimmers that needs to be replaced sometimes (other than the pump of course) that if left alone would cause this problem?

My levels have been and continue to be great all reading 0 levels or close to it, so this is not having a detrimental effect on my tank, but I just think that even if my tank is extremely mature and the live rock is taking care of most of the filtration, the skimmer should be producing at least some skimmate.

gh0st · 05/24/2006, 10:48 PM

Did you replace it with the same model pump? If it's different, that may be contributing as it will have a different flow rate.

Otherwise, adjusting your cup height/water level (not an option on all skimmers) can help to skim a bit more agressivly.

Also, make sure to clean the neck and collection cup pretty well and often, the scum that builds up can cause a drop off in effeciency.

gofor100 · 05/24/2006, 11:01 PM

Same pump, and all of the maintenance that you have mentioned is all done about twice a month... (there is no option that I am aware of that allows me to adjust the cup height/water level)

old salty · 05/25/2006, 06:27 AM

Though I am not too familiar with that brand of skimmer, you may want to clean out all of the areas that draw air into the skimmer. I just did this to my skimmer two days ago and the skimming amount has pretty much doubled.

boxfishpooalot · 05/25/2006, 06:35 AM

Things that limit the foam size and skimmate are:

Too wet of a skimmate, lower the water level height allowing the foam to travel up the riser and collect darker skimmate. This will be dry foam typically.

Height of the skimmer. The taller your skimmer the longer the bubbles have time to attach to organics. Profesional engineers usually reccomend a tower of at least 4 feet.

Bubble size. the smaller the bubble the more you can fit. Also a smaller bubble takes longer to rise to the top, increasing the "height" of the tower essentially.

Somtimes particles will completly stop skimmate production. Things i have found do this are:

-new plastics that have a coating
-additions of baking soda(buffer/alkalinity) near the skimmer pump intake
-dipping your oily hands in the tank.
-Cooking up some great food, only to have flames and smoke everywhere in the house. Food smoke will stop the skimer foam flat.

Good luck

Costa Randy · 05/25/2006, 10:36 AM

This is a great question and I have similar concerns. I purchased a used system using a AquaC Remora that I have in my refugium. I thought it had stopped working properly so I removed it and cleaned it out, but it still isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t producing gunk like it used to. My tank has matured and I do have a large amount of live rock, but I would expect to get more waste. In a 2 week period it was barely a measurable amount. Is their an optimum cup height setting?

cw150 · 05/25/2006, 12:58 PM

It's very possible you have calcium buildup in the venturi, etc. that's causing the problem

gofor100 · 05/25/2006, 09:39 PM

thanks for all the replies...this weekend I will make it my project to look into all of the suggestions above.

Any more insight would be welcome...

05/24/2006, 10:21 PM	#1
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	Skimmer not producing much skimmate... I have had my tank running for about 2 years or so with the same EuroReef Skimmer that I bought used from a friend (I am not sure how long it had been used but it looked in pretty good shape) About 6 months ago I replaced the pump feeding the skimmer and about 3 months ago I noticed that the skimmer was not producing much skimmate. I have a pretty decent bioload as can be seen in my signature, and feed about twice a day, so I know that there must be fish poop and the excess nutrients/ammonia that comes with it that the skimmer should be extracting from the water. Is there a part of skimmers that needs to be replaced sometimes (other than the pump of course) that if left alone would cause this problem? My levels have been and continue to be great all reading 0 levels or close to it, so this is not having a detrimental effect on my tank, but I just think that even if my tank is extremely mature and the live rock is taking care of most of the filtration, the skimmer should be producing at least some skimmate. __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

05/24/2006, 10:48 PM	#2
gh0st Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 956	Did you replace it with the same model pump? If it's different, that may be contributing as it will have a different flow rate. Otherwise, adjusting your cup height/water level (not an option on all skimmers) can help to skim a bit more agressivly. Also, make sure to clean the neck and collection cup pretty well and often, the scum that builds up can cause a drop off in effeciency. __________________ I REFUSE to buy Named/LE/High End Corals for insane prices. I REFUSE to pay Per Polyp for micro "Frags." Further more, I REFUSE to sell in any similar fashion. This is a hobby, not the Stock Market. If you feel the same, change you're signature to something similar and spread the word! Long Live the Reef Revolution!

05/24/2006, 11:01 PM	#3
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	Same pump, and all of the maintenance that you have mentioned is all done about twice a month... (there is no option that I am aware of that allows me to adjust the cup height/water level) __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

05/25/2006, 06:27 AM	#4
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Though I am not too familiar with that brand of skimmer, you may want to clean out all of the areas that draw air into the skimmer. I just did this to my skimmer two days ago and the skimming amount has pretty much doubled. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

05/25/2006, 06:35 AM	#5
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Things that limit the foam size and skimmate are: Too wet of a skimmate, lower the water level height allowing the foam to travel up the riser and collect darker skimmate. This will be dry foam typically. Height of the skimmer. The taller your skimmer the longer the bubbles have time to attach to organics. Profesional engineers usually reccomend a tower of at least 4 feet. Bubble size. the smaller the bubble the more you can fit. Also a smaller bubble takes longer to rise to the top, increasing the "height" of the tower essentially. Somtimes particles will completly stop skimmate production. Things i have found do this are: -new plastics that have a coating -additions of baking soda(buffer/alkalinity) near the skimmer pump intake -dipping your oily hands in the tank. -Cooking up some great food, only to have flames and smoke everywhere in the house. Food smoke will stop the skimer foam flat. Good luck __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

05/25/2006, 10:36 AM	#6
Costa Randy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: OKC Posts: 76	This is a great question and I have similar concerns. I purchased a used system using a AquaC Remora that I have in my refugium. I thought it had stopped working properly so I removed it and cleaned it out, but it still isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t producing gunk like it used to. My tank has matured and I do have a large amount of live rock, but I would expect to get more waste. In a 2 week period it was barely a measurable amount. Is their an optimum cup height setting?

05/25/2006, 12:58 PM	#7
cw150 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: nw suburbs chicago Posts: 330	It's very possible you have calcium buildup in the venturi, etc. that's causing the problem

05/25/2006, 09:39 PM	#8
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	thanks for all the replies...this weekend I will make it my project to look into all of the suggestions above. Any more insight would be welcome... __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress