having issues tuning my new skimmer

[NOsushi4me]

I have been cycling my tank for about 1.5 months. I wanted to get the skimmer going but after I plugged it in .... water is spewing out of the top (collection cup) and I am having a lot of trouble tuning it. From what I have read ... you want the bubbles just above the bottom of the collection cup. I have tried to adjust the air flow / valve outlet per the instructions (elos tank & sump) but I cannot get it right! Very frustrating but I am hoping you all may help. Attached are pics of my skimmer and I can take more if need be:

[Scubaken]

How deep is the water ?
How far up the body dos the water go ?
What does the instruction manual say about the depth of water ?
I ran sea clone that I had to stand on a Tupperware pot to raise the height of it , worked fine after that

[davocean]

Typical of break in period.
Some wash their skimmer in warm water and maybe some vinegar to try to remove production oils.
Really you should not try to skim for about a week or more, have skimmer run but at it's lowest level and slowly start to adjust up after at least a week.

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by Scubaken

How deep is the water ?

How far up the body dos the water go ?

What does the instruction manual say about the depth of water ?

I ran sea clone that I had to stand on a Tupperware pot to raise the height of it , worked fine after that

The water in my sump is about 6 inches up and goes a few inches over the top of the cord from the base of the skimmer. When I plug it in ... the skimmer fills up within 5-10 seconds and overflows. I could try to raise it. It actually has mini feet/suction cups and a square slightly raised base but it's worth a try.

[Bootlegger]

Agreed, you have to break it in. Once you brake it in you'll be asking the opposite question, "Why isn't my skimmer skimming like it used to?". I've been there myself.

Note: My skimmer recently went through a mid-life crisis when I added a new filter sock. I forgot to rinse it out first before adding it to the sump. The next morning my sump looked like a bubble bath...total mess. Skimmers can be finicky.

By the way, your skimmer doesn't look like it has an adjustable outflow pipe. Normally, an in-sump skimmer can have it's outflow pipe lowered or raised for dialing in the right kind of foam. For example, raising the outflow pipe will give you wet skim and lowering it will give you dry skim...in a perfect world of course. For the rest of us, lowering it helps to keep it from overflowing with bubbles and raising it helps to increase performance between cleanings.

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by davocean

Typical of break in period.
Some wash their skimmer in warm water and maybe some vinegar to try to remove production oils.
Really you should not try to skim for about a week or more, have skimmer run but at it's lowest level and slowly start to adjust up after at least a week.

Well it's funny because when I first started the tank cycle almost 2 months ago ... I ran the skimmer with success for a few days. I only unplugged it because several suggested to me to not run the skimmer during tank cycling. I didn't even have to adjust anything and it worked properly for a few days. I can try it though - I am open to anything just want to get it going! Appreciate the help and feedback

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by Bootlegger

Agreed, you have to break it in. Once you brake it in you'll be asking the opposite question, "Why isn't my skimmer skimming like it used to?". I've been there myself.

Note: My skimmer recently went through a mid-life crisis when I added a new filter sock. I forgot to rinse it out first before adding it to the sump. The next morning my sump looked like a bubble bath...total mess. Skimmers can be finicky.

Thanks for the post ! So are you saying I should leave it run with the water coming out ? I had no idea they were that finicky wow! I hope I can tame it soon ! Lol

[NOsushi4me]

Elos tells me to adjust this as well (red cap) - no luck

[Bootlegger]

Can you lower the airflow or pump flow? If you can adjust the airflow (like most skimmers), I'd start there. Lower the airflow until the bubbles stop flowing into the collection cup or through the weep-hole, whatever comes first. My skimmer has a weep-hole that circumvents overflowing the collection cup. Even better, if you have flow control on the pump (probably not), lower the incoming flow.

Let the skimmer run for a long time without overflowing if you can get it there. It will take a few days but eventually you'll be able to adjust the airflow or pump flow back to maximum

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by Bootlegger

Can you lower the airflow or pump flow? If you can adjust the airflow (like most skimmers), I'd start there. Lower the airflow until the bubbles stop flowing into the collection cup or through the weep-hole, whatever comes first. My skimmer has a weep-hole that circumvents overflowing the collection cup. Even better, if you have flow control on the pump (probably not), lower the incoming flow.

Let the skimmer run for a long time without overflowing if you can get it there. It will take a few days but eventually you'll be able to adjust the airflow or pump flow back to maximum

The only option I see for lowering or controlling airflow is with this piece below in the collection cup.

I can look on the base of the skimmer to see if there is a way to reduce the pump flow

[davocean]

They are often fickle at first, you may not have had much for it to react to in a new tank.
wash in warm water and vinegar and start off again at low level as most manufacturers suggest.

[Scorpius]

1. Sump water level
2. Air intake adjustment-if available
3. Skimmer water level adjustment-if available
4. Break-in period.


You have to get all four of these done properly for it to skim right. After one month mine still overfills at times. Youtube can be a great place to learn how to get the fine tuning done.

[Bootlegger]

Can you flip the gray outflow pipe upside down so the cap is on the bottom end? Also, is it adjustable or fixed in place?

You're going to be dependent on sump water level if you can't adjust your outflow pipe. The outflow pipe sets the level inside your skimmer. The higher the level, the harder it will be to break it in.

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by davocean

They are often fickle at first, you may not have had much for it to react to in a new tank.
wash in warm water and vinegar and start off again at low level as most manufacturers suggest.

Thanks! I am going to try this after work. The manufacturer suggests starting with the red valve completely open along with the clear stopper removed. I have tried this a few times and it fills right up and spews out with water. Perhaps rinsing with water/vinegar will help. Thanks again!!!

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

1. Sump water level
2. Air intake adjustment-if available
3. Skimmer water level adjustment-if available
4. Break-in period.


You have to get all four of these done properly for it to skim right. After one month mine still overfills at times. Youtube can be a great place to learn how to get the fine tuning done.

Are sump water level and skimmer water level the same ? I believe by skimmer water level you mean INSIDE the skimmer. During break-in ... Should it be coming out of the top? I think I need to take a video as well. Thanks for the help !!!

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by Bootlegger

Can you flip the gray outflow pipe upside down so the cap is on the bottom end? Also, is it adjustable or fixed in place?

You're going to be dependent on sump water level if you can't adjust your outflow pipe. The outflow pipe sets the level inside your skimmer. The higher the level, the harder it will be to break it in.

I think I could flip the gray outflow pipe ... But I haven't seen it pictured like this but it's worth a try. The red piece is super hard to get in/adjust/take out/etc. I was able to adjust it with pliers and lots of muscle. I am not sure it should be that hard to adjust. The guy at ELOS said himself that he has to use a lot of force to get it in.

[NOsushi4me]

So a quick update ... I talked to Elos and turns out I am a giant dummy and did not realize that you can turn and adjust there gray PVC tube with the little red knob coming out. I dialed it in last night as best I could but it is still foaming and bubbling out the top. I am hoping when I get home from work today it will have calmed down

[NOsushi4me]

Skimmer still running terrible

[ericarenee]

Originally Posted by NOsushi4me

Skimmer still running terrible

Describe Terrible.
Pictures can help..

Is Your Skimmer chamber in your sump Consistent. This and Water level not Right are the two most common issues with skimmer inconsistency and Over flow issues.

of Course there Just a bad skimmer design is the worse.

[NOsushi4me]

Originally Posted by ericarenee

Describe Terrible.

Pictures can help..



Is Your Skimmer chamber in your sump Consistent. This and Water level not Right are the two most common issues with skimmer inconsistency and Over flow issues.



of Course there Just a bad skimmer design is the worse.

Sorry for delay and appreciate you commenting on my post - it is actually running great now thanks to everyone's help!