New To Skimming

mksalt · 01/10/2008, 06:47 PM

First skimmer Iâ€™ve owned. Been running for about a week in a tank that is almost 5 months old. Dropped it in the back chamber of a 29 gal tank. Not sure whatâ€˜s the correct way to operate it. Any advice appreciated.

Should it run 24 hours a day always?

It is making foam and generating dirty water. Will it just keep foaming and possibly pull out too much? Or will it reduce automatically after the level of dirt decreases?

Iâ€™ve heard the phrases â€œskimming wetâ€ and â€œskimming dryâ€. Is this how you regulate how much dirt gets pulled out? By the depth of the cup?

A bit confused by the process.

Thanks for help in advance.

shyland83 · 01/10/2008, 06:55 PM

what type of skimmer is it?

yes run it 24 hours a day

No you most likely can't skim too much

mksalt · 01/10/2008, 09:14 PM

It's a CRP SR3. http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/skimmers.html

mfinn · 01/10/2008, 09:23 PM

First of all I would start looking for different mods you can do with the pump (switch pumps?) to get better skimming from it.
CPR use to use some pretty puny pumps with their skimmers.

mksalt · 01/11/2008, 07:48 PM

They must have upgraded their pumps. The thing is scaring me itâ€™s pulling so much brown water out. I donâ€™t think I would want it to pull any more any faster. Maybe my cup is set too low in the water?

Still looking for more knowledge on this topic.

chris4869 · 01/12/2008, 12:10 AM

Your cup is too low. You might want to find a way to raise it by .5"-1". I had one a while back and it was skimming really wet too. I'd tried using pins, clips, etc and they always end up falling inside the skimmer. It was a pain.

I haven't try this yet, but you can try to restrict the air line so less air go into the pump. You need only enough air to get really fine bubbles. Too much air can produce big bubbles.

BreadmanMike · 01/12/2008, 12:14 AM

Got any pics of the skimmate? I'm a fan of skimming somewhat wet.

mksalt · 01/12/2008, 03:03 PM

Chris, the bottom of the cup is about a little less than .5 deep above the bubbles. My cup is easy to adjust. I just move the rubber o-ring up or down.

It seems like I get a good amount of fine bubbles.

So skimming dryer (raising the cup) takes out less waste?

Aquaman, I produced a little less than 2 ounces of this within about 15 hours.

How much is too much?

Feeling unsure about this skimming process.......

BreadmanMike · 01/12/2008, 03:21 PM

Looks like you know what you're doing.

Don't drink that shot though!

You definitely want it to be a bit drier. More of a brown color like in this pic.

01/10/2008, 06:47 PM	#1
mksalt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 370	New To Skimming First skimmer Iâ€™ve owned. Been running for about a week in a tank that is almost 5 months old. Dropped it in the back chamber of a 29 gal tank. Not sure whatâ€˜s the correct way to operate it. Any advice appreciated. Should it run 24 hours a day always? It is making foam and generating dirty water. Will it just keep foaming and possibly pull out too much? Or will it reduce automatically after the level of dirt decreases? Iâ€™ve heard the phrases â€œskimming wetâ€ and â€œskimming dryâ€. Is this how you regulate how much dirt gets pulled out? By the depth of the cup? A bit confused by the process. Thanks for help in advance.

01/10/2008, 06:55 PM	#2
shyland83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oakdale, Long Island Posts: 1,550	what type of skimmer is it? yes run it 24 hours a day No you most likely can't skim too much __________________ -Scott Whenever I’m about to do something, I think “would an idiot do that?” and if they would, I do not do that thing Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef

01/10/2008, 09:23 PM	#4
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	First of all I would start looking for different mods you can do with the pump (switch pumps?) to get better skimming from it. CPR use to use some pretty puny pumps with their skimmers. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

01/10/2008, 09:14 PM	#3
mksalt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 370	It's a CRP SR3. http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/skimmers.html

01/11/2008, 07:48 PM	#5
mksalt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 370	They must have upgraded their pumps. The thing is scaring me itâ€™s pulling so much brown water out. I donâ€™t think I would want it to pull any more any faster. Maybe my cup is set too low in the water? Still looking for more knowledge on this topic.

01/12/2008, 12:10 AM	#6
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	Your cup is too low. You might want to find a way to raise it by .5"-1". I had one a while back and it was skimming really wet too. I'd tried using pins, clips, etc and they always end up falling inside the skimmer. It was a pain. I haven't try this yet, but you can try to restrict the air line so less air go into the pump. You need only enough air to get really fine bubbles. Too much air can produce big bubbles.

01/12/2008, 12:14 AM	#7
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	Got any pics of the skimmate? I'm a fan of skimming somewhat wet.

01/12/2008, 03:03 PM	#8
mksalt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 370	Chris, the bottom of the cup is about a little less than .5 deep above the bubbles. My cup is easy to adjust. I just move the rubber o-ring up or down. It seems like I get a good amount of fine bubbles. So skimming dryer (raising the cup) takes out less waste? Aquaman, I produced a little less than 2 ounces of this within about 15 hours. How much is too much? Feeling unsure about this skimming process.......

01/12/2008, 03:21 PM	#9
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	Looks like you know what you're doing. Don't drink that shot though! You definitely want it to be a bit drier. More of a brown color like in this pic.