Skimmer Collecting Water

Hungriee · 10/15/2008, 01:54 PM

How come my protein Skimmer (Aquamedic Turboflotor) is collecting water in the collection cup? Its been running for 4 days and still has no foam; instead I collect about 1/2 cup of water every 12-15 hours.

Michael · 10/15/2008, 02:22 PM

sounds like your heavily wet skimming and the skim mate is basically very light, it takes a while for the skimmer to break in, try reducing the level so its at the very bottom of the cup, it may improve after a day or so

fatdaddy · 10/15/2008, 02:24 PM

Are you getting a mist that then collects in the cup? I get that at first, but then the foam forms a layer that prevents mist.

I think the real question is "why no foam?" Is this an empty tank? Freshwater? etc.

Hungriee · 10/15/2008, 02:35 PM

Nope the tank been running for about 8 Months and I finally had the chance to get myself a skimmer. All livestock and corals are doing fine; but the skimmer isn't collecting anything but just water.

The cup itself has evaporation at the top of the cup and the bottom is filled. I have two control knobs on the Turboflotor; which can control amt of Output? Do I reduce the level by using these knobs?

If i do reduce the water of output, the water in teh cup is filled even quicker.

Tswifty · 10/15/2008, 02:39 PM

You want to allow MORE water to leave the skimmer. This should reduce backpressure, and lower the water level INSIDE the skimmer's body.

Do you have a picture of how it is installed?

Hungriee · 10/15/2008, 03:04 PM

No, but i can take a picture.

Right now I left it as the max output so the max amount of water is leaving the skimmer. The amount of water going up the tube to the collection cup slowly pushes through, but only water is pushed and no foam or gunk (Brown water)

tgfrench · 10/15/2008, 03:57 PM

If you have the output turned all the way open and are getting just water. You may want to raise the skimmer a lil in your sump. It should start producing skimmate once it gets all the manufacturing oils out of the body.

loosecannon · 10/15/2008, 04:17 PM

Is it getting a nuff air? How much foam is in the chamber?

Tswifty · 10/15/2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tgfrench
If you have the output turned all the way open and are getting just water. You may want to raise the skimmer a lil in your sump.

+1 Sounds like you have it running in too deep of water.

fatdaddy · 10/15/2008, 05:00 PM

hm, 4 days, no foam, on a saltwater tank that should have plenty of gunk to skim..... it may not be running a 100% because it takes a while to slime up, but you should be some foam by now.

So, you're getting plenty of micro-bubbles? Your skimmer body should look white from all the bubbles.

And, where is the water level coming up to.

hodge_williams · 10/16/2008, 12:56 AM

+1 on breaking in.
I have an Aqua Medic Shorty II. My skimmer was skimming really wet stuff, I mean emptying the collection cup every 5 minutes! I bought an inline air tap and reduced the amount of air going in. The reduction lasted about 3 days and it is now operating without the tap and removing some really nasty gunk! try that out and see how you go.

10/15/2008, 01:54 PM	#1
Hungriee Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 165	Skimmer Collecting Water How come my protein Skimmer (Aquamedic Turboflotor) is collecting water in the collection cup? Its been running for 4 days and still has no foam; instead I collect about 1/2 cup of water every 12-15 hours.

10/15/2008, 02:22 PM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	sounds like your heavily wet skimming and the skim mate is basically very light, it takes a while for the skimmer to break in, try reducing the level so its at the very bottom of the cup, it may improve after a day or so __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

10/15/2008, 02:24 PM	#3
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	Are you getting a mist that then collects in the cup? I get that at first, but then the foam forms a layer that prevents mist. I think the real question is "why no foam?" Is this an empty tank? Freshwater? etc. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

10/15/2008, 02:39 PM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	You want to allow MORE water to leave the skimmer. This should reduce backpressure, and lower the water level INSIDE the skimmer's body. Do you have a picture of how it is installed? __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

10/15/2008, 03:57 PM	#7
tgfrench Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: winston-salem, nc Posts: 512	If you have the output turned all the way open and are getting just water. You may want to raise the skimmer a lil in your sump. It should start producing skimmate once it gets all the manufacturing oils out of the body. __________________ 90 corner overflow w/basement sump/coptic refug, DIY single beckett skimmer, 2 vho & 2 250w 14k hamiltons MH., fishbowl Innov lunar light system, 1500gph CL. started with a 55 in 4/20/04 upgraded to 90 5/1/07 total system volume 250 gal. Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA single corner overflow

10/15/2008, 02:35 PM	#4
Hungriee Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 165	Nope the tank been running for about 8 Months and I finally had the chance to get myself a skimmer. All livestock and corals are doing fine; but the skimmer isn't collecting anything but just water. The cup itself has evaporation at the top of the cup and the bottom is filled. I have two control knobs on the Turboflotor; which can control amt of Output? Do I reduce the level by using these knobs? If i do reduce the water of output, the water in teh cup is filled even quicker.

10/15/2008, 03:04 PM	#6
Hungriee Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 165	No, but i can take a picture. Right now I left it as the max output so the max amount of water is leaving the skimmer. The amount of water going up the tube to the collection cup slowly pushes through, but only water is pushed and no foam or gunk (Brown water)

10/15/2008, 04:17 PM	#8
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	Is it getting a nuff air? How much foam is in the chamber? __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

10/15/2008, 05:00 PM	#10
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	hm, 4 days, no foam, on a saltwater tank that should have plenty of gunk to skim..... it may not be running a 100% because it takes a while to slime up, but you should be some foam by now. So, you're getting plenty of micro-bubbles? Your skimmer body should look white from all the bubbles. And, where is the water level coming up to. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

10/16/2008, 12:56 AM	#11
hodge_williams Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: australia Posts: 78	+1 on breaking in. I have an Aqua Medic Shorty II. My skimmer was skimming really wet stuff, I mean emptying the collection cup every 5 minutes! I bought an inline air tap and reduced the amount of air going in. The reduction lasted about 3 days and it is now operating without the tap and removing some really nasty gunk! try that out and see how you go.