Lowering water level in skimmer?

CoRPS · 03/13/2009, 09:50 AM

How do I lower the water level in my skimmer? The little overflow for the bubble body is constantly overflowing into the skimmer outlet (back into the tank) and making a ton of bubbles. And if I put my skimmer cup any lower than the highest it will go, it will overflow in a matter of seconds because it skims VERY wet.

Is there anything I can do to remedy this? I had the pump for a month and a half or so and sent it in for repairs (which by the way they did NOTHING, sorry end rant).

drparker · 03/13/2009, 10:03 AM

What model skimmer? What pump?

Fizz71 · 03/13/2009, 10:06 AM

What skimmer?

Without knowing the model the best I can say is that if it is in-sump the rasing it higher off the bottom can help. That makes more of your sump chamber above the sump water level and lets gravity pull it out faster.

You can also get a weaker pump or restrict it but that will lower the skimmer's potential.

You should also make sure nothing is blocking the output.

CoRPS · 03/13/2009, 10:13 AM

Sorry about that, it's a HOB Octopus BH2000.

Here's pictures of the chambers:

We'll call the pictured left side chamber 1 and the right side chamber 2. Once I turn the pump on chambers 1 and 2 fill up. Chamber 1 is the bubble chamber, and so the water level is usually a bit higher in there (you can't actually see the water level). There is a built in overflow that dumps extra water from chamber 1 into chamber 2. The water comes out as a ton of micro bubbles. and pours right into the outlet back into the tank. Which results in a metric shitton of bubbles in the display.

When I first got the skimmer it did this for about 2 weeks. I know that's normal. After that it would always shoot out a couple of bigger bubbles but as soon as they came out of the outlet they would hit the surface and disappear, it wasn't an issue. Then about 2-3 weeks after that I started having problems with the skimmer and sent it in for repairs.

CoRPS · 03/13/2009, 10:13 AM

I angled the outlet in chamber 2 in hopes that it would lower the water level, but to no avail.

Fizz71 · 03/13/2009, 10:39 AM

OOOohhh....A HOT skimmer. [shivers] I had Remora Pro for about 2 weeks before I sold it at a loss just to get rid of it.

Anyway. I'm not familiar with that model but since it's HOT you really only have 2 choices: Get the water in slower, or produce less bubbles. That means either a weaker pump or some how restrict the air intake.

That cap on the end of the air line..does it allow for adjustments? It looks like it does, but like I said..I don't have one. If it does your problem could just be twisting that cap!

CoRPS · 03/13/2009, 10:43 AM

I've tried twisting the cap slowly both ways and it doesn't make a HUGE difference. I think I've got it tweaked to the 'best' setting.

Fizz71 · 03/13/2009, 10:49 AM

I did a quick search of the forums and did see somebody mention that the tank water level really effects the output level (like I mentioned up top about in sump models).

Can you raise the skimmer any higher?

CoRPS · 03/13/2009, 10:52 AM

Don't think so. There is a lip that the skimmer sits on the side of the tank with. And technically it's pretty high in comparison to the tank water level because it took about 2g out of my display to fill the skimmer itself.

drparker · 03/13/2009, 10:57 AM

I also do not have one. The internal overflow does not sound right. So I checked the exploded view in the manual and it appears that it should be a solid wall except for the bottom that separates the two sides. are you saying there is an overflow from chamber to chamber 2 somewhere behind the Octopus sticker?

The manual also mentions and shows an air valve plus a silencer. I can't tell from the picture but you might be missing the air valve.

zackdastack · 03/13/2009, 11:04 AM

its all about how the top is positioned

03/13/2009, 09:50 AM	#1
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Lowering water level in skimmer? How do I lower the water level in my skimmer? The little overflow for the bubble body is constantly overflowing into the skimmer outlet (back into the tank) and making a ton of bubbles. And if I put my skimmer cup any lower than the highest it will go, it will overflow in a matter of seconds because it skims VERY wet. Is there anything I can do to remedy this? I had the pump for a month and a half or so and sent it in for repairs (which by the way they did NOTHING, sorry end rant).

03/13/2009, 10:06 AM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	What skimmer? Without knowing the model the best I can say is that if it is in-sump the rasing it higher off the bottom can help. That makes more of your sump chamber above the sump water level and lets gravity pull it out faster. You can also get a weaker pump or restrict it but that will lower the skimmer's potential. You should also make sure nothing is blocking the output. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

03/13/2009, 10:39 AM	#6
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	OOOohhh....A HOT skimmer. [shivers] I had Remora Pro for about 2 weeks before I sold it at a loss just to get rid of it. Anyway. I'm not familiar with that model but since it's HOT you really only have 2 choices: Get the water in slower, or produce less bubbles. That means either a weaker pump or some how restrict the air intake. That cap on the end of the air line..does it allow for adjustments? It looks like it does, but like I said..I don't have one. If it does your problem could just be twisting that cap! __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

03/13/2009, 10:49 AM	#8
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I did a quick search of the forums and did see somebody mention that the tank water level really effects the output level (like I mentioned up top about in sump models). Can you raise the skimmer any higher? __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

03/13/2009, 10:03 AM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	What model skimmer? What pump?

03/13/2009, 10:13 AM	#4
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Sorry about that, it's a HOB Octopus BH2000. Here's pictures of the chambers: We'll call the pictured left side chamber 1 and the right side chamber 2. Once I turn the pump on chambers 1 and 2 fill up. Chamber 1 is the bubble chamber, and so the water level is usually a bit higher in there (you can't actually see the water level). There is a built in overflow that dumps extra water from chamber 1 into chamber 2. The water comes out as a ton of micro bubbles. and pours right into the outlet back into the tank. Which results in a metric shitton of bubbles in the display. When I first got the skimmer it did this for about 2 weeks. I know that's normal. After that it would always shoot out a couple of bigger bubbles but as soon as they came out of the outlet they would hit the surface and disappear, it wasn't an issue. Then about 2-3 weeks after that I started having problems with the skimmer and sent it in for repairs.

03/13/2009, 10:43 AM	#7
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	I've tried twisting the cap slowly both ways and it doesn't make a HUGE difference. I think I've got it tweaked to the 'best' setting.

03/13/2009, 10:52 AM	#9
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Don't think so. There is a lip that the skimmer sits on the side of the tank with. And technically it's pretty high in comparison to the tank water level because it took about 2g out of my display to fill the skimmer itself.

03/13/2009, 10:57 AM	#10
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I also do not have one. The internal overflow does not sound right. So I checked the exploded view in the manual and it appears that it should be a solid wall except for the bottom that separates the two sides. are you saying there is an overflow from chamber to chamber 2 somewhere behind the Octopus sticker? The manual also mentions and shows an air valve plus a silencer. I can't tell from the picture but you might be missing the air valve.

03/13/2009, 11:04 AM	#11
zackdastack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: bethel Posts: 249	its all about how the top is positioned