skimmer acting weird

snowy85 · 02/11/2010, 02:14 AM

Hi

been running my tank for around 8 weeks now.

i am using a Deltec AP851 on at 150g tank + sump

in the start the skimmer was working fine.

i have around 10 fishes and i feed once daily.

during the last week or so my skimmer has been acting weird.

its skims off and on. maybe for an hour then it stops for another few hours and starts again.

it will be foaming as per normal. then suddenly stop and the water level drops back to the original level i set it at.

the water level in my skimmer is slightly above the collection cup. valve for the air tube is tunned to around 1 o'clock.

pls advise.

slief · 02/11/2010, 08:45 AM

Are you feeding around the time that the skimmer drops? Feeding will kill the skimmer temporarely. Also, if your getting any siphon action from the exit of your skimmer that can have a negative impact on skimming. You can usually tell from the sound of the water exiting or by watching it carefully. You will see water level changes in your skimmer that coincide with a rush of water from the exit pipe into the sump.

snowy85 · 02/11/2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Are you feeding around the time that the skimmer drops? Feeding will kill the skimmer temporarely. Also, if your getting any siphon action from the exit of your skimmer that can have a negative impact on skimming. You can usually tell from the sound of the water exiting or by watching it carefully. You will see water level changes in your skimmer that coincide with a rush of water from the exit pipe into the sump.

not really it drops at any time of the day not only when i am feeding. its random.

skimmer level stays constant. but the outlet pipe is under water. is that an issue? i do that to prevent water splashing all over the sump.

mcallahan · 02/11/2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy85

not really it drops at any time of the day not only when i am feeding. its random.

skimmer level stays constant. but the outlet pipe is under water. is that an issue? i do that to prevent water splashing all over the sump.

your outlet pipe under water isn't an issue. That's how I run my skimmer.

slief · 02/11/2010, 09:47 AM

I would suggest cleaning your pump out. You might have something in their that is clogging it up intermittantly. Take it apart and clean it in some vinegar and see if that helps.

jbanks · 02/11/2010, 10:33 PM

I run the same skimmer and there are a couple of things you can try. First, your water level should be just under where the skimmer cup connects.. Make sure that you are running the recommended flow.. The way I like to achieve this is to allow water to flow through the skimmer without the cup. If the water stays at the recommended level without bouncing or over flowing, you are at the right GPH.. Next, make sure that you run some RO water through your air valve at least once a week to clear salt creep from the air line.. Once every other month, you should detach the air line from the skimmer while it is running and stick a toothpicck though the hole to clear whatever the RO water can not. If you do these things, that skimmer will perform with the best of them for you. Every six months or so, break the skimmer and pump down and give it a good vinegar bath.. That's it! Good Luck!

snowy85 · 02/12/2010, 12:44 PM

i am running a AB2000i for the feed. its recommended by the LFS here.

i just cleaned the skimmer pump and all about 1 mth back. so i dont think thats the problem. but i will try it again. let u guys know if that solved it.

cheers

jbanks · 02/13/2010, 09:51 AM

Thats odd that they recommended that pump to feed the skimmer. I believe Deltec use to use ab2000i on some of the original 850 modes as the recirculating pump before they switched to using Eheims. Again, just make sure you're feeding the proper amount of gph through the skimmer.

snowy85 · 02/14/2010, 12:51 AM

the water goes way above the neck. there is no way i can keep the pump on without connecting the cup. it will all over flow. whats your feed pump? i prolly change it.

jbanks · 02/14/2010, 09:46 AM

You have way too much flow then. You should plumb a ball valve in between the AB and the skimmer to back down the flow. Right now, I use a return manifold which feeds the skimmer from my return pump. Originally, I used a mag 5 and screwed a ball valve into the pump and screwed a nipple barb into the other side of the ball valve. I connected that to the hose that fed the skimmer. Once you get your flow steady just beneath where the cup connects you'll be rockin an rollin.

02/11/2010, 02:14 AM	#1
snowy85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 24	skimmer acting weird Hi been running my tank for around 8 weeks now. i am using a Deltec AP851 on at 150g tank + sump in the start the skimmer was working fine. i have around 10 fishes and i feed once daily. during the last week or so my skimmer has been acting weird. its skims off and on. maybe for an hour then it stops for another few hours and starts again. it will be foaming as per normal. then suddenly stop and the water level drops back to the original level i set it at. the water level in my skimmer is slightly above the collection cup. valve for the air tube is tunned to around 1 o'clock. pls advise.

02/11/2010, 08:45 AM	#2
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Are you feeding around the time that the skimmer drops? Feeding will kill the skimmer temporarely. Also, if your getting any siphon action from the exit of your skimmer that can have a negative impact on skimming. You can usually tell from the sound of the water exiting or by watching it carefully. You will see water level changes in your skimmer that coincide with a rush of water from the exit pipe into the sump. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

02/11/2010, 09:47 AM	#5
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I would suggest cleaning your pump out. You might have something in their that is clogging it up intermittantly. Take it apart and clean it in some vinegar and see if that helps. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

02/11/2010, 10:33 PM	#6
jbanks Lover of God's Creations Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 2,250	I run the same skimmer and there are a couple of things you can try. First, your water level should be just under where the skimmer cup connects.. Make sure that you are running the recommended flow.. The way I like to achieve this is to allow water to flow through the skimmer without the cup. If the water stays at the recommended level without bouncing or over flowing, you are at the right GPH.. Next, make sure that you run some RO water through your air valve at least once a week to clear salt creep from the air line.. Once every other month, you should detach the air line from the skimmer while it is running and stick a toothpicck though the hole to clear whatever the RO water can not. If you do these things, that skimmer will perform with the best of them for you. Every six months or so, break the skimmer and pump down and give it a good vinegar bath.. That's it! Good Luck! __________________ Jonathan Go ahead... Put the price on the bag. I don't have that problem any longer :) Current Tank Info: 180g Custom rimless Starphire, 48 X10 ATI PM T5 fixture, Vortech MP40w X3 with battery Backup, Bubble King Super Marin 250, Geo 612 Calc reactor, Profilux stand-alone Doser, Neptune Apex controller, Ozotech Poseidon 200 ozone generator

02/13/2010, 09:51 AM	#8
jbanks Lover of God's Creations Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 2,250	Thats odd that they recommended that pump to feed the skimmer. I believe Deltec use to use ab2000i on some of the original 850 modes as the recirculating pump before they switched to using Eheims. Again, just make sure you're feeding the proper amount of gph through the skimmer. __________________ Jonathan Go ahead... Put the price on the bag. I don't have that problem any longer :) Current Tank Info: 180g Custom rimless Starphire, 48 X10 ATI PM T5 fixture, Vortech MP40w X3 with battery Backup, Bubble King Super Marin 250, Geo 612 Calc reactor, Profilux stand-alone Doser, Neptune Apex controller, Ozotech Poseidon 200 ozone generator

02/12/2010, 12:44 PM	#7
snowy85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 24	i am running a AB2000i for the feed. its recommended by the LFS here. i just cleaned the skimmer pump and all about 1 mth back. so i dont think thats the problem. but i will try it again. let u guys know if that solved it. cheers

02/14/2010, 12:51 AM	#9
snowy85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 24	the water goes way above the neck. there is no way i can keep the pump on without connecting the cup. it will all over flow. whats your feed pump? i prolly change it.

02/14/2010, 09:46 AM	#10
jbanks Lover of God's Creations Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 2,250	You have way too much flow then. You should plumb a ball valve in between the AB and the skimmer to back down the flow. Right now, I use a return manifold which feeds the skimmer from my return pump. Originally, I used a mag 5 and screwed a ball valve into the pump and screwed a nipple barb into the other side of the ball valve. I connected that to the hose that fed the skimmer. Once you get your flow steady just beneath where the cup connects you'll be rockin an rollin. __________________ Jonathan Go ahead... Put the price on the bag. I don't have that problem any longer :) Current Tank Info: 180g Custom rimless Starphire, 48 X10 ATI PM T5 fixture, Vortech MP40w X3 with battery Backup, Bubble King Super Marin 250, Geo 612 Calc reactor, Profilux stand-alone Doser, Neptune Apex controller, Ozotech Poseidon 200 ozone generator