Sick of adjusting my skimmer!

rhwimmers · 01/20/2012, 09:32 AM

So the quick answer to my problems might be an auto top off, that is in the works (trying to figure out how to do it with little to no room in stand, and tank is in living room).
HOWEVER - on my SRO 2000 INT it seems like I have to adjust it a couple times a day to get skimmate in the cup. The area my skimmer is in is the same area my return is in the sump therefore the evaporation shows in this area. So adding less then 2 quarts of water (125 tank and 55g sump) raises the water level about a centimeter. Should a centimeter really throw a skimmer off that much? The last skimmer I have (euroreef) was so "set it and forget it", granted a completely different sump/setup...
Too many times have I come to look at the skimmer and its just going crazy pushing too much water through that the cup has overfilled and is pouring back into the tank, unfortunately the first time it went out of the cup, onto my return line then over the edge of the sump into the stand, onto the floor - my first spill on the new tank # ; (
A few times I have heard this gurgling noise followed by a bunch of microbubbles coming out of the skimmer outlet (which I have plumbed to a elbow to quiet it down) followed by a huge rush of water into the skimmer cup. It seems I just can't get it set to a good adjustment, I turn the red dial 2 or 3 times a day due to too much skimming or over-skimming (spilling into sump).

thegrun · 01/20/2012, 09:48 AM

I have no experience with your skimmer, but for most skimmers, even a 0.5 Cm change in water depth is big and will effect its performance. Is there any way to get the skimmer in a section of the sump that doesn't change water levels? Can yo add a baffle to the sump to give the skimmer a constant water level? I would be worried that even an ATO will not completely solve your problem, as they allow some fluctuation of water depth before adding more water.

username in use · 01/20/2012, 10:30 AM

you need the skimmer to be in a section that doesn't fluctuate in depth or get an external skimmer.

James404 · 01/20/2012, 10:41 AM

What is the water depth the skimmer is in? I have a lot of experience with the SRO's and if your cup is overflowing then you more then likely have the skimmer too deep. It should be in about 4-5". Joshua is correct as well, it needs to be in a section with a consistant water level.

Arkayology · 01/20/2012, 10:41 AM

I have the SRO 1000 INT and you definitely need to keep the water level stable as well as to keep its depth at around 5 inches for these skimmers to function properly. I had some problems getting mine to dial in at first, but it has been producing nice skimmate for months now. I change the cup every 4 days and it smells horrible. The key is water level stability. Don't play with it too much either.

Chris27 · 01/20/2012, 11:15 AM

The ol' Euro Reefs and ASMs worked a little differently in that back pressure wasn't an issue given the water exited the skimmer above the water line. With the SRO's, the water outlet is at the water line...so fluctuating water levels can make things difficult.

rhwimmers · 01/20/2012, 02:09 PM

Here is a pic of my sump

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70129225@N02/6732334131/

From right to left:

Blue tubes are return lines, then the water goes over, under, over the 3 baffles. The Mag9 is hidden but you can see the cord to the right and grate to the left. The 1/2" PVC is coming out of the mag9 and to the left where there is a T that goes to a spraybar in my refugium, and to the tank.
You can see the skimmer is on a pvc "table" that keeps it around 5" if I add water to the tank once or twice a day...

username in use · 01/20/2012, 02:14 PM

Put a baffle between the skimmer and the return pump, or put the skimmer in the far right chamber on a stand.

dogstar74 · 01/20/2012, 02:15 PM

Another thing is that skimmers go through tidal bouts of activity and inactivity. Sometimes I can't even get a bubble tower to form, then others it's like someone dumped soap into the tank. Both conditions exhist throughout the day and are not affected by changing the settings of the skimmer.

So if you look in there and nothing is bubbling up and over, or it's really skimming lightly sometimes, just roll with it, and it will eventually level out.

But I agree that a baffel is the best thing you can do.

rhwimmers · 01/20/2012, 02:20 PM

Dont think it will fit in the far right, but will check.
If I go the baffle route your saying just make another "container" similar to the refugium next to it only it would be 5 or 6" tall, so then water would go from refugium, into skimmer container, then to return?
Im also wondering if I should change it up a little so some water comes from main tank into fuge, better for bug population?

username in use · 01/20/2012, 03:58 PM

yup, just add a baffle. You can make it taller if you want and keep the skimmer on a stand to keep a little more volume in the sump if you want.

pkrz · 01/20/2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username in use

you need the skimmer to be in a section that doesn't fluctuate in depth or get an external skimmer.

+1

rhwimmers · 01/20/2012, 05:14 PM

Yeah I suppose I could use the same height as the refugium then. Im wondering if it would be better to have the skimmer closer to the right vs next to the refugium? Also, what are your thoughts on having one of my exhaust tubes hit my refugium? Ideally id like to throttle that so only a small amount went to fuge and the rest to the far right side, less flow and more bugs from main tank to fuge? Its a glass-holes kit and I think it said not to throttle the return, anyone know specifics on that?
Also, do I need to use acryllic or could I just get some plastic they sell at lowes and glue/epoxy it in? Not sure where I could get just a small piece of acryllic like that - I didn't build the sump either but im sure its not too difficult

rhwimmers · 01/20/2012, 09:46 PM

If I wanted to do this I would have to remove the center brace in the sump, I cant imagine that being a big deal since its never really full, and its squeezed in my stand pretty well - anyone see a problem with this?

MarineSniper · 01/20/2012, 10:21 PM

In the interim, before you get an actual ato, take a 5g bucket and use a gang valve or one of the pieces that are used to drip acclimate and use that. One of my tanks is still set up with this setup and it keeps perfect water levels in the sump (the reason I haven't bothered to change it). One drip about every 3 1/2 seconds seems to be around a gallon per day, as that was what I was manually adding before going this route. An easy, temporary fix to your problem that will work for as long as you need it to...or until your significant other makes you get the bucket out of the room!

rhwimmers · 01/21/2012, 04:43 PM

Yeah good idea on the slow drip.
Any ideas on the flow in regards to the fuge?

01/20/2012, 09:32 AM	#1
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Sick of adjusting my skimmer! So the quick answer to my problems might be an auto top off, that is in the works (trying to figure out how to do it with little to no room in stand, and tank is in living room). HOWEVER - on my SRO 2000 INT it seems like I have to adjust it a couple times a day to get skimmate in the cup. The area my skimmer is in is the same area my return is in the sump therefore the evaporation shows in this area. So adding less then 2 quarts of water (125 tank and 55g sump) raises the water level about a centimeter. Should a centimeter really throw a skimmer off that much? The last skimmer I have (euroreef) was so "set it and forget it", granted a completely different sump/setup... Too many times have I come to look at the skimmer and its just going crazy pushing too much water through that the cup has overfilled and is pouring back into the tank, unfortunately the first time it went out of the cup, onto my return line then over the edge of the sump into the stand, onto the floor - my first spill on the new tank # ; ( A few times I have heard this gurgling noise followed by a bunch of microbubbles coming out of the skimmer outlet (which I have plumbed to a elbow to quiet it down) followed by a huge rush of water into the skimmer cup. It seems I just can't get it set to a good adjustment, I turn the red dial 2 or 3 times a day due to too much skimming or over-skimming (spilling into sump).

01/20/2012, 10:30 AM	#3
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	you need the skimmer to be in a section that doesn't fluctuate in depth or get an external skimmer. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

01/20/2012, 10:41 AM	#4
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	What is the water depth the skimmer is in? I have a lot of experience with the SRO's and if your cup is overflowing then you more then likely have the skimmer too deep. It should be in about 4-5". Joshua is correct as well, it needs to be in a section with a consistant water level. __________________ 80g Deep Blue Rimless - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651295 225g Reef Savvy SPS Dominant - Retired http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945361

01/20/2012, 10:41 AM	#5
Arkayology Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,597	I have the SRO 1000 INT and you definitely need to keep the water level stable as well as to keep its depth at around 5 inches for these skimmers to function properly. I had some problems getting mine to dial in at first, but it has been producing nice skimmate for months now. I change the cup every 4 days and it smells horrible. The key is water level stability. Don't play with it too much either. __________________ -Matt in between tanks

01/20/2012, 11:15 AM	#6
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	The ol' Euro Reefs and ASMs worked a little differently in that back pressure wasn't an issue given the water exited the skimmer above the water line. With the SRO's, the water outlet is at the water line...so fluctuating water levels can make things difficult. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

01/20/2012, 09:48 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I have no experience with your skimmer, but for most skimmers, even a 0.5 Cm change in water depth is big and will effect its performance. Is there any way to get the skimmer in a section of the sump that doesn't change water levels? Can yo add a baffle to the sump to give the skimmer a constant water level? I would be worried that even an ATO will not completely solve your problem, as they allow some fluctuation of water depth before adding more water.

01/20/2012, 02:09 PM	#7
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Here is a pic of my sump http://www.flickr.com/photos/70129225@N02/6732334131/ From right to left: Blue tubes are return lines, then the water goes over, under, over the 3 baffles. The Mag9 is hidden but you can see the cord to the right and grate to the left. The 1/2" PVC is coming out of the mag9 and to the left where there is a T that goes to a spraybar in my refugium, and to the tank. You can see the skimmer is on a pvc "table" that keeps it around 5" if I add water to the tank once or twice a day...

01/20/2012, 02:14 PM	#8
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Put a baffle between the skimmer and the return pump, or put the skimmer in the far right chamber on a stand. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

01/20/2012, 02:15 PM	#9
dogstar74 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 2,152	Another thing is that skimmers go through tidal bouts of activity and inactivity. Sometimes I can't even get a bubble tower to form, then others it's like someone dumped soap into the tank. Both conditions exhist throughout the day and are not affected by changing the settings of the skimmer. So if you look in there and nothing is bubbling up and over, or it's really skimming lightly sometimes, just roll with it, and it will eventually level out. But I agree that a baffel is the best thing you can do. __________________ "If there's nothing wrong with me... then there must be something wrong with the universe!" Current Tank Info: 10 gallon nano with ATS

01/20/2012, 02:20 PM	#10
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Dont think it will fit in the far right, but will check. If I go the baffle route your saying just make another "container" similar to the refugium next to it only it would be 5 or 6" tall, so then water would go from refugium, into skimmer container, then to return? Im also wondering if I should change it up a little so some water comes from main tank into fuge, better for bug population?

01/20/2012, 03:58 PM	#11
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	yup, just add a baffle. You can make it taller if you want and keep the skimmer on a stand to keep a little more volume in the sump if you want. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

01/20/2012, 05:14 PM	#13
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Yeah I suppose I could use the same height as the refugium then. Im wondering if it would be better to have the skimmer closer to the right vs next to the refugium? Also, what are your thoughts on having one of my exhaust tubes hit my refugium? Ideally id like to throttle that so only a small amount went to fuge and the rest to the far right side, less flow and more bugs from main tank to fuge? Its a glass-holes kit and I think it said not to throttle the return, anyone know specifics on that? Also, do I need to use acryllic or could I just get some plastic they sell at lowes and glue/epoxy it in? Not sure where I could get just a small piece of acryllic like that - I didn't build the sump either but im sure its not too difficult

01/20/2012, 09:46 PM	#14
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	If I wanted to do this I would have to remove the center brace in the sump, I cant imagine that being a big deal since its never really full, and its squeezed in my stand pretty well - anyone see a problem with this?

01/20/2012, 10:21 PM	#15
MarineSniper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 554	In the interim, before you get an actual ato, take a 5g bucket and use a gang valve or one of the pieces that are used to drip acclimate and use that. One of my tanks is still set up with this setup and it keeps perfect water levels in the sump (the reason I haven't bothered to change it). One drip about every 3 1/2 seconds seems to be around a gallon per day, as that was what I was manually adding before going this route. An easy, temporary fix to your problem that will work for as long as you need it to...or until your significant other makes you get the bucket out of the room!

01/21/2012, 04:43 PM	#16
rhwimmers Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis - NW side Posts: 1,466	Yeah good idea on the slow drip. Any ideas on the flow in regards to the fuge?