Skimz external skimmer questions

rezac · 10/13/2015, 05:37 PM

I have the sk202 external skimmer and I can't get it to stop overflowing. I got it last November, it has sat in my garage for about a month. I set it up yesterday and was overflowing like crazy. I called aquacave and he said to check my drain. Last night I ran it in vinegar water for about 5 hours, then ro water for about another 5. I redid the drain today and it's still overflowing. I have adjusted the air screw so it is all the way out and have the water level as low as it can go. Do you guys have any ideas?

ericarenee · 10/13/2015, 05:42 PM

Two things.. It looks like you have the drain pipe reduced from 1 inch to 3/4 flex.. This needs to be the same all the way down to sump. Also closing the air valve will let more water thru and less foam head. ..

hope this helps.. i do not have this exact skimmer but do have a skimz skimmer
I would increase that drain size so its not reduced.. Try closing the air

Be sure that gate is all the way open

rezac · 10/13/2015, 06:30 PM

It comes with a nipple to go from 1-1/4" to 3/4. I have it from 1-1/4" to 1" now. It worked perfectly at my other house when I was using it there. It settled down now that I look at it, that's awesome lol. Gate valve is all the way open and the air valve is almost fully closed. How would you go about adjusting it from here?

rezac · 10/14/2015, 07:52 AM

I can't get it to settle down again. This thing is being annoying.

ericarenee · 10/14/2015, 07:54 AM

i have heard people say there skimmer overflowed like this.. with it being external not sure how you could just let it run and see if it will break in and stop over flowing.

fisher4d · 10/16/2015, 07:44 AM

Close the air valve as much as possible, open water valve all the way, then slowly open air valve over time

biecacka · 10/16/2015, 09:27 AM

^^^^try that. That is what I did with my Beckett.

Corey

FirstContact · 10/16/2015, 05:11 PM

If I remember correctly it's in the manual not to downsize the outflow or change the size of the fittings downward. Everyone's given good advice re: water level and air screw. I have an SK222, but I threw it in my sump and run a feed pump on it. That was what Albert at Aquacave recommended. Does a great job skimming, but like with many other oversized nw skimmers these days they just tend to go haywire every now and then. Over the years it's pulled out at least twenty gallons a couple of times; so, I drain it into a thirty gallon reservoir and set to dry skim. Also make sure the water level is where it needs to be, so it doesn't pull out too much. Once you settle in try not to adjust the water level upwards too much when the neck gets dirty.

rezac · 10/25/2015, 12:23 AM

It may say that in the manual but it also worked fine for 6 months till I disconnected it and let it sit for a month and a half. I don't have it in my sump. I took it down for now since I don't have any place to put it. I let it overflow back into the sump from the skimmer cup. Tomorrow maybe I will mess around with it for a while since my other skimmer pump took a crap and now I'm waiting on my new one.

DamonG · 10/25/2015, 04:51 AM

I will have to check the manual, but if it's like the other skimz skimmers(and i could be wrong as i haven't checked the manual once again), but you don't close the air valve, but open it.

Try and reverse or, open the air valve like half a turn at a time. Once you get it to the point of not flowing over, gradually close it until it stabilizes?? Like tiny movements..

10/13/2015, 05:37 PM	#1
rezac Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 45	Skimz external skimmer questions I have the sk202 external skimmer and I can't get it to stop overflowing. I got it last November, it has sat in my garage for about a month. I set it up yesterday and was overflowing like crazy. I called aquacave and he said to check my drain. Last night I ran it in vinegar water for about 5 hours, then ro water for about another 5. I redid the drain today and it's still overflowing. I have adjusted the air screw so it is all the way out and have the water level as low as it can go. Do you guys have any ideas?

10/13/2015, 05:42 PM	#2
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	Two things.. It looks like you have the drain pipe reduced from 1 inch to 3/4 flex.. This needs to be the same all the way down to sump. Also closing the air valve will let more water thru and less foam head. .. hope this helps.. i do not have this exact skimmer but do have a skimz skimmer I would increase that drain size so its not reduced.. Try closing the air Be sure that gate is all the way open __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

10/13/2015, 06:30 PM	#3
rezac Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 45	Skimz external skimmer questions It comes with a nipple to go from 1-1/4" to 3/4. I have it from 1-1/4" to 1" now. It worked perfectly at my other house when I was using it there. It settled down now that I look at it, that's awesome lol. Gate valve is all the way open and the air valve is almost fully closed. How would you go about adjusting it from here?

10/14/2015, 07:54 AM	#5
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	i have heard people say there skimmer overflowed like this.. with it being external not sure how you could just let it run and see if it will break in and stop over flowing. __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

10/16/2015, 05:11 PM	#8
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	If I remember correctly it's in the manual not to downsize the outflow or change the size of the fittings downward. Everyone's given good advice re: water level and air screw. I have an SK222, but I threw it in my sump and run a feed pump on it. That was what Albert at Aquacave recommended. Does a great job skimming, but like with many other oversized nw skimmers these days they just tend to go haywire every now and then. Over the years it's pulled out at least twenty gallons a couple of times; so, I drain it into a thirty gallon reservoir and set to dry skim. Also make sure the water level is where it needs to be, so it doesn't pull out too much. Once you settle in try not to adjust the water level upwards too much when the neck gets dirty. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

10/14/2015, 07:52 AM	#4
rezac Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 45	I can't get it to settle down again. This thing is being annoying.

10/16/2015, 07:44 AM	#6
fisher4d Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 27	Close the air valve as much as possible, open water valve all the way, then slowly open air valve over time

10/16/2015, 09:27 AM	#7
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	^^^^try that. That is what I did with my Beckett. Corey

10/25/2015, 12:23 AM	#9
rezac Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 45	It may say that in the manual but it also worked fine for 6 months till I disconnected it and let it sit for a month and a half. I don't have it in my sump. I took it down for now since I don't have any place to put it. I let it overflow back into the sump from the skimmer cup. Tomorrow maybe I will mess around with it for a while since my other skimmer pump took a crap and now I'm waiting on my new one.

10/25/2015, 04:51 AM	#10
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	I will have to check the manual, but if it's like the other skimz skimmers(and i could be wrong as i haven't checked the manual once again), but you don't close the air valve, but open it. Try and reverse or, open the air valve like half a turn at a time. Once you get it to the point of not flowing over, gradually close it until it stabilizes?? Like tiny movements..