Skimming question

reeftanker04 · 01/24/2007, 05:00 PM

I've got the Red Sea Prizm HOT skimmer on a 30 gallon setup and it's the first time I'm using a skimmer.

The manual says to keep the water line just under the 0-ring but that's just not working for me. It seems I either get nothing in the collection cup or I wind up filling it up with salt water (no scum) overnight.

The tank is relatively new, it's only been up for a month or so. Could there possibly be nothing to skim?

If anyone has this skimmer and could recommend how I could get it to work properly I would appreciate it. I don't believe there is anything wrong with the skimmer itself. I know this is something I'm doing wrong but I just can't figure this thing out.

rrodd89 · 01/24/2007, 05:06 PM

I donâ€™t have that skimmer but I have heard a lot of negative comments about it. I have also heard people have had them work ok. I would highly doubt there is nothing to skim unless you just have a tank with water and nothing else.

BurntOutReefer · 01/24/2007, 05:06 PM

"Could there possibly be nothing to skim? "....

That would be a yes....give it some time...after you add some life, you'll see a major difference...IMO

reeftanker04 · 01/24/2007, 05:13 PM

Thanks guys, I've definitely heard negative things about it but it came with the tank/filter/stand so it was part of the package.

BillyJoeJimBob · 01/24/2007, 05:39 PM

I have the same skimmer and mine worked fantastic on my 20 long tank.

The best modification to fix your skimmer problem is to install 2 air valves between the top of the air intake nipple and the connection on the collection cup.

(See attached picture)

The bottom most valve (closest to the water intake) should be used to set the water level/bubble level near the o-ring. The top most positioned valve is set to either fully open or fully closed and is used when emptying the collection cup. Basically you will close the top valve when you empty the collection cup so you don't have any overflow while it's removed. When you put the collection cup back on, you simply open the valve all the way. This also allows you to keep your fine tuned setting without having to readjust it every time you empty the collection cup. This made adjusting the skimmer easy and painless, and takes away the need to always play with the adjustment.

Hope this helps.

01/24/2007, 05:00 PM	#1
reeftanker04 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 259	Skimming question I've got the Red Sea Prizm HOT skimmer on a 30 gallon setup and it's the first time I'm using a skimmer. The manual says to keep the water line just under the 0-ring but that's just not working for me. It seems I either get nothing in the collection cup or I wind up filling it up with salt water (no scum) overnight. The tank is relatively new, it's only been up for a month or so. Could there possibly be nothing to skim? If anyone has this skimmer and could recommend how I could get it to work properly I would appreciate it. I don't believe there is anything wrong with the skimmer itself. I know this is something I'm doing wrong but I just can't figure this thing out.

01/24/2007, 05:06 PM	#2
rrodd89 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: west bloomfield, mi Posts: 77	I donâ€™t have that skimmer but I have heard a lot of negative comments about it. I have also heard people have had them work ok. I would highly doubt there is nothing to skim unless you just have a tank with water and nothing else. __________________ 55g display, 29g sump, AquaC ev-120, Ca Reactor, ACjr, 2 mj 1200, 4x54 T5HO, mag 9.5 return Current Tank Info: 55g

01/24/2007, 05:06 PM	#3
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	"Could there possibly be nothing to skim? ".... That would be a yes....give it some time...after you add some life, you'll see a major difference...IMO

01/24/2007, 05:13 PM	#4
reeftanker04 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 259	Thanks guys, I've definitely heard negative things about it but it came with the tank/filter/stand so it was part of the package.

01/24/2007, 05:39 PM	#5
BillyJoeJimBob Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 174	I have the same skimmer and mine worked fantastic on my 20 long tank. The best modification to fix your skimmer problem is to install 2 air valves between the top of the air intake nipple and the connection on the collection cup. (See attached picture) The bottom most valve (closest to the water intake) should be used to set the water level/bubble level near the o-ring. The top most positioned valve is set to either fully open or fully closed and is used when emptying the collection cup. Basically you will close the top valve when you empty the collection cup so you don't have any overflow while it's removed. When you put the collection cup back on, you simply open the valve all the way. This also allows you to keep your fine tuned setting without having to readjust it every time you empty the collection cup. This made adjusting the skimmer easy and painless, and takes away the need to always play with the adjustment. Hope this helps.