New Skimmer Break-in Questions

forddna · 05/28/2008, 07:41 PM

I bought a used NW-200 and set it up a few days ago. This is my first skimmer.

So, the questions are:

1. During break in, the water in the skimmer just circulates and flows back out, right? Because that's what it's doing..

2. After it starts producing foam, will there be more or less water flowing back out?

3. Is there a correlation between micro bubbles in the tank and skimmer function? I searched for info on skimmer break-in, and one person mentioned having microbubbles that went away when the skimmer started skimming.

Thank you!

carlso63 · 05/28/2008, 08:31 PM

How high up is your standpipe (the discharge tube)? You know it is adjustable, right?

You should have it set so that it is as high up as to where the "cone" part of the skimmer ends and the riser tube that goes into the collection cup begins. That's a good starting point.

You should be able to see a little foaming inside the riser tube at right about that line.

After a couple of days, you may need to raise or lower your standpipe height slightly in order to keep your water / foam line right around that height (usually you will have to lower the standpipe height a little after the skimmer starts to "break in"; by little I mean maybe a half inch or so)...

Once the skimmer breaks in you should see slightly less microbubbles out of the discharge; it really doesn't affect the actual amount of water that comes out of the standpipe, though...

I have one of these skimmers and I like it alot... it should do a good job for you. And you can always "upgrade" it with a meshmod or a venturi mod or even an elbow mod...

I did all 3 and now it really rocks!

SulfurAcid · 05/28/2008, 08:31 PM

Yes, the skimmer is going to be circulating water as it cleans itself of the solvents in the acrylic. I am pretty sure that if it produces any skimmate at all, it will be wet, so do no set the skimmer for your final setting yet.

After it starts producing foam, the flow of water out of the skimmer will be the same, beause the pump is going to be doing the same thing it has been doing. Break-in does not affect the GPH of the feed pump, so outflow will be the same. However, bubbles will be more mixed in the water, and the microbubbles will not escape into the display tank after it is broken in.

forddna · 05/28/2008, 08:40 PM

this is the model I have. Off the top of my head, I can't picture the outflow tube being adjustable. I currently have a 115lb dog in my lap, so I'll have to look at it myself later. lol

carlso63 · 05/28/2008, 08:47 PM

That's the exact same on I have

The long black pipe can be adjusted upwards... just twist it and then pull on it at the same time.

Don't pull too hard or it will pop right off!

forddna · 05/29/2008, 04:41 AM

I just looked, and it sounds like it's already positioned where you suggested.

05/28/2008, 07:41 PM	#1
forddna Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Crossville, TN (Tampa native) Posts: 5,143	New Skimmer Break-in Questions I bought a used NW-200 and set it up a few days ago. This is my first skimmer. So, the questions are: 1. During break in, the water in the skimmer just circulates and flows back out, right? Because that's what it's doing.. 2. After it starts producing foam, will there be more or less water flowing back out? 3. Is there a correlation between micro bubbles in the tank and skimmer function? I searched for info on skimmer break-in, and one person mentioned having microbubbles that went away when the skimmer started skimming. Thank you! __________________ ~Amanda~ Returning to the hobby after a 5+ year hiatus Current Tank Info: 93g Cube - Build in Progress

05/28/2008, 08:31 PM	#2
carlso63 Reefkeeping since 1977 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 948	How high up is your standpipe (the discharge tube)? You know it is adjustable, right? You should have it set so that it is as high up as to where the "cone" part of the skimmer ends and the riser tube that goes into the collection cup begins. That's a good starting point. You should be able to see a little foaming inside the riser tube at right about that line. After a couple of days, you may need to raise or lower your standpipe height slightly in order to keep your water / foam line right around that height (usually you will have to lower the standpipe height a little after the skimmer starts to "break in"; by little I mean maybe a half inch or so)... Once the skimmer breaks in you should see slightly less microbubbles out of the discharge; it really doesn't affect the actual amount of water that comes out of the standpipe, though... I have one of these skimmers and I like it alot... it should do a good job for you. And you can always "upgrade" it with a meshmod or a venturi mod or even an elbow mod... I did all 3 and now it really rocks! __________________ -Member of the 35 & Over Club- Wanna see my tank? Go to www.utahreefs.com Current Tank Info: 150g Reef: 3 X 250 Halides (LumenMax3 / IceCap / Pheonix 14K DE), 2 X Gyre 150s, Elite Aquatics sump, dc9000 return, Curve 7, RKE, BRS Dual Reactor, Chaeto / Caulerpa Fuge

05/28/2008, 08:40 PM	#4
forddna Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Crossville, TN (Tampa native) Posts: 5,143	this is the model I have. Off the top of my head, I can't picture the outflow tube being adjustable. I currently have a 115lb dog in my lap, so I'll have to look at it myself later. lol __________________ ~Amanda~ Returning to the hobby after a 5+ year hiatus Current Tank Info: 93g Cube - Build in Progress

05/28/2008, 08:47 PM	#5
carlso63 Reefkeeping since 1977 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 948	That's the exact same on I have The long black pipe can be adjusted upwards... just twist it and then pull on it at the same time. Don't pull too hard or it will pop right off! __________________ -Member of the 35 & Over Club- Wanna see my tank? Go to www.utahreefs.com Current Tank Info: 150g Reef: 3 X 250 Halides (LumenMax3 / IceCap / Pheonix 14K DE), 2 X Gyre 150s, Elite Aquatics sump, dc9000 return, Curve 7, RKE, BRS Dual Reactor, Chaeto / Caulerpa Fuge

05/29/2008, 04:41 AM	#6
forddna Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Crossville, TN (Tampa native) Posts: 5,143	I just looked, and it sounds like it's already positioned where you suggested. __________________ ~Amanda~ Returning to the hobby after a 5+ year hiatus Current Tank Info: 93g Cube - Build in Progress

05/28/2008, 08:31 PM	#3
SulfurAcid Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 120	Yes, the skimmer is going to be circulating water as it cleans itself of the solvents in the acrylic. I am pretty sure that if it produces any skimmate at all, it will be wet, so do no set the skimmer for your final setting yet. After it starts producing foam, the flow of water out of the skimmer will be the same, beause the pump is going to be doing the same thing it has been doing. Break-in does not affect the GPH of the feed pump, so outflow will be the same. However, bubbles will be more mixed in the water, and the microbubbles will not escape into the display tank after it is broken in.