Help with a protein skimmer.

CFS82 · 01/03/2010, 02:41 PM

I am setting up a protein skimmer and have some questions.
It is a Prizm Deluxe Skimmer.
I plugged it in, and adjusted the dial till it was filled with millions of tiny bubbles.
Now what? how do I know it is working, the top section is completely filled with water. Is that normal?

Here is what the unit looks like.

210reefer · 01/03/2010, 04:47 PM

You will want to lower the water level using the valve to open the out flow more.It will take several days for it to break in. How big is the tank and what livestock do you have?

CFS82 · 01/03/2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 210reefer

You will want to lower the water level using the valve to open the out flow more.It will take several days for it to break in. How big is the tank and what livestock do you have?

what would I want to lower the water level to? just under the top piece or what?
This is on a 75 gallon tank with 80ish pounds of live rock with a pair of fiji devils. I know its way understocked but I like it when the fish have alot of room.

CFS82 · 01/03/2010, 05:35 PM

ok I have it set so just a small amount of foam trickles up and over into the collection cup. Is there any tutorials for a recommended rate for it to flow into the cup?

bertoni · 01/03/2010, 07:28 PM

There's no precise way to judge that, really. I'd just let it run for a few days and see how it goes. The bubbling should drop off over time, if the tank water is getting cleaner.

CFS82 · 01/03/2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

There's no precise way to judge that, really. I'd just let it run for a few days and see how it goes. The bubbling should drop off over time, if the tank water is getting cleaner.

Well, I played around with it a little, let it run for two hours and now I have a centimeter or two of yellow/green water in the collection cup. So it is totally doing something.

Yeah that makes sense, I get salt wholesale and change my water ALOT.

210reefer · 01/03/2010, 09:47 PM

Understocked is not a bad thing. I had one of the Prisms years ago, it took about a week to get it set right, you want it so the faom is below the neck of the collection cup and once a skim forms up the tube it will begin working. I would not add more livestock with that unit though, it is not the most efficient unit out there and would upgrade before adding any additional bio load.

CFS82 · 01/04/2010, 12:48 AM

I do not plan on adding anything else but are you saying that I couldnt have anything more than 2, 2inch fish with this skimmer? Is it garbage?

baseballkid5 · 01/04/2010, 12:57 AM

In Nice terms it is definetly not on the Better end of skimmers!For the price if you bought it brand new i would return it and look into the other hang on the back skimmers. Bubble magus, aqua c, Eshopps to name a few brands with nice hang on the back skimmers.But if you can get the Prizm to do what you want then thats ok to.
And on the Measurement of the fish. Its not how big the Fish is when you put it in the tank its how large the fish is gonna grow you need to think about when stocking the tank.

CFS82 · 01/04/2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballkid5

In Nice terms it is definetly not on the Better end of skimmers!For the price if you bought it brand new i would return it and look into the other hang on the back skimmers. Bubble magus, aqua c, Eshopps to name a few brands with nice hang on the back skimmers.But if you can get the Prizm to do what you want then thats ok to.
And on the Measurement of the fish. Its not how big the Fish is when you put it in the tank its how large the fish is gonna grow you need to think about when stocking the tank.

I appreciate the honesty, no I did not buy it new. I paid 20 for it used so I hope that wasnt too bad.
Well that is the thing, Fiji Blue Devils rarely get to 3 inches.

01/03/2010, 02:41 PM	#1
CFS82 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 31	Help with a protein skimmer. I am setting up a protein skimmer and have some questions. It is a Prizm Deluxe Skimmer. I plugged it in, and adjusted the dial till it was filled with millions of tiny bubbles. Now what? how do I know it is working, the top section is completely filled with water. Is that normal? Here is what the unit looks like.

01/03/2010, 07:28 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There's no precise way to judge that, really. I'd just let it run for a few days and see how it goes. The bubbling should drop off over time, if the tank water is getting cleaner. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/04/2010, 12:57 AM	#9
baseballkid5 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Renton Posts: 1	In Nice terms it is definetly not on the Better end of skimmers!For the price if you bought it brand new i would return it and look into the other hang on the back skimmers. Bubble magus, aqua c, Eshopps to name a few brands with nice hang on the back skimmers.But if you can get the Prizm to do what you want then thats ok to. And on the Measurement of the fish. Its not how big the Fish is when you put it in the tank its how large the fish is gonna grow you need to think about when stocking the tank. __________________ Scott Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef tank Softies

01/03/2010, 04:47 PM	#2
210reefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 75	You will want to lower the water level using the valve to open the out flow more.It will take several days for it to break in. How big is the tank and what livestock do you have?

01/03/2010, 05:35 PM	#4
CFS82 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 31	ok I have it set so just a small amount of foam trickles up and over into the collection cup. Is there any tutorials for a recommended rate for it to flow into the cup?

01/03/2010, 09:47 PM	#7
210reefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 75	Understocked is not a bad thing. I had one of the Prisms years ago, it took about a week to get it set right, you want it so the faom is below the neck of the collection cup and once a skim forms up the tube it will begin working. I would not add more livestock with that unit though, it is not the most efficient unit out there and would upgrade before adding any additional bio load.

01/04/2010, 12:48 AM	#8
CFS82 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 31	I do not plan on adding anything else but are you saying that I couldnt have anything more than 2, 2inch fish with this skimmer? Is it garbage?