Protein Skimmer help

MitchSutherland · 07/22/2014, 04:47 PM

I just bought this skimmer off craigslist and just installed it. The bubbles are massiv is this good?

MitchSutherland · 07/22/2014, 04:47 PM

The bubbles got huge once I extend the line to my skimmer air intake with a larger diameter tubing.

reepher315 · 07/22/2014, 04:57 PM

As long as there isnt actual water going into your cup you should be fine. But id adjust your flow that will probably fill that cup pretty quick

shesacharmer · 07/22/2014, 05:10 PM

Ideally you want the bubbles at the bottom of the neck, not at the top. They should slowly climb to reach the top and the longer it takes the better job your skimmer is doing.

MitchSutherland · 07/22/2014, 05:48 PM

Do I want the bubbles big or small? I can't change back to the smaller hose

MitchSutherland · 07/23/2014, 11:45 AM

Do I want it to be larger bubbles or smaller? I can change it back to the smaller air tube.

Reeferz412 · 07/23/2014, 11:50 AM

Is that the Odyssea skimmer?

MitchSutherland · 07/23/2014, 12:38 PM

Marineland 300 with a ca 4000 pump on my 125

thegrun · 07/23/2014, 12:39 PM

The smaller the bubbles the better (while they are in contact with the water inside the skimmer) the size of the bubbles coming out of the skimmer neck does not matter.

atrox · 07/23/2014, 01:22 PM

Bubbles will be small traveling through the neck, but will be larger at top of collection cup. Nothing to worry about.

Reeferz412 · 07/23/2014, 01:40 PM

You will want to focus on the color and consistency of the skimmate collecting in the cup. This will determine if you are skimming dry or really wet and how much of a bioload you have.

whosurcaddie · 07/23/2014, 01:42 PM

Looks good to me.

reepher315 · 07/25/2014, 07:12 PM

I had a lower end skimmer that would over flow all the time and would get huge bubbles. I put an valve stem on the end and adjusted the air intake. More control is always nice.

07/22/2014, 05:10 PM	#4
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	Ideally you want the bubbles at the bottom of the neck, not at the top. They should slowly climb to reach the top and the longer it takes the better job your skimmer is doing. __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

07/23/2014, 11:50 AM	#7
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Is that the Odyssea skimmer? __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

07/23/2014, 01:40 PM	#11
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	You will want to focus on the color and consistency of the skimmate collecting in the cup. This will determine if you are skimming dry or really wet and how much of a bioload you have. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

07/22/2014, 04:47 PM	#2
MitchSutherland Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 258	The bubbles got huge once I extend the line to my skimmer air intake with a larger diameter tubing.

07/22/2014, 04:57 PM	#3
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	As long as there isnt actual water going into your cup you should be fine. But id adjust your flow that will probably fill that cup pretty quick

07/22/2014, 05:48 PM	#5
MitchSutherland Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 258	Do I want the bubbles big or small? I can't change back to the smaller hose

07/23/2014, 11:45 AM	#6
MitchSutherland Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 258	Do I want it to be larger bubbles or smaller? I can change it back to the smaller air tube.

07/23/2014, 12:38 PM	#8
MitchSutherland Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 258	Marineland 300 with a ca 4000 pump on my 125

07/23/2014, 12:39 PM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The smaller the bubbles the better (while they are in contact with the water inside the skimmer) the size of the bubbles coming out of the skimmer neck does not matter.

07/23/2014, 01:22 PM	#10
atrox Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 574	Bubbles will be small traveling through the neck, but will be larger at top of collection cup. Nothing to worry about.

07/23/2014, 01:42 PM	#12
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Looks good to me.

07/25/2014, 07:12 PM	#13
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	I had a lower end skimmer that would over flow all the time and would get huge bubbles. I put an valve stem on the end and adjusted the air intake. More control is always nice.