First REAL Protein Skimmer I NEED HELP

So I got my first REAL protein skimmer in today. I bought a Reef Octopus DNWB-110. Before all I had was an acrylic cylinder w/venturi and colletion cup so this new one is A BEAST. I have it all connected like the instructions said. The retailer I bought it from said if I was using it internally I would not need a feed pump. Well I have it in the bathtub right now and its not doing anything. ( DONT YELL AT ME I KNOW FRESHWATER WONT MAKE BUBBLES!!!) The water level just drops out of the bubble chamber and the pump runs dry. So I decided to put a feed pump on and the only thing I had laying around was a mag drive 5. I connected it and I get a nice tornado inside with some bubble from the skimmer pump, but the water shoots into the collection cup because the mag drive is too huge. My question is...

Can anyone suggest a good feed pump? And How do I adjust the water level inside the skimmer?

Thanks Again 3Reef!

Stephen

 

This is a new one. I would try it in the sump first. If you don't have a feed pump how is it supposed to work? If you use the Mag you have just buy a ball valve to throttle it back to a workable flow.

 

Use a feeder pump with about 1.5 times the GPH of the tank. For example, if you have a 100 gallon tank, consider using about a 150 gph pump. That will help.

 

just read a review where someone was using a maxijet 600 for a feed pump with good results. to raise and lower the water level you can either adjust the flow from the feed line (with a ball valve) or adjust the skimmers output.

~Will.

 

can just buy a adjustable small pump.. my rio skimmer pump has worked non-stop for 11 years.. amazing.. rubber suction cups/feet corroded away years ago. lol