How do you adust your skimmer?

The manufacturer instructions said about one inch up in the collection cylender, so thats where I started. I've been slowing adjusting it, well I've accidently knocked it down a couple of times while I was jacking with stuff. I do try and make the foam as dry as possibly though. Is there a more exact method to adusting my ETSS sump buddy 40?

 

How long have you had it? Until it breaks in, its going to be sporadic and hard to get adjusted and stay there. Adjust it as wet as the skimmer will allow you, let the drain in the cup drain back into the sump. Then you aren't losing water from the system, its just pumping it in circles. After 4-5 days, adjust it down where its skimming like you want, and let it run. Its still going to be erratic for a few more days. When it stabilizes, you can start adjusting it. But trying to adjust one while its breaking in is futile

 

Its been running about a month. I've got it draining into a 2.5 gal container (old kitty litter container). So what is the point at which its broken in? I don't have a large bio-load, you can see my tank in my signature, so keeping that in mind will it take longer to break-in?

 

After a month, its pretty well broken in. After that, its just adjusting it. There is no simple rule that says "turn this to there" and its set. Each tank is different so the way it gets set on each setup is different. I typically start by blocking off the air. Then set the water level where I want it, then turn the air on. Hard to do it that way with the ETSS (Downdraft skimmer) but you can try it that way. Its just patience and adjusting though.

 

What dictates this? I understand the different factors that affect the skimming action, but how do you know? Should you wait and adjust it in between feedings and when the tank is fairly stable like in the middle of the lighting cycle? Maybe I just answered my own question.

 

I try to do it after feedings. The lights dont really matter.