SWC 160 Cone Review/Set up

Raising the skimmer is opposite of what you want. Yes it will be dryer, but it will be worse to raise those bubbles.

close your valve some more and blow that crap on top out. The bubbles are breaking pretty low in the body, but again, that will get better. There really is no point to doing anything now. Get the bubble level to the base of the neck, so they break in it. Keep adjusting as it breaks in.

 

I don't plan on doing it anytime soon. I don't want to mess with it until after it breaks in completely.

 

thanks for the info. when I get back home I will do that.

 

As of now I have fixed the low bubble/water level and have a few millimeters of tea colored skimmate. By my fancy guestimation, I believe that is has pulled out more gunk than my old skimmer did in one day. I can't wait to see how she does when she is broken in.

 

Great news!

 

Skimmer is doing a really good job now. Photos later tonight

 

Sweet, can't wait to see some nasty skim pictures.

 

I know it isn't as dry as most people like, but in 2 days it has sucked out more skimmate than my older skimmer did in 2 weeks. The apartment smells like skimmate. IDK, if that is a good thing or not but I am thrilled with the performance of this skimmer and would recommend it to anyone.

 

Did you see Powerman's article about skimmers?

http://www.3reef.com/forums/filters-pumps-etc/all-about-skimmers-skimmers-skimmer-85389.html

From what he says, skimmate will appear lighter in a white trimmed cup and darker in a black trimmed cup. I had never thought of it like that before, but it makes sense of the results I've seen with my skimmers. My skimmer pulls similar looking skimmate as you're getting. He also says you should look more at the bubbles to determine whether or not you are skimming dry. If you are getting light wispy bubbles than you are on the right track.

The way I usually gauge it is the way the bubbles slide down into the cup after they overflow. Wet bubbles will slide right down leaving a trail of wet. Dry bubbles don't really slide down at all. They accumulate at the top until enough are there that the skimmate slides down to the bottom of the cup.

 

I read the article, I am just comparing this skimmate to other users' photos of the exact same skimmer's skimmate.