Tips on skimmer maintenance and performance

Well I finally solved the mystery of the fluxuating water line in my Turboflotor skimmer today. I pulled the airline off the pump and noticed that the air intake pipe on the pump was clogged worse than Cheney's arteries after a cheese steak bacon hoagie thanks to salt creep.

I am kicking myself for not finding that before. :
I was really impressed how this skimmer behaved so well for months, and then when it started getting moody I immediately thought the skimmer was wacked when really all it needed was a little general maintenance.

So this made me think this would be a cool thread to start...

Please post:

• What skimmer you have.
• What problems you have enountered.
• What solutions you have some up with.

I think this will be a great help to some that just bought a skimmer or encountered a problem.



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I'll Start:

Skimmer: Turboflotor 1000 Multi with Ocean Runner Pump

Problems: Unstable water line causing collection cup to fill with water.

Solutions: Raised pump near water line of sump per instructions for best mix of water and air. Noted improvement. Added included tube extension. Noted improvement. This worked for some time, then really crazy water level problems that would fill cup in a matter of hours. Found clogged air intake from salt creep. Cleaned it under tap with skewer. Problem solved. In the future will clean air intake every couple months or sooner.

What do you have and how do you keep it performing well?



(Note - I will eventually move this thread to the skimmer board when we are done highlighting it.)

 

Skimmer: SeaClone 150
Pump: Included Maxijet 1200

Problem: Originally setup as a HOB, I had a lot of problems adjusting and never did seem to get a lot of production out of it.

Solution: Once I put it in a sump and got rid of the 'J' tube used for the HangOn mode. It became very easy to set and gets very good production.

Conclusion: Good skimmer in a sump when the water level does not fluctuate. If used as a HangOn, a stronger pump might work.

Cleaning: Routine emptying and cleaning of the cup. Mine gets half full every 3 to 4 days, that's when I clean it. Every month or so I pull it apart and clean the tower. (a 3/4" nap paint roller cover makes this job cake!) and check the air injection nozzle for salt/calcium buildup and clean as needed.

 

Skimmer: AquaC EV 120
Pump: one of the manufacturer recommended pumps, Mag Drive 5

Problem: One day(after over 6 months of use, the level inside the skimmer went too high, leaving no room for bubble production. No matter how wide I opened the included gate valve, I could not get any lowering of the water. I even switched pumps to a new mag 5, did not improve.

Solution: I thought I had cleaned the skimmer entirely, from top to bottom, BUT apparently I did not. I hooked it back up and still, no skimmate. I have ozone running through the injector, so I disconnected that for several days. Nothing. I was getting really steamed so I pulled the injector off again, for a sanity check, and low and behold! SALT CREEP! Where, for the love of Pete, did it come from as it draws air in from not really near the water level. Anyway, I cleaned it with really hot water, and now it works just fine!

Maintenance: I am striving for the "cup of skimmate per day" as recommended by Anthony Calfo, who believes that our skimmers should be pulling out alot more than most of them are, regardless of how much we paid for them. (Of course some are easier to get working better than others). Towards that end, I clean the riser tube every other day and have been very slowly tweaking that gate valve once per week to see if I achieve and additional performace enhancements. ;D

Conclusion: I really like this skimmer, it is relatively maintenace free, makes good production out of the box. It is quiet and easy to clean as well!

 

Awesome! Thanks you two. Looks like you and I had the same problem Birdlady! ;D

Who's next?

 

C'mon folks! I know everybody has messed with their skimmer. What's your trick?

(karma reward!)

 

Skimmer: ASM G3/Seadra 5000

Mod : Valve gate for easier water level control

Problems: Massive amount of air/micro bubble out of valve gate.

Solution: On valve gate air holes were drilled to decrease salt creep. however to many holes and the preasure was pulling in air causing the air bubble. Taped over a few holes and what do you know, No! more air bubbles.

 

i have a berlin HO. i have it hanging on my wetdry and so far it works great i havnt had any problems with this

 

Umm.. ok. But that is not the point of this thread. Looking for tips/solutions here.

 

Skimmer: Berlin and a coralife super skimmer 220 (this can really apply to any skimmer that uses a venturi)

Problem: not producing bubbles or not producing enough

Solution: so many people jsut stick there skimmer pumps into the bottom of there sump without considering how deep it is the pump should be no more than 2-3 inches below the surface of the water to be most efficient at drawing in air through the venturi

mod: build a stand using pvc and eggcrate to raise the entire skimmer and pump ( or at least it worked for the berlin) and for the css 220 my cousin who is a total saltwater newb actually figured out on his won without my advice that the 8 inches the manual says to submerge the pump has to be wrong but rather than raising it he hooked it up to an air pump he now gets delicously thick skimmate

 

For those of you with the Berlin Classic skimmers, (not the turbo with the needlewheel pump) you can greatly increase production by upgrading the recommended 500 gph pump to a 950 (I used a Mag 9.5) . What a difference and the skimmer can easily handle the flow. ;D