ASM Skimmer question

[mwb1978]

Hello again,

I'm still trying to set up my 180 gallon SW tank. I recently got the skimmer in the mail and I was playing with it in the bathtub trying to figure out how exactly it works, as this is my first SW attempt. I now have an ASM G-4 and I noticed that the output of the pump (sedra 5000) into the skimmer seemed pretty anemic. What kind of water flow and air flow would be best into the skimmer? And, why is there a huge difference in the pump output when the air line is blocked? How in the world does that make the pump push a whole lot more water? I know that playing with it in FW is not going to be the same as seeing it work in SW, but I was curious.

As far as upgrades go, would a larger pump be better? maybe something like a sedra 7000 or a 9000? I don't have a meter, but it seems to me that maybe only 200 gph or so is going through the skimmer, is this right? I had it sitting in about 8" of water in the tub.

Everything SW is new to me, so don't assume I know anything, please.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[Nolapete]

I would find out what gph pump is required for the ASM G-4 and go with that. If it came with the Sedra 5000, then that's probably fine.

Skimmers require contact time with water to be effective. You don't want the water moving quickly through the skimmer.

What do you mean "the air line is blocked?"

 

[mwb1978]

Yeah, I was wondering about the need for the water to be in the skimmer for a certain amount of time, but I wasn't sure. I meant that when you put your finger over the air line going to the venturi, the flow through the pump goes way up.

I'm gonna be using a rubbermaid sump setup and I was wondering if you had any suggestions for a bubble trap setup. I don't think that a baffle setup will work since the plastic bin will bow and flex when filled.

 

[Nolapete]

That's normal for the flow to increase when there's no air going to the venturi.

Sterlite makes some plastic storage drawers. You can find them in various sizes at walmart. That's what I'm thinking of using. The flow down through 3 drawers should trap the bubbles.