Need Help Breaking in Skimmer

[fish addict]

I just got (24 hrs ago) a new Coralife Super Skimmer 65g, and am not sure how to adjust it properly. the instructions are fairly vague.

I can't get a good foam going without lots of water in the collection cup. The "needle wheel pump valve" is in the open position and the "water level adjustment dial is about half open.

The instructions roughly explain the difference between wet and dry skimming, and I think I want it to operate on the dry setting.

Everyone says that they have to break in, so should I just wait and all of a sudden it will start foaming away? I would appreciate any advice.

 

[reefrash]

It takes a couple of days to break in, at that point it should be easier to adjust. Keep the return above the water level, and make sure the pump is as close to the skimmer as possible with your setup. Are you running it hang on back?

 

[fish addict]

Yes, I am running it as a HOB and the pump is as close to the skimmer as possible. I,ve had to adjust the bubble diffuser to keep it from vibrating against the pump, but otherwise the only noise that it makes is from the air intake.

I think that it just needs some time to run, and maybe I need some trial and error to operate it efficiently. I am just curious if anybody has any hints or suggestions. Thank you for your input.

 

[Liz]

how does stuff get in the collection cup of a skimmer?

 

[msouth468]

how does stuff get in the collection cup of a skimmer?

The best way to describe this is to say...

Think of blowing bubbles in chocolate milk.

 

[reefrash]

The best way to describe this is to say...

Think of blowing bubbles in chocolate milk.

Wow that is the best way to describe it!!! could you imagine hooking up a skimmer to a gallon or two yuk!

 

[fastbackgly]

Going off of that question about skimmer collection cups. I have a Bak-Pak 2 and it never has anything in the collection cup. The air intake is wide open and it bubbles very nicely, but nothing ever goes in the collection cup.

 

[reefrash]

Going off of that question about skimmer collection cups. I have a Bak-Pak 2 and it never has anything in the collection cup. The air intake is wide open and it bubbles very nicely, but nothing ever goes in the collection cup.

If you restrict the airflow your water should climb closer to the collection cup. It's all part of the adjustment process. Also, when was the last time you serviced your pump? If your intake is clogged it can cause the same problem. Bak-Paks are very easy to keep tuned a very "set it and forget it" skimmer.

 

[fastbackgly]

It's brand new, so I don't think it needs to be serviced. I'll mess with it, it's no biggy, everything's doing fine.

 

[fish addict]

My Coralife is doing pretty well now. I think that most of the break-in period is really just learning how to adjust the skimmer and to wait for it to get a little dirty.

On a side note, my buddy just got a prizm HOB and I will monitor the difference between the 2 to see if one really is better than the other. I'll post pics soon.