Not Skimming much
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40201
Printed Date: April 27 2025 at 1:36pm
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Topic: Not Skimming much
Posted By: Deluxe247
Subject: Not Skimming much
Date Posted: April 12 2010 at 10:20am
I've had my 55g mixed reef set up for about 6 or 7 months now, and things are great. I am concenred about the skimmer though. Recently it hasn't been skimming much at all and I'm worried that the DOCs are building up. It's a SeaClone 100 and it has worked great so far, but I can't figure out why the sudden drop. I cleaned the whole thing a couple of weeks ago because it had lots of little sponges growing in it. Here are some pics. Any help would be great! this has been running for about a week, and normally the cup would be full by now.  It's not so bad in this picture, but i've seen lots of foam collect up here.  just this last week I noticed a persistent protein film on the water surface. Normally I have no film at all since I have my pumps pointed up for surface agitation. ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Replies:
Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: April 13 2010 at 12:19pm
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I doesn't look like you have real great bubbles inside of the skimmer. Is there anything blocking the air line? Are the bubbles/air inside the skimmer the same as they have always been?
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Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: April 13 2010 at 2:55pm
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Nothing is blocking the airline or anything. I think I just have a hard time finding the sweet spot on the venturi valve for the perfect mix of water and air. I'll keep trying to adjust.
------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Posted By: Reefboy4life
Date Posted: April 13 2010 at 3:13pm
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I have the same skimmer and problem i put a wood air stone in it and cut the collection cup tube down an inch works perfect now google seaclone mods. ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef |
Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: April 13 2010 at 5:05pm
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Thanks guys. I checked out some mods on RC and someone mentioned doing a pin-wheel mod on the maxi-jet 1200 to get better micro-bubbles. I may try it with some old bio balls, but I was thinking about just replacing the maxi-jet with a pin-wheel pump like a reef octopus 2000. my concern is that the reef-octopus is rated for 500 gph while the MJ 1200 is only 295. Would 500 gph be too much for the SC100 skimmer or would it actually be better? ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 11:09pm
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I've done a few several modifications on this skimmer now. First, I replaces the stock venturi valve with an airline tubing adjustment valve. Next, I trimmed off about an inch from the riser tube in the collection cup AND in the reaction chamber (for more water/air exposure). So far it's doing a little better, but 'm still not getting great bubbles. I think I'll try a pin-wheel mod on the pump. If that doesn't milk it, then I'll probably just have to go with a better pump.
------------- 90G Mixed Reef |