Got a real skimmer!

[~reefchik~]

I clean my collection cup about once a week and never have to adjust it just spray it out with the hose real good and wipe down the cone part of the neck with a papertowel and it works like a charm i have not had an issue with any buildup in my airline but do have some salt thats starting to build up in my silencer.

The instructions with this one say to clean out the airline every so often to prevent salt blockage.  What's the silencer?

[Wall_Tank]

The instructions with this one say to clean out the airline every so often to prevent salt blockage.  What's the silencer?

Look inside the top of the tube where the airline hooks in at.   They hook it in there to silence the sound of the venturi, there may be some salt creep up there.

[Joel]

No problem on the the link to the old thread, I hope it had some useful information for you.

It is very important to keep your skimmer dialed in correctly. Keeping your venturi (the nipple where air in pulled into your pump / skimmer) cleaned out is very important. Salt Creep and calcium deposits will build up and can eventually completely clog it. Dust and debris in the air also add to clogging this area to restrict air further. If you have a silencer, they are notorious for getting air borne debris in them that will restrict air flow. All need checked  / cleaned regularly to keep them operating at their best. I will take a warm cup of ro / di water and put the air inlet tube into the water to let it suck clean the water thru the tube and venturi to help clean them out. I do this one or two time per week and completely brake them down monthly or so. Soaking your pump or air inlets in vingar monthly or so does great at getting the deposits cleaned up too.

Your skimmer is heavily influenced by the water level (depth) in your sump. This is why you see a change in your skimmers performance when you add water. The problem your faced with is the skimmer is not in a situation where it has an absolutely constant water level it is sitting in. When evaporation happens and the water level drops a little in your sump, the water & foam level in your skimmer drops also, ditto for the opposite, you top off your sump, the water level raises in your skimmer as well and may cause it to foam over. This happens because of the pressure (gravity) working against your pump. The further your pump has to push water above the water level in your sump, the harder is has to work and the less Volume it moves. In other words, if your skimmer is sitting is 8" of water and you adjust your skimmer to work optimally at that depth it can produce pretty well,  then evaporation drops the water level in your sump an inch or so, your pump is no longer pushing water up as high into the skimmer body, so it doesn't produce skimate as well (or at all). With your current set up, checking and possibly adding water daily to keep a constant water level will help or adjusting your skimmer daily or so to compensate for the water level in your sump will work. (kind of a PINA though)

If I can help additionally, ask away, happy to help where I can...

Joel

[~reefchik~]

Yes, it sure is a pain hauling water up each day.  Now I can see why so many people rig up automatic top offs.

Then again, I guess it's good exercise, and it forces me to take a good look at the sump and skimmer at least once a day so I know everything is working as it should.

I appreciate all the help.  Good information, Joel.

[fishnuttoo]

nice skimmer, thats my next one......

link i found comparing skimmers @ pa

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1644119

[~reefchik~]

  

Well, the warnings about the pumps on the Vertex are warranted.  I thought by getting the Gen 2, I'd be safe, but I guess not.  I got back from my Fla. trip last week to find the skimmer had quit.  I called Premium Aquatics about it and he helped me figure out it was the stem on the impeller that seized up (known issue).  He was supposed to have a new one sent out "right away" and here I sit a week later, no impeller.  No skimmer.

[fishnuttoo]

sorry to hear about that....

call and talk to jeremy, great with working with customers..  they usually will put it int the mail the next buisness day...

was yours ver 1 or 2

just bought ver 2 in100, will fire it up this weekend, new sump, new skimmer............

[~reefchik~]

I did talk to Jeremy.  I'm about to call him again now. 

If you don't have problems with the pump, I bet you will love the skimmer.  It really does a great job. 

[fishnuttoo]

post on how things turn out....

[~reefchik~]

I guess my phone call *reminded* them to send out the new impeller because it got here today.  Bless being in UPS first zone to Indy!

Only - guess what?   

The pump is deader than a doornail.  I guess it went too long trying to turn the seized up impeller.  I'm not surprised at the pump croaking, but I am surprised that Jason didn't expect it to be.  I have an email in to them now and will follow up with yet another call tomorrow.