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View Full Version : A (probably) dumb protein skimmer question


SmallFry
06-19-2012, 04:41 AM
I've had my Euro Reef RS100 running for a while and I'm having issues with the fact that the foam isn't breaking down in the collection cup and overflowing. It's not just going crazy and frothing with clean foam it's pulling dirty skimmate which is really nasty when it does break down in the cup. It just seems to be pulling too much. I haven't been adding anything to the tank to cause it to go nuts either...

I'm wondering if I'm skimming too dry and the foam is too loaded with organics for the bubbles to burst? Would raising the water level in the skimmer make it skim wetter so the foam breaks down?

I'm a bit lost because this is the first skimmer I've had that will actually pull anything out.

All suggestions welcome..

Rob

Mike-fish
06-19-2012, 05:52 AM
My guess would be that your running too wet. Do you have a build up of water in the collection cup or runny skimate

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-19-2012, 02:32 PM
You are running too dry. You have to adjust the skimmer's bubble height upwards a tiny bit to get it to run wetter and have the skimmate overflow into the collection cup instead of just collecting in the tube.

SmallFry
06-19-2012, 05:05 PM
My guess would be that your running too wet. Do you have a build up of water in the collection cup or runny skimate

I wouldn't say the skimmate is watery, I mean it's not that much more viscous than water, but it's dark and stinks...

You are running too dry. You have to adjust the skimmer's bubble height upwards a tiny bit to get it to run wetter and have the skimmate overflow into the collection cup instead of just collecting in the tube.

The foam does overflow into the collection cup, but it just doesn't beak down into liquid again, does this happen when you skim too dry? It will literally push the lid off the collection cup and ooze off all over the place like a foam party really don't want to go to... :mrgreen:

Mike-fish
06-19-2012, 06:31 PM
Try to run it drier for a few days to see if it helps

ElGuappo
06-19-2012, 06:58 PM
You are running too dry. You have to adjust the skimmer's bubble height upwards a tiny bit to get it to run wetter and have the skimmate overflow into the collection cup instead of just collecting in the tube.

+1

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