properly tune a skimmer - how to?!

Milad · #1 10-19-2010, 06:31 AM

someone explain to me how to properly tune a skimmer. These youtube videos arent helping. Ive been told to keep the bubbles really small but when they are really small they get shot out of the skimmer and a youtube video said you dont want that. Im lost!

whatcaneyedo · #2 10-19-2010, 02:04 PM

Restrict the air flow to get the bubble size you want. Then adjust the foam height to where you want by restricting the output. Once you get it perfect do not touch anything as its a PITA to find that sweet spot again... if for some reason your skimmer starts acting up it probably means you just fed the tank some oily food, something died, something spawned, or it just needs to be cleaned. Heres a little trick: run a decent amount of fresh water through your air intake weekly (I use a full 1 gallon bucket) to dissolve any dried on salt that forms inside. Here's what my Bullet 3 looks like. BTW what skimmer do you have?

Milad · #3 10-19-2010, 03:18 PM

i have a euroreef 250 right now with a gate valve

reefwars · #4 10-19-2010, 03:24 PM

tuning skimmers for me has always been a bit of a pan in the butt to find that sweet spot, i use a marker to mark where it is and i adjust it from that mark so as i have a reference point to work with.when your tuning remember it takes several minutes for your skimmer to really adjust so dont go nuts on your adjusting....my vertex is very sensitive like a quater inch turn makes a huge difference.you also need to decide if you want a wet skim or dry...i prefer dry skim but everybodys got their preference

Hangfire · #5 10-19-2010, 03:31 PM

Milad - have you watched the You-Tube videos done by LA Fish Guy when he goes to Reef Dynamics and talks to the owner? They're pretty good.

I didn't know you could adjust the bubble size in a skimmer. I thought that was set by the pin wheel, so by restricting air flow would only change the number of bubbles. I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination - my Reef Dynamics is still breaking in.

viperfish · #6 10-19-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

I didn't know you could adjust the bubble size in a skimmer. I thought that was set by the pin wheel, so by restricting air flow would only change the number of bubbles.

It looks like Whatcanyoudo has a downdraft or Beckett style skimmer which does offer some control over bubble size. The needle or pin wheel style skimmers chop the air into bubbles without any control over the size. The Euroreef that Milan has is a needle wheel style so there is no way of choosing the bubble size, only the volume of air supplied. Ultimately the goal is to have the bubble chopped as fine as possible with as much air draw as the pump needle wheel can "chew up". I think Milan was referring to "bubble height" and not size.