prism skimmer...

[csv_scorpion]

hey... i just got my new prism skimmer and it doesn't see to be creating much foam. the water level is just below the "o-ring" like the instructions says. does that mean that my water doesn't have enough protein? when i raise the levels too high, only water goes in the collection cup.

also... there's a some air in the intake pipe. the instructions say to close the valve a little to reduce the air bubble in the inake valve... but then that lowers the water level in the reaction chamber. please help.

 

[pinballtrader48]

I have the same problem. Try not putting the air hose on all the way on the collection cup- just leave it barely on there. - this seems to help create more foam. Sometimes I have to turn it way up to get the foam going goood- after about 20 minutes I turn it back down, and that usually keeps it going. I probably have to mess with about every 2-3 days.

 

[littleprince]

Turn off the skimmer and let the bubble disappates.
Pinch the air hose, and turn it back on.
Do not let go until the intake chamber is comopletely filled. You will hear a sound different and there will be ZERO bubbles in the intake.

When the skimmer was brand new, I found that after several hours with the water just below the o ring i was getting nice skimmate. A few days later it was too watery. Eventualy I have to adjust it so the level is just below where the collection tube thing starts. And it doesnt skim 24/7. For a few hours everyday, not exactly sure when it skims real well, than it doesnt. Otherwise I get micro bubbles back into the tank. My water flow is down fairly near the closed part. I dont fiddle with mine ever anymore.

 

[csv_scorpion]

actually... now it's skimming better. i took off the overflow contraption... that took care of the air bubble in the intake pipe. also... the water level is just below the "o-ring" and the foam is rising nicely. we'll see in a couple days if it stays this way. thanks for your help guys.

 

[AllenF]

There is some trial and error involved. I have mine set just below the o ring and it skims fine. O keep the air intake nearly wide open and the water flow nearly wide open. It hardly ever wastes sea water and you get nice green-tea colored gunk.

For the first few days I couldnt turn it that high or it overflowed....someone told me that a skimmer has too run a few days before you really can get it set right. I was constantly tinkering with it for the first few days to a week to figure it out.

 

[csv_scorpion]

ok... so now... it's been a little over a week, and the skimmer does create some foam. but the foam doesn't really over flow. it comes up to the top of the nozel, sticks to the top cover of the collection tray, and then some gunk is left on the top cover. there's a collection of water in the tray and i think that's from the condensation. is that what the skimmer is supposed to do? i don't see the brown gunk that my LFS said i'm supposed to see. all i see is clear water in the collection cup.

also... how do you get rid of red slime algae. i think that's what it is. does the skimmer help? i was thinking of using a new toothbrush and brushing the algae off so that it would get sucked up by the skimmer. oh... also... the algae is also starting to cover up the sand bed. is this normal? i'm going to try and get a camera and show you guys. that way you guys can get a better idea of what i'm talking about.

 

[stlfishguy]

When it was brand new and every time I fully clean my prism, I have a similar problem.

I usually run mine all the way open for an hour and then go back and readjust it down. That usually solves my skimmer problem.

I readjust mine probably twice per week.