PM HOT-1 Flooding issue

[reefland]

My father got a PM HOT-1 skimmer for his 55g reef and it was the worst thing I could have recommended. It floods on him constantly. Destroyed the tank stand, floor and ceiling below it. he uses a MJ 1200 on it (was recommended). If the air intake gets plugged it quickly overflows. He runs it with the water level below what was recommended (near flange) in an attempt to address this issue - doesn't help.

This was brought up as a concern when I bought it but I never thought it would happen so frequently. Sometime it happens twice a day!

Anyone have a trick or modification to prevent this?

 

[liquid]

You sure that the output pipe from the skimmer isn't partially plugged? Seems strange that it would overflow like that.

Use a smaller powerhead in general -- maybe a MJ 600 or 900?

Use a smaller powerhead and stick an airstone in there instead of using the supplied venturi?

This is more of a bandaid than anything: tap the skimer cup near the top and either run it into a skimmate collection vessle that auto-shuts off when full or run it back to the tank.

Shane

 

[reefland]

I'm thinking smaller power head as well. The butt-munch who sold it to me talked me out of the smaller powerhead.

The output doesn't seem blocked. I tried to talk my father into the airstone modification but he doesn't want to mess with it yet. And if we wanted an airstone based skimmer I had much cheaper options to buy or make.

Thanks.

 

[liquid]

Weird, it comes standard w/ the MJ 1200 -- at least from what I see listed.

I'm at a loss why they have a ballvalve on there to regulate flow from the skimmer as ballvalves are for turning flow on and off. A gate valve would have been a better choice from an adjustment POV. Is he running the ballvalve completely open or is it partially closed?

Shane

 

[reefland]

Partly closed. Otherwise you can't get the water level near where the suggested operating level is.

 

[reefland]

Agreed, a gate would be a much better option.

 

[madrefkepr]

I ran an MJ900 for almost 2 years, and never had a problem. I would try the smaller powerhead. HTH.

 

[reefland]

I have an extra MJ600 I can give him and I'll take that MJ1200. Seems fair to me.

Thanks for the suggestions.