Skimmer Help?

[simonas]

with my new tank I got a Berlin 60 skimmer but no instructuions. Its running but I;ve realised the cup that collects stuff is actually submerged!

I;m right in thinking that this should be above water line so that the foamin spitting water just about collects in it?

cheers for any help

Simon

how muc of an improvement do they make to the params on a small tank?

 

[Harry1996]

yer the cup should be out of the water.

 

[-Nemo-]

Skimmers are definitely worth the buy no matter what size tank IMO
Wouldn't have a tank without one

And yes to what Harry said.

 

[simonas]

well I;ve positioned the skimmer so that the cup is out the water and its just filling up with water, possibly the sucker cups are failing and it just falls back to a level where water seeps in

unless i can sort it i'm best just getting shut

am i right in thinking tha tjust some spitting foam should make it in and how much would make it into the cup each day on average

theres a air stone just under the hole to the cup should the stone be fully submerged ?

its hard to explain unless i saw one in action

 

[ben1987]

The water level/bubbles should come upto about 1/3rd the way up the neck.

 

[seffieuk]

Show us some photos Simon

Seffie x

 

[simonas]

Will do tonight Seffie

 

[simonas]

didn;t do pics cos too busy however took the skimmer out and theres a marking for water level on the skimmer. If I place it in chamber so that its at that level I cannot shut the hood so when the hood is shut the skimmer is pushed that far down the cup is filled with water. obvioulsy this skimmer is no good for that tank?

I think I understand them now, the bubblesare quite a distance from the cup opening but when its working properly it buildsup that much foam that it makes its way to the overflow t the cup that you manage to "skim" off the foam containing nutrients that you want removing?

I shall have to look at possible skimmers that fit this tank

 

[ben1987]

sounds right to me, the bubbles/water line go upto about 1/3rd the way up...then start foaming and move further up and over. so you just got it too low with the water too high

 

[simonas]

did some research on this last night and found that theres an adjustable section in the skimmer section that enables you to lower the water level for that one chamber, i tried it last night, the cup didn't collect anything but I had to switch it off today as its so noisy.

would there be any merit in just having a skimmer working over nighth?

 

[seffieuk]

You get used to the noise Simon

Seffie x

 

[chrisbassist]

Should I plan on making my hardware/sump area sound proof when I make my big tank? Is it that bad?

 

[Morri]

Running your skimmer for reduced hours has a few downsides

1. The Protein may move from the water column and settle in a crevis etc and become an issue over time
2. Switching a skimmer on and off will most probably shorten its life I think Jennybugs failed when she tried doing this if i rember correctly

If you can describe the noise there usually is a simple solution if its just the air being sucked in that is easily fixed with a silencer buzzing can be the body vibrating against the tank just needs a rubber or sponge foot added etc.

 

[simonas]

I;ve sorted the vibrating with it resting on a dolls cushion, its just the noise of the frothing of water, cobined with the hood fans .. I can bear it but I;m getting serious grief off the mrs for it

 

[chrisbassist]

Maybe you'd be better off with the dolls cushion in her mouth?

Not that I would suggest such a thing.