High or Low Flow in a Skimmer?

[iVgOnMaD]

Hi, I have a skimmer that works with a pump that sits in a surface skimming box, from there the bubbles are chopped into millions by the propeller and sent into the tube where the bubbles go up and the water goes down. There are so many bubbles that the whole damn thing looks white. From there the water fall into a bubble diffuser box where a sponge puts all the little bubbles together so they dont escape into the aquarium. It is also self adjusting, meaning that the water level is always the same inside the skimmer.

My question is... Should I have my pump set on high to skimm a lot of water, or on low to maximize the contact the bubbles have with the water?

My skimmer is rated for a 90g and I have a 60g. I get about 1/2 a collection cup or less a day with it set on high.

[lReef lKeeper]

i would say to leave it on high.

[graphixx]

what type of skimmer do you have??? some skimmers are a little more tempermental than others.

[JustDavidP]

Actually, the more time that the water in the skimmer chamber has to mix with the venturi or other bubble action, gives it more time to have the pollutants adhere to the surface tension of the bubble and eliminate it in the collection cup.

If you force water through the skimming system too fast, a large percentage of the particulate matter will flow through the skimmer and back into the water column.

1/2 cup per day... wet liquid or foamy?

Also, the sponge in the bubble trap... clean it as often as possible. If easy enough to do, I'd do it once a day, when feeding. Letting it go too long will certainly create the perfect aerobic arena and cause you problems in water quality.

Dave

[iVgOnMaD]

Thanks, I have a skimmer that was made here in San Diego by an acrilic company, I sorta explained the way it works and i think its a counterflow system but im not sure if its a venturi style because it doesnt have a venturi valve, the bubbles get chooped up by the impeler before being injected into the skimmer where the bubbles go up and the water down... Can some one tell me what I have exactly?

[iVgOnMaD]

Also, When I give my pump more air, the flow dimineshes for some reason, the opposite happens when I close the air valve I dunno, but they called it self adjusting?? What does that mean, should I not even mess with the pump and just adjust the air valve?

[seahorsedreams]

Who is the manufacturer of the skimmer? Did I miss that info? I swear I read it a couple of times. You could call them up and ask what sort of rated pump they recommend. I had a skimmer (Euroreef RC 180) rated for a 180 gallon on a 55 gallon.

[marinefiend]

[QUOTE=iVgOnMaD;29392]
My question is... Should I have my pump set on high to skimm a lot of water, or on low to maximize the contact the bubbles have with the water?
[QUOTE]


Maximizing the contact time is the best way to ensure your skimmer makes the most out of what it is designed to do.

The smaller the bubble and the longer it takes for that bubble to be exported will ensure that bubble is covered in the most amount of protien.