Mar 17, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
So I have tried about everything with this skimmer and nothing seems to get it to skim well. Usually I cannot get ANY skimmate into the cup. My original thinking was that the recommended depth of 8"-9.5" was the actual water depth in the sump. I tried everything between 7 and 10 inches and never got good results. Then I read something here that made me think that was 8-9.5" of depth on the skimmer body, meaning the total water level is something like 12" (so the output flows directly onto the water). This doesnt seem to be helping much either. I will say, at this depth the skimmer doesnt produce a crazy amount of microbubbles but when it was at what I thought was the correct height (7-10" of actual water depth) the skimmer produces a crazy amount of microbubbles. The skimmer has been breaking in for more than 2 months and so I dont know whats wrong. Everything Ive seen says that this skimmer doesnt produce many microbubbles after breaking in but that has not been the case for me. Tank is a 75g witha 30g sump. Tank is fairly heavily stocked and feeding is heavy but still get almost no skimmate production at all. What is going on? This is a very expensive skimmer compared to many similar options but I still cant get it to produce good skimmate at all.
Reply
11 Answers
Mar 17, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
Andres,
The skimmer should be in 8-9.5" of water. This is the measurement from the bottom where the skimmer sits to the water surface line outside the skimmer body.
Is that what you have it at?
Is the gate valve all the way opened?
Here is a great article on how to dial your skimmer...
http://www.coralvue.com/support/317511-How-do-you-dial-in-a-protein-skimmer
Let me know,
The skimmer should be in 8-9.5" of water. This is the measurement from the bottom where the skimmer sits to the water surface line outside the skimmer body.
Is that what you have it at?
Is the gate valve all the way opened?
Here is a great article on how to dial your skimmer...
http://www.coralvue.com/support/317511-How-do-you-dial-in-a-protein-skimmer
Let me know,
Mar 17, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
Also, the XS160 is rated for 180 gal tank. A 75 gal tank might be a bit too small for the skimmer. The neck on this skimmer is 4" so it takes a good sized load to produce enough organics for the skimmer to work correctly.
Even in the product page, under "Overview", it is stated that the skimmer is not recommended for aquariums under 90 gallons. The efficiency of the skimmer can change on 100 gal tanks and under.
http://www.coralvue.com/diablo-160-protein-skimmer
Regards,
Even in the product page, under "Overview", it is stated that the skimmer is not recommended for aquariums under 90 gallons. The efficiency of the skimmer can change on 100 gal tanks and under.
http://www.coralvue.com/diablo-160-protein-skimmer
Regards,
Mar 17, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
That is where I had it. I tried leaving the internal level anywhere from the bottom of the neck to very near the top. neither produced good skimmate. However it seems your directions say to put the internal level even lower than that. I will try that. regardless of where I put the gate valve the skimmer puts out a lot of microbubbles, far more than it seems it should. I will set the internal level lower and see if that helps.
Mar 17, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
In line with that, what level do you recommend the internal water levels be at? I want to get it perfect and see if it helps. At the bottom of the "cone" section of the body?
Mar 17, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
You will have to test. Since you are running the skimmer on a smaller tank that is not recommended, the levels really do not apply. You will have to test different settings until you get it to work correctly. Even then, you may not be successful. The skimmer may just be too big for that system.
Mar 19, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
Do you have any recommendations at all? Ive spoken with a few people, some who even had this same skimmer on even smaller tanks and they seem to have gotten it to work. Higher water level, lower water level? Anything that could make the skimmer make skimmate?
Mar 19, 2014
Jeremy Rykiel
agent
wrote
Besides increasing your bioload, you can make sure your salinity is at 1.025-1.026 which will help make sure you capable of injecting the greatest amount of air. You can also consider carbon dosing which adds a free flowing bacterial source which will give the skimmer a pick up in performance. Possibly a neck cleaner would help by splitting one large neck into two smaller ones and at the same time keep the skimmers neck clean for peak performance.
Mar 19, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
I mean bioload is fairly high. Kole tang, bicolor angel, flame angel, clown pair, ruby headed wrasse, lubbocks wrasse, diamond goby, molly miller blenny and a bunch of inverts. I feed a lot because of a young clam I have and because the angels will turn to corals or the clam if not kept well fed.
I already use biopellets.
Salinity is stable at 35 PPT.
As for the neck cleaner, thats an option i had not thought of, however every site on the internet lists the 160 head as out of stock including yourselves. Are they not being made anymore since the XS 160 was retired (literally within days of me buying mine).
I already use biopellets.
Salinity is stable at 35 PPT.
As for the neck cleaner, thats an option i had not thought of, however every site on the internet lists the 160 head as out of stock including yourselves. Are they not being made anymore since the XS 160 was retired (literally within days of me buying mine).
Mar 19, 2014
Andres Gonzalez
wrote
and i just realized the head will extend nearly 5" above the lid but I have just over 4" between my current lid and the bottom of the tank...
Mar 20, 2014
Carlos
agent
wrote
The neck cleaner will increase the height of your skimmer by 4.75".
Jul 16, 2014
System
wrote
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