Help with protein skimmer setup

[diverandy]

:help: please...
I bought a used 180 tank (complete setup, LS & LR, some fish, coral, inverts, hardware) right before Christmas. It came with a ViaAqua in-sump skimmer, model SK388. The guy I bought it from had none of the literature that came with any of the tank equipment so I have no idea what the setup requirements are for this skimmer. I have a 40 gal glass aquarium for a sump with the skimmer in the middle of it. There is an adjustment for water level inside the chamber as well as an adjustment for the air intake for the pump. It is a self-contained unit with the pump included.
Here is a photo of what it looks like...
I currently have some foam in the collector but it is not producing as much as I have heard it should (1 cup per day).
Any assistance would be helpful and appreciated...
Thanks,
Andy (-:

 

[blemmy_guy]

1 cup per day is about all mine collects, just means your water isnt as dirty as some of the others, sounds like its working just fine. Good luck. Todd

 

[pwnag3!!]

I hvae that same exact skimmer.. it works really well for the price...
that thing wont produce near 1 cup per day.. .the Cup is HUGE!!!!
Mine produces about an inch every day....
I removed the foam from the exhaust area and turned the air dial to just almost noisy (sorry if that sounds confusing...)

 

[diverandy]

Originally posted by pwnag3!!
I hvae that same exact skimmer.. it works really well for the price...
that thing wont produce near 1 cup per day.. .the Cup is HUGE!!!!
Mine produces about an inch every day....
I removed the foam from the exhaust area and turned the air dial to just almost noisy (sorry if that sounds confusing...)
Not confusing at all, that really helped. When you removed the foam, what level did you set it at? Does that make a difference, since that exhaust tube can be moved up or down?
I have another question. Does your pump sound very noisy and vibrate a lot? I saw on another forum that the ViaAqua has this special impeller that is actually hinged like a universal joint so it does not become fouled, but this makes it vibrate much more than other pumps. They suggested taking the impeller out and super gluing the universal joint and the vibration noise is much less.
Thanks again!
Andy (-:

 

[pwnag3!!]

the only noise i hear from mine is the sucking osund... no vibration
I leave my exhaust tube just under the water level... i want the foam to bea really nasty so i beleive that gives more gunk to build up.
I had trouble with it pulling out really clera foam.. but now that i put it just under my water line it pulls out thick black heavy gross junk