Reef Octopus settings

[hobbes]

Hello,
I have posted some pics of my protein skimmer here and was wondering if someone could tell me if the settings look correct. I keep feeling like I must be doing something wrong because I am just not getting much in the way of junk in collection cup. It seems like if I go much higher than this I am getting mostly water in the cup.
Thank you,

 

[sweatervest13]

The water level of the skimmer section of the sump might be just a tad low. It looks to be about 7.5" running depth, I think I have mine (reef octopus diablo 160) right at 9-9.5". Have you adjusted the gate valve? Maybe some minor tuning of the gate valve can get the foam starting to spill over into the collection cup?
To me, the head of the foam looks like it is almost there... I would try get it running in 9" of water and see if that helps. Is that just one chamber sump?? If so, the evaporation might be messing with the skimmers running depth causing it to be inconsistent.

 

[hobbes]

Yes I have it around 7.5 now. I will raise it to 9 and see if that helps.

 

[hobbes]

....and yes it is just that one chamber. The other side houses the bio balls which I am working on removing and will put socks in. I would also like to make it a refugium and not sure how to go about that yet.......but that is another thread at some point.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbes http:///t/396030/reef-octopus-settings#post_3527700
....and yes it is just that one chamber. The other side houses the bio balls which I am working on removing and will put socks in. I would also like to make it a refugium and not sure how to go about that yet.......but that is another thread at some point.
LOL. I hear you there.
Well, a one chamber sump should make it very easy to change the height to 9". No baffles to change. Try that out, give it a couple of days to see how its going.

 

[sweatervest13]

Taking it to 9" should also help with the splashing the skimmer output can create.

 

[hobbes]

One thing I forgot to ask is will it matter if the outlet pipe is submerged? If I raise to 9" I think that will put it under the water.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbes http:///t/396030/reef-octopus-settings#post_3527703
One thing I forgot to ask is will it matter if the outlet pipe is submerged? If I raise to 9" I think that will put it under the water.
Quote:
Taking it to 9" should also help with the splashing the skimmer output can create.
That is exactly what I meant about raising it up to 9" the output will be submerged and not splash as much.

It should not affect the performance of the skimmer.
I put a PVC street elbow on my output to keep it submerged and I have not noticed any difference in performance.

Here is a pic of my skimmer (don't look at the water line height on this pic, I was doing a water change so the skimmer section is lower than it's operating height. You can see the scum line of the regular skimmer section height, about an inch above the current water line). You can see the PVC street elbow right above the air line of the skimmer.
You want your skimmate to look that it does in my collection cup. Dark, thick, and gross. LOL

 

[hobbes]

Thanks for the picture. I hope to be pulling that out at some point. When I get home I will make the adjustment to the water line. Hopefully this will help.