So far I am not impressed with my new MSX200 skimmer

[kpatrick]

I have had the new MSX skimmer running for 4 days now and the skim level is very inconsistant. I will not get anything in the collection cup for several hours so I will adjust the tube slightly to the "close" position. After that, I will not get anything for several more hours and then all the sudden the foam shoots up and fills the collection cup within 10 seconds. I have been trying to adjust for the last day and its getting frustrating. I had great success with the old ASM skimmer but thought I would try this MSX skimmer out and so far I am not impressed (even though its only been a few days).
Also, the tank has been up and running for sometime now without a skimmer and I would tend to think I would be pulling some nasty green junk out by now but I am not getting any of that.
I am missing something?

 

[stanlalee]

your missing about 2-4 weeks it takes for it and any MSX/octopus skimmer to break in. it is VERY normal for inconsistant performance and little to no production the first week. big bubbles, collapsing foam heads, watery skimate, no foam head are all NORMAL for a 4wk old skimmer. Yeah some people put skimmers on and brag about it pulling within minutes but that is atypical especially with MSX/octopus skimmers.
you can NOT adjust a breaking in skimmer (that just makes it worse and more fustrating). bring the water level to just below the collection cup and leave it alone.

 

[kpatrick]

Okay its been about 5 weeks and I am still not impressed with the MSX-200compared to my old ASM-2. The foam level is very inconsistant from day to day and once you think you have it figured out, the foam level changes. It will all the sudden rise over the collection cup and fill it pretty quickly or else the foam level will drop 2" and the foam will not flow into the collection cup. I have maintained the same water level during the last few weeks to insure the water level wasnt causing the issue in the fluctuation of the foam.
The other issue I have compared to the old skimmer is that with the MSX-200 the foam is very wet and fizzy (kinda like pouring a can of Coke into a glass) so when it overflows into the collection cup it isnt very green in color and fills up quickly. With the old skimmer the foam was frothy, not as wet and seemed to give off a dark green color in the collection cup which showed it was working and pulling the gunk out of the water.
Any ideas?

 

[grubsnaek]

i hope someone tunes in here!!! i recently got a MSX200. not installing it for a couple more months due to house renovations, but i put a lot of hope in this skimmer...i will be watching this thread just for info....

 

[stanlalee]

there's not a skimmer on the planet that everybody is happy with. I've heard complaints about the MX160 with consistancy but very few complaints about the MX200. sounds like the water level needs to be dropped. if its skimming too wet that usually the first action.

 

[kpatrick]

Stanlalee,
The water level is 10.5" which is slightly higher then what they recommend. Would you take the water level down to 8" and open the adjustment tube more to push the bubbles higher into the collection cup and create a dryer foam?
Dont get me wrong, I am not bashing the manufacturer, just didnt have these issues with the old skimmer and having difficulty getting my hands around the solution. Thanks!

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by kpatrick
http:///forum/post/2931739
Stanlalee,
The water level is 10.5" which is slightly higher then what they recommend. Would you take the water level down to 8" and open the adjustment tube more to push the bubbles higher into the collection cup and create a dryer foam?
Dont get my wrong, I am not bashing the manufacturer, just didnt have these issues with the old skimmer and having difficulty getting my hands around the solution. Thanks!
my bad I meant the skimmer water level not the sump water level. If its skims wet you have to let the bubbles marinade in the skimmer longer. most dont like to because its makes for an extremely dirty neck and more frequent cleaning plus less output. I still dont think its at full speed yet. I know its been five- six weeks but thats just around the time they start skimming well.

 

[kpatrick]

How do I get the water level to drop in the skimmer without lowering the sump water level? What is a good water level for the skimmer if I can adjust?

 

[stanlalee]

you should have some adjustment with the rise (output) tube. granted not the full range of the NW series but the recommended water level is between 8-10" per marine solutions. I'd drop the water level down to 8-9" first then play with the output tube.

 

[kpatrick]

Sorry for sounding confused, but in order to drop the water level in the skimmer I would need to drop the water level in the sump or build some type of platform for the skimmer to sit on so the water level is only 8" high, correct? Even if I adjust the output tube the water level inside the skimmer would be the same as the sump or higher, not lower unless I am missing something.
As of now, I have just adjusted the outflow tube so the bubbles come up to the neck of the skimmer to try it out.

 

[stanlalee]

the T that fits between the upper and lower output pipe. pushing it down far enough should partially block the output to raise the water level in the skimmer. I guess you are right if the output is already wide open you pretty much have to lower the sump water level.

 

[kpatrick]

Okay, still working on gething the skimmer to work properly but not having much luck. I shut the skimmer off for a week while I was out of town and when I get home I turned it back on and noticed for the first day it was actually producing the dry, dark green foam. I noticed about 1/2" in the collection cup before I went to bed. The next morning I looked into the collection cup hoping to find that the skimmer pulled more gunk out of the tank overnight but unfortunately it did not pull anything else out of the tank. I then noticed the foam level in the neck of the skimmer had dropped and not producing the dark green, dry foam any longer.
Not sure what caused the skimmer to work properly for about 8 hours before it stopped pulling gunk out of the tank. The water level in the tank didnt change so is it possible that it has to do with the pump on the skimmer not being consistant?
Not sure why I cant figure this skimmer out. My past skimmers having been this difficult.

 

[joncat24]

can you post some pics of the skimmer and how you have it set up....sounds like there is an easy fix in there somewhere. the msx 200 is almost too easy to use and probably something simple has been overlooked.

 

[kpatrick]

Joncat I am thinking the same thing as you. Its got to be something simple that is being overlooked. Let me see if I can get some decent pics taken and posted.

 

[kpatrick]

Pictures may be to see but on the first picture the water/bubbles in the skimmer go up to the black piece around the neck just before the collection cup. The water in the sump is currently at 11" high.
The 2nd photo shows the air bubbles forming in the skimmer. The air hose into the pump is open and drawing in air. Plastic water outlet pipe is straight down.
Third photo shows the collection cup. A couple days ago it was producing dry foam and flowing into the collection cup. The next morning the bubble level dropped to the height you see in the photo and its now a wet foam.
Let me know if there is anything specific you want to look at and I will try to get a photo of it. Thanks!

 

[joncat24]

The outlet pipe is WAY too far submerged. The piece that comes out of the 90 elbow that goes straight down,,,,,remove it altogether. Then rotate the elbow so that is about 1/2 in an1/2 out of the water.
I would say that will cure all of your problems.
That being submerged that far puts too much back pressure on the pump and makes it almost impossible to get a good adjustment on the water level inside of the skimmer body.
Do that and then get back at me if you still have trouble, but I would bet next weeks pay that that will fix it right up for you.
also, you need to raise the skimmer up so that it is only around 8 or 9" deep.

 

[kpatrick]

I have removed the tube and adjusted the 90 degree angle so its half way out of the water. Whater level has been decreased in the sump. The only thing left to do know is adjust the the outflow tube (from closed to open) to get the correct height inside the skimmer. With that being said, when I adjust the outflow tube, where am I trying to get the height of the water/bubbles in the skimmer? Am I trying set it equal to the black collar on the neck just below the collection cup or higher?

 

[joncat24]

I would set it so the water level is right where the taper starts on the body. Then you can adjust it from there if you want to skim wetter or dryer, but right where the taper starts seems to be a good point for me.

 

[veni vidi vici]

I noticed in your pic.the water level line is low in the skimmer body.I would raise it to at least the line where the neck starts to reduce or even higher. My valve is almost completely closed,and you cant even see the water level line.
My MSX 160 took awhile to break in but it now works like a champ.

 

[kpatrick]

I have raised the water level in the skimmer. It is now at the taper line in the body. I will give it a couple days but right now I am not getting much foam, just a lot of bubbles right below the collection cup line and neck. Nothing is even getting close to the collection cup yet.