Need help with Small

[Fliger]

First of all thanks Victor for being patient while I was testing. I just got my System 70 up a few days ago and have the small online. I don't think there was much of a bioload, which is why I never had much luck testing this out. Its been offline now for weeks, I just got it in the sump and with the meshwheel I'm pulling about 480LPH. I'm hoping that increases to 600 soon - I got it there once or twice during testing but it didn't hold for very long.

Should I just leave it wide open to start, and for how long? The bubbles don't make it even half way up the body. I tried closing the wedge, but it drastically reduces the air - all the way down to 300!

I'll get some pictures later this week and update this thread, but any help would be greatly appreciated. The one thing I can say for sure is this thing is dead silent, I have a small ER that sounds like a Mack Truck next to this (although so far its skimmed much better).

Thanks!

David

[ConcreteReefer]

Close the stand-pipe a little, I kept my waterlevel right at the grey ring and it skimmed the crap out of my tank for a week strait.. I've raised the water a few inches since then and feed more than I used to, Skims like crazy for a few hours and then nothing.. I need more fish!!
As-is, My system is only 80g +/- until I get my 120g up & running.

This thing is super-quiet

My current setup-
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/jchitwood79/DSCN0880.jpg

The first 3 days, notice the waterline.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/jchitwood79/DSCN0853.jpg

[ConcreteReefer]

Just noticed the 480lpm air- Have you checked the meshwheel? Make sure you didn't get a needlewheel by mistake.

[uhuru]

sounds like a needlewheel to me...

[victor90]

David,
whats the height of the sump water level? Oh if it is the meshwheel please take some pliers and tighten the arbor in the middle. make sure to use pliers it might feel tight with your hand but once it spins it will be spinning without the mesh.
Thanks

[Fliger]

Its definitely a meshwheel - I have both. The pinwheel only draws about 400-500 with no head pressure.

I raised the water level in the sump which helped some, it increased the air intake to 540 but it still drops when I raise the water level. It actually jumps around much more erratically this way but that might go away after a day or two running.

One thing I don't understand is why have the water water discharge so low, where you have to restrict it? Why not just have it exit at the lowest point that it would ever be run at? A few inches below the top of the cone part of the body? Then like a H&S or BK that also use wedge pipes (both of which I own/have owned) you just need to turn it an inch or so to get the water level higher. With this skimmer you have to crank that thing so far its almost closed - and water literally jets out of the standpipe like a powerhead.

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.

[victor90]

David
Let me know if tighting the arbor works. I am pretty sure thats the problem.

[victor90]

The reason for the water outlet being so low is so you do not get the splashing effect

[Fliger]

Hi Victor - thanks. Can you please explain exactly what you mean? I can check tomorrow but I don't know what an "arbor" is. :) I've taken the mesh off and ran it for awhile with the pinwheel - but replaced it with the mesh again. Its seems nice and tight but I might be missing something.

Hittin the sack but I'll check back tomorrow - thanks.

David

[victor90]

In the middle of meshwheel there is a grey disc that holds down the enkamat. Please use some pliers to twist the grey circle clockwise. This will tighten it to the impeller. It might seem tight by hand but this is not enough. If you are only getting 480 and its fluctuating that means sometimes the mesh catches and sometimes it doesn't.
Thanks

[victor90]

Twist the grey circle
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/atbusa/1250mesh.jpg

[ConcreteReefer]

Fliger- I just cleaned my skimmer, while cleaning I leave the pump on and just drop the water level to prevent the bubbles from overflowing. When I put the cup back on I turned the pipe the wrong way and had issues similar to yours-

Example- If red markers are lined up at 6:00 o clock- Mine works properly at around 3:00, When turned to 9:00 it seemed like my foam head was cut in half.

Try it- may not be your problem but just trying to help.

Jeff

[Fliger]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately I'm still not getting much more than bubbles. I have tried everything, took the impeller apart, tried EVERYTHING. I have owned a LOT of nice skimmers so I'm pretty sure I've tried everything.

Does this thing REALLY pull 600LPH with the head pressure? I don't even get close. I get close to 600 wide open, but 420 at the gray circle. The body is poorly designed with only 420-480, but should operate well with 600. Or more air, and you could lower the water line.

If it pulls 600 at the gray ring, it has to pull 750-800 wide open. I've asked several times but never received an answer.

I'm pretty frustrated right now, I really want this skimmer to work but my used small ER is kicking its butt. And I hate ER's. I just got this thing used in a trade. But in 8 days now I have less than 1" of skim.

[victor90]

David,
Did you use pliers to tighten the grey circle?

[Fliger]

Yes, there was nothing to tighten - its very snug and doesn't budge at all. I'm running out for the day but will check back this evening for some help.

Thanks,

David

[victor90]

So you did use pliers. It always appear snug by the hand but it will slip when spinning unless tighten with pliers. The grey ring in the picture if this is the case I will send a new pump out monday.

[victor90]

David,
Please give me a call this evening I would like to help.

[ConcreteReefer]

Fliger- well, It's probably just a pump issue... Eheim's are great but I'm sure there are problems with them every once in a while.
You have had some bad luck with equipment, your Sfligoi now this... at least Victor is here for ya and you don't have to wait 3 months for parts :)

Can you take a pic of your skimmer working? Set the water at the grey ring, I want to see what your skimmer body looks like compared to mine.
What kind of air-meter are you using? Is it restricting the intake? Is it working properly? If it's a Dwyer you can send it to the MFG. and they will calibrate it free of charge..

[victor90]

Jeff
How accurate are those meters it seems every model is a little different

[no1fishman]

Originally posted by Fliger
Thanks guys. Unfortunately I'm still not getting much more than bubbles. I have tried everything, took the impeller apart, tried EVERYTHING. I have owned a LOT of nice skimmers so I'm pretty sure I've tried everything.

Does this thing REALLY pull 600LPH with the head pressure? I don't even get close. I get close to 600 wide open, but 420 at the gray circle. The body is poorly designed with only 420-480, but should operate well with 600. Or more air, and you could lower the water line.

If it pulls 600 at the gray ring, it has to pull 750-800 wide open. I've asked several times but never received an answer.

I'm pretty frustrated right now, I really want this skimmer to work but my used small ER is kicking its butt. And I hate ER's. I just got this thing used in a trade. But in 8 days now I have less than 1" of skim. Fliger, I've had some discussions online with a few Small owners and one of the exchanges of email, they felt that the Small would perform optimally if drawing 700lph with head pressure.

[ConcreteReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12418161#post12418161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ATB USA
Jeff
How accurate are those meters it seems every model is a little different

Unless they are calibrated correctly they could be off.. I'm not saying its the meter, could be the pump... who knows? I wish Fliger would take some pics so I could get a visual.

[Fliger]

Hey guys, I have two other skimmers running for reference (Elos and H&S) - the Dwyer is very accurate. I have to think its accurate because the skimmer isn't working very well - so it must be air draw.

I will try to post some pictures this week. Concrete - it looks very similar to yours - body full of bubbles, a nice head - but hardly anything makes it past the top of the cup. The size of this skimmer could easily take 700LPH if the pump didn't push too much water. Or the neck could be more narrow.

Thanks Victor for the replacement pump. I'll send mine back - I can send it tomorrow if you need it asap and just keep the backup ER up. LMK, thanks!

David

[ConcreteReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12422474#post12422474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Hey guys, I have two other skimmers running for reference (Elos and H&S) - the Dwyer is very accurate. I have to think its accurate because the skimmer isn't working very well - so it must be air draw.

I will try to post some pictures this week. Concrete - it looks very similar to yours - body full of bubbles, a nice head - but hardly anything makes it past the top of the cup. The size of this skimmer could easily take 700LPH if the pump didn't push too much water. Or the neck could be more narrow.

Thanks Victor for the replacement pump. I'll send mine back - I can send it tomorrow if you need it asap and just keep the backup ER up. LMK, thanks!

David

If it's not the pump I think it might be too much skimmer for your system 70 (55g?) unless you have a huge bioload.. The new ATB Nano? might be a better choice- good for tanks up to 100g.

Once you put that new pump on there we will know for sure-

Taken from Dwyer's ws-
"Use only devices of certified accuracy. All anemometers and to a lesser extent portable manometers should be checked regularly against a primary standard such as a hook gage or high quality micromanometer. If in doubt return your Dwyer® instrument to the factory for a complete calibration check at no charge."

[GSMguy]

David what do you feed and how often?

[no1fishman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12417578#post12417578 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Thanks guys. Unfortunately I'm still not getting much more than bubbles. I have tried everything, took the impeller apart, tried EVERYTHING. I have owned a LOT of nice skimmers so I'm pretty sure I've tried everything.

Does this thing REALLY pull 600LPH with the head pressure? I don't even get close. I get close to 600 wide open, but 420 at the gray circle. The body is poorly designed with only 420-480, but should operate well with 600. Or more air, and you could lower the water line.

If it pulls 600 at the gray ring, it has to pull 750-800 wide open. I've asked several times but never received an answer.

I'm pretty frustrated right now, I really want this skimmer to work but my used small ER is kicking its butt. And I hate ER's. I just got this thing used in a trade. But in 8 days now I have less than 1" of skim. Update on the replacement pump? Hope the new pump will do the trick.

[CDReefLover]

It doesn't seem that pump problems common to ATB skimmers in general, is it just the small size?

[victor90]

Yes it is only the small.

[neyugn0w01]

Whats the status Fliger?

[flat broke]

I've been watching the progress with the Smalls for a while now. I'm going to be looking to make a buy to replace the CS-61 on my 60g cube (65-70g total volume) when I get back from Kauai in August. I'd love to hear some more updates on this specific issue since this tank size is similar to mine.

Chris