24 gallon jbj water level and sapphire skimmer

[nanojg]

where do you set the water level in the nano cube? Just under the overflow to the third chamber?

I just set up the sapphire skimmer and it fills instantly, any ideas?

thanks

[nanojg]

ok I guess the water level is supposed to be just below the overflow for the third chamber.

Now for those of you who take the sponges out of the first chamber: what do you use to reduce the sound from the overflow dropping a few inches in the first chamber?

I dont really understand the "gate valve" in the skimmer, if I raise the gate valve (or what I assume is the gate valve) more than about 1/2 inch I can't put the collection cup on even though it has the ability to raise several inches. What does the gate valve due?

Right now I just have the skimmer running with the collection cup off, maybe after a few days it will break in and wont fill up instantly?

[nanojg]

skimmer is under control now. So my last question is can someone explain the gate valve

[rhunter513]

Tagging along, as I am having trouble with my sapphire skimmer.

I can tell you the gate valve is suppose to be for adjusting how 'wet' you want to skim. So if you dail the gate valve up(turn the screw clockwise) the skimmer body will hold more water and collect more wet skimate.

[nanojg]

but the valve can only be adjusted up by about 1/2" before running into the collection cup. I probably wont even adjust from the bottom, or maybe just a couple turns, I like really dry skimmate.

how do you silence the overflow, for now I just left a sponge in to stop the noise, but i would like to remove the sponge...but if I do the overflow is load.

[rhunter513]

it sounds like the gate valve screw is broken or has come unglued from the skimmer body. check to see that the gate valve screw to still glued to the skimmer body - mine came unglued. So as you turn the screw the gate should move up and down and the screw should stay in place... I hope that makes sense. You might want to call or email Kyle at sapphire for better help.

As for the noise, its a drag for sure. People will tell you that if given time the noise will degree as the overflow builds a slime coat but for me its still loud. I am using a very small sponge that I keep clean or I just let myself get use to the noise.

Question for you? Now that you have yours up and running, do you get good skimate collection inside the skimmer cup? I only seem to collect skimmate inside the neck of the cup but not in the cup itself.

[nanojg]

thanks, that makes sense about the gate valve, mine must have come unglued.

I'm just cycling now so can't really tell about the skimate, have you tried adjusting the gate valve up and down and the skimate never makes it to the cup?

[rhunter513]

now that I think about it more....
also check to make sure the gate itself is snapped into the screw....that will make sense when you look at it. The gate needs to be attached to the screw, mine sometimes comes off and that will cause the gate valve not to go up or down.

I have had my skimmer for a couple months now and i can't seem to get much skimmate into the cup. I have messed with the gate valve and the water level many times. [I must admit protein skimmers are new to me so this might be my ignorance.] Yet I thought skimmate was suppose to collect into the cup not just all over the skimmer body and collection cup body. And all the hype about these sapphire skimmers was they worked great and were easy to install and opreate - this has not been my experience so far...

I hope someone else will post up here on this subject..