New Skimmer Water Level Issue?

demariners · 05/09/2012, 09:04 PM

So I got a new Vertex IN-80 Skimmer. It seems to be working well. In fact TOO well. I put the unit on FULL open as the directions say and the bubbles overflow the cup. If I adjust the water level at all it goes higher and higher. I can not seem to get it to go down? Any suggestions? Also there is a barb fitting on the vertex adjustment pipe. Anyone know what this is for?

tkeracer619 · 05/09/2012, 09:24 PM

Raise the skimmer an inch or so.

mark54321 · 05/09/2012, 09:26 PM

You should run it fully open for at least 24 hrs. and let it brake in.It will overflow at the beginning ,it is normal. What water level it sits in?

demariners · 05/09/2012, 09:55 PM

I have had it running full open for 3 days. I raised the skimmer and it worked! Thanks! Not sure why the water level would have any bearing on it. Anyway, where should the bubbles be in the cup? The level I mean?

tkeracer619 · 05/09/2012, 10:18 PM

Sweet!

Head pressure is why it affects it. Skimmer pumps tend to be very sensitive to it since they are essentially already cavitating.

To fine tune an internal skimmer raise or lower the skimmer, restrict the air input, and adjust the stand pipe. All of these contribute to getting the smallest bubble possible. It takes a while but small adjustments make all the difference between a properly tuned skimmer or one that is just working. Most installs are done without regard to these and can use some tuning.

Get the bubbles to the bottom of the neck and leave it there for a week or so. Adjust from there. What you are looking for is roughly a cup (collection cup) of skimmate per week.

demariners · 05/09/2012, 10:21 PM

SO the plan is to get the smallest bubbles? Where should the bubbles height be on the cup? Right at the top or at the bottom?

hollister · 05/09/2012, 10:26 PM

It need a break in period. You coould have fill it and then turn it off for 2 days then restart. This goes with any new equipment you add. It will cause the skimmer to go nuts and have to be shut off a few days.

Just remember you can over skimm. As corals and pods like a little waste.

tkeracer619 · 05/09/2012, 11:09 PM

Yes the goal is small bubbles but that is something you should chase over time. For now just try to get it skimming and then try to improve on it over time.

mountainste · 05/10/2012, 12:39 AM

It will overflow at the beginning

demariners · 05/10/2012, 09:31 AM

I understand. I am wondering where I should aim the level of the water in the cup? Should it be near the top or near the bottom. I was able to get it not to overflow yesterday but when I woke up today it was overflowing again. Even on full open on the adjustment.

Rploaded · 05/10/2012, 09:04 PM

Have you used any epoxy in the tank lately?

demariners · 05/10/2012, 09:06 PM

No I have not.

tkeracer619 · 05/10/2012, 10:24 PM

Raise it another inch. The actual water level it is sitting in can vary greatly between setups.

~7" is a pretty good starting point but like I said it depends on the setup.

bongarone · 05/11/2012, 12:00 AM

How deep is the water in the skimmer chamber right now?

demariners · 05/11/2012, 07:52 AM

Seemed to be "breaking in". It is no longer overflowing. Where should the level be of the skimmate.

05/09/2012, 09:04 PM	#1
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	New Skimmer Water Level Issue? So I got a new Vertex IN-80 Skimmer. It seems to be working well. In fact TOO well. I put the unit on FULL open as the directions say and the bubbles overflow the cup. If I adjust the water level at all it goes higher and higher. I can not seem to get it to go down? Any suggestions? Also there is a barb fitting on the vertex adjustment pipe. Anyone know what this is for?

05/09/2012, 09:24 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 11,535	Raise the skimmer an inch or so. __________________ Hobby Experience: 8200ish gallons, 23 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tanks: Vortech Powered 360G Mixed reef w/120g Sump. PM Bullet XL-1 Skimmer w/Askoll 1500. ReefAngel. Radium 20k MH, Blue+ T5, Super Actinic VHO. 360G Only Rock & Water w/50g Sump. Octopus DDNW250 Skimmer.

05/09/2012, 09:26 PM	#3
mark54321 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chicago Posts: 1,268	You should run it fully open for at least 24 hrs. and let it brake in.It will overflow at the beginning ,it is normal. What water level it sits in? __________________ ############## ______MARK_______ ############## Current Tank Info: New tank in progress

05/09/2012, 10:18 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 11,535	Sweet! Head pressure is why it affects it. Skimmer pumps tend to be very sensitive to it since they are essentially already cavitating. To fine tune an internal skimmer raise or lower the skimmer, restrict the air input, and adjust the stand pipe. All of these contribute to getting the smallest bubble possible. It takes a while but small adjustments make all the difference between a properly tuned skimmer or one that is just working. Most installs are done without regard to these and can use some tuning. Get the bubbles to the bottom of the neck and leave it there for a week or so. Adjust from there. What you are looking for is roughly a cup (collection cup) of skimmate per week. __________________ Hobby Experience: 8200ish gallons, 23 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tanks: Vortech Powered 360G Mixed reef w/120g Sump. PM Bullet XL-1 Skimmer w/Askoll 1500. ReefAngel. Radium 20k MH, Blue+ T5, Super Actinic VHO. 360G Only Rock & Water w/50g Sump. Octopus DDNW250 Skimmer.

05/09/2012, 11:09 PM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 11,535	Yes the goal is small bubbles but that is something you should chase over time. For now just try to get it skimming and then try to improve on it over time. __________________ Hobby Experience: 8200ish gallons, 23 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tanks: Vortech Powered 360G Mixed reef w/120g Sump. PM Bullet XL-1 Skimmer w/Askoll 1500. ReefAngel. Radium 20k MH, Blue+ T5, Super Actinic VHO. 360G Only Rock & Water w/50g Sump. Octopus DDNW250 Skimmer.

05/09/2012, 09:55 PM	#4
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	I have had it running full open for 3 days. I raised the skimmer and it worked! Thanks! Not sure why the water level would have any bearing on it. Anyway, where should the bubbles be in the cup? The level I mean?

05/09/2012, 10:21 PM	#6
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	SO the plan is to get the smallest bubbles? Where should the bubbles height be on the cup? Right at the top or at the bottom?

05/09/2012, 10:26 PM	#7
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,856	It need a break in period. You coould have fill it and then turn it off for 2 days then restart. This goes with any new equipment you add. It will cause the skimmer to go nuts and have to be shut off a few days. Just remember you can over skimm. As corals and pods like a little waste.

05/10/2012, 12:39 AM	#9
mountainste Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8	It will overflow at the beginning

05/10/2012, 09:31 AM	#10
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	I understand. I am wondering where I should aim the level of the water in the cup? Should it be near the top or near the bottom. I was able to get it not to overflow yesterday but when I woke up today it was overflowing again. Even on full open on the adjustment.

05/10/2012, 09:04 PM	#11
Rploaded Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 367	Have you used any epoxy in the tank lately?

05/10/2012, 09:06 PM	#12
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	No I have not.

05/10/2012, 10:24 PM	#13
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 11,535	Raise it another inch. The actual water level it is sitting in can vary greatly between setups. ~7" is a pretty good starting point but like I said it depends on the setup. __________________ Hobby Experience: 8200ish gallons, 23 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tanks: Vortech Powered 360G Mixed reef w/120g Sump. PM Bullet XL-1 Skimmer w/Askoll 1500. ReefAngel. Radium 20k MH, Blue+ T5, Super Actinic VHO. 360G Only Rock & Water w/50g Sump. Octopus DDNW250 Skimmer.

05/11/2012, 12:00 AM	#14
bongarone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 423	How deep is the water in the skimmer chamber right now?

05/11/2012, 07:52 AM	#15
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 732	Seemed to be "breaking in". It is no longer overflowing. Where should the level be of the skimmate.