Ira Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 The skimmer from Desh finally arrived today. It's a Berlin Classic(Yeah, I know you guys aren't a fan of them) powered by a Laguna Powerjet 2000. I'd thought I'd be able to just put it on the floor next to the tank,connect everything up, turn it on, adjust it and I'd be done. Nope. I'm going to have to buy a bunch of hoses for it, maybe replace the impeller, buy a new inlet filter for the pump, maybe a ball valve to adjust the flow of the pump. To begin with, because I don't have a sump, I think I'll have to have the skimmer sitting on the kitchen counter next to the tank because it'll have to have the outlets at least that high. Not a big deal though, if I can figure out a way to get the hoses to stay in place in the tank. Not pretty, but hopefully should work. Anyone see a problem with this or have any suggestions? I did have a little incident with the pump. Dropped it into the tank and plugged it in to see if it was working. Hmmm...It's not working. Lifted it closer to the surface and looked at it. Hmmm...Impeller isn't working. Maybe if I tap itAHHHH!!! Big fountain of water flying out of the tank all over the wall behind it. I guess I underestimated how much flow 3800 liters/hour is, hehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 maybe it just needs a soak in white vinegar???? you can edit yr (want it) list now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Hehe, Yeah, editing it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Got it running now and...It's doing nothing but dumping bubbles into my tank! If it doesn't start producing in the next hour or two I'm going to see if I can rig up a way to remove the venturi and give it a clean. What would happen if I bought a wooden airstone and dropped that into the center tube? Or is that just a stupid idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 The wooden airstone is a stupid idea If its not doing anything maybee the pump using to feed it is under-powered? Most skimmers dump air bubbles into the tank. This is one of the major advantages of using a sump! Ever wounderd why so many sump designs have 'baffles' built in? Its to stop the bubbles from the skimmer! All is not losts, there are a few DIY soultions you will be able to apply. Eric Bourneman sais that the Micro Bubbles are not harmfull in anyway so at least its not a problem. As for the skimmer skimming. If its under powered it wont. But it make take a few hrs of even days for it to fire into life. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 The pump doesn't seem to be underpowered. It's a 3600 something LPH pump and Desh must have been using it with the skimmer. It's been running since about 8pm last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 it will take about 3-4 days before it will work as it will need to produce a slim coat inside the skimmer. also the air going into the skimmer needs to be reduce for a week and then fully opened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Ah...So basically, "Be patient and leave it alone" for a few days? BTW, Pies, any idea when you'll have those test kits for me? And, just because I felt like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 It's still doing nothing, I can see some foam down the tube that goes up into the collection cup and occasionally a small blob of foam will get pushed by the airflow up into the cup, but that's it. Would the outflow water have any effect on the skimming? I've got it going through about 3 feet of hoses to get into the tank. And the instructions seem to say you should have absolutely no restriction. It's about as good as I can get it though. Actually, I could try and rig it up as a HOB, it's just a slight piping difference between the in sump and the HOB version of the berlin, as far as I can tell. That way the outlet could be going straight into the tank. I wonder what my chances are of buying the correct HOB pieces... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 It's still doing nothing, I can see some foam down the tube that goes up into the collection cup and occasionally a small blob of foam will get pushed by the airflow up into the cup, but that's it. That's how a skimmer works. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 On Wednesday Reef said this: it will take about 3-4 days before it will work as it will need to produce a slim coat inside the skimmer. also the air going into the skimmer needs to be reduce for a week and then fully opened. Same day Ira said this: Ah...So basically, "Be patient and leave it alone" for a few days? The following day Ira then said this: It's still doing nothing, I can see some foam down the tube that goes up into the collection cup and occasionally a small blob of foam will get pushed by the airflow up into the cup, but that's it. What part about wait 3-4 days was unclear? And just because it made me laugh Layton then said this: That's how a skimmer works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 What part about wait 3-4 days was unclear? I thought someone might be interested in a small update, Sorry, my mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Cant help but laugh seriously tho be patient and if that dont work put a gruntier pump on it! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;-) Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 there must be something wrong with my skimmer a well, Its been producing so much micro bubbles and all the foam is building up in my collection cup and my tank water looks so clean. Can anyone help me and Ira with our skimmer problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Reef, can you find an air leak in it anywhere? That could be causing your problems. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 Haha, Oh no, it's contagious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 I closed off the air and noticed something wierd about the skimmer. The water goes up the center cylinder, falls out of it into the second where the water level is about 5-6" lower then it goes down afew more inches and around and back up the last cylinder, past the level of the second cylinder and out of the skimmer. What I don't get is...How the hell does the water level in the in the third cylinder go up past the water in the second? I can't figure out anything that would be sucking it up so you'd expect the water level to be even through all of them, it's totally out of balance! It's like magic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 goldfish is the way to go ira, i dont think the marine is you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Is the top of the second cylinder sealed? If so, air pressure will stop the water level rising as high as it could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Nope, top of the second cylinder is open to the air. Oh, and Reef, since you've been so wonderful and supportive of me trying to get into this hobby, I've got a little gift for you. Click here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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