Return of the Reef!

[warby]

the bubbles should ideally be near the bottom of the collection cup this allows a foam head to be created on top of the bubbles and once the foam is thick enough it overflows. if you run too wet you will be pulling out water aswel which will lower your sg over time as your atu will compensate when water is removed.

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[feeblebob]

I posted a pic of mine recently, I run the top of the water just below the top of the main skimmer body. It's a combination of not having it run too high and skim too wet as warby says, and having enough water in the cone for good contact time. The bubbles work better with a longer contact time, hence tall skimmers work better. I've seen the auto scrapers, they look to me to run the risk of knocking the crud back down into the water, though I've not seen one working in person and I could easily have it wrong.

Do you clean your cup in RO or tapwater? I saw something a long time ago about rinsing and cleaning in RO and there's no time to bed in again, when I used tapwater, it took a while to start working again. Just a thought.

Also, if you clean with your finger, does the oil from your skin not stop it working for a while too? Or am i being far too anal about something as daft as a skimmer...?

 

[mgreenough]

I posted a pic of mine recently, I run the top of the water just below the top of the main skimmer body. It's a combination of not having it run too high and skim too wet as warby says, and having enough water in the cone for good contact time. The bubbles work better with a longer contact time, hence tall skimmers work better. I've seen the auto scrapers, they look to me to run the risk of knocking the crud back down into the water, though I've not seen one working in person and I could easily have it wrong.

Do you clean your cup in RO or tapwater? I saw something a long time ago about rinsing and cleaning in RO and there's no time to bed in again, when I used tapwater, it took a while to start working again. Just a thought.

Also, if you clean with your finger, does the oil from your skin not stop it working for a while too? Or am i being far too anal about something as daft as a skimmer...?

I use a toothbrush to clean mine in the utility room sink with hot tap water. I run mine near the top but dont worry about sg dropping as i run triton so it is a way of exporting water out the system. After 3 days i fill just under half the collector cup.

 

[Steve_bham]

I posted a pic of mine recently, I run the top of the water just below the top of the main skimmer body. It's a combination of not having it run too high and skim too wet as warby says, and having enough water in the cone for good contact time. The bubbles work better with a longer contact time, hence tall skimmers work better. I've seen the auto scrapers, they look to me to run the risk of knocking the crud back down into the water, though I've not seen one working in person and I could easily have it wrong.

Do you clean your cup in RO or tapwater? I saw something a long time ago about rinsing and cleaning in RO and there's no time to bed in again, when I used tapwater, it took a while to start working again. Just a thought.

Also, if you clean with your finger, does the oil from your skin not stop it working for a while too? Or am i being far too anal about something as daft as a skimmer...?

I rinse it under tap to get rid of the crud then final rinse with ro water.


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[feeblebob]

All this talk of skimmer cups reminded me I hadn't done the one on the 400 which was about to overflow back down the neck! Appreciated

 

[warby]

i just use warm tapwater and a cloth starts working again pretty much straight off. have done it like that for years.
never even thought about using ro some people go a bit ott about using tap water for cleaning imo.

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[CEECH]

I usually just wip mine off every few days and use the brush i got with my tunze 9004 to clean it. I suppose one of the dish scubbing things could work too. No way i am paying 80 quid to save a 2 minute job !

 

[Steve_bham]

I usually just wip mine off every few days and use the brush i got with my tunze 9004 to clean it. I suppose one of the dish scubbing things could work too. No way i am paying 80 quid to save a 2 minute job !

It's only the top cap with a bit of rubber in it. Can't see how they can justify 80 quid


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[CEECH]

It's only the top cap with a bit of rubber in it. Can't see how they can justify 80 quid


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Yep i seen it a joke really. I cant imagine it would be 2 hard to make a diy 1 being honest.

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[Steve_bham]

I've signed up to have Copepods delivered once a month as I'm too lazy to culture them lol, first 100ml pack arrived today and loads of pods.

 

[feeblebob]

Where are you getting them from, chap? I use to buy live food from ReefPhyto. Great food, just slightly awkward delivery schedule.

 

[Steve_bham]

Where are you getting them from, chap? I use to buy live food from ReefPhyto. Great food, just slightly awkward delivery schedule.

I'm getting them from ReefPhyto the 100ml pack fits through letterbox so no waiting around from them.


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[Steve_bham]

Popped into Marine Aquatics today to get a few clean up crew and a few frags. Went for 4 large turbo snails and 5 small hermit crabs.

Also got a small favia and zoa frag (no pic of the zoa as it's not fully opened yet)

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[Steve_bham]

Was being a bit of a geek last night, waited an hour after lights went out and got a red torch to see what life came in on the small bits of live rock I added. Happy to say there are loads of pods etc. No bristle worms which is a shame as I kinda like those!

Phosphate is still sitting at 0.2-0.3, so not sure whether to add some phosphate remover or leave it for a bit?


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[feeblebob]

Red torch after lights out is good fun Wife does it regular (the red torch....in the tank....)

 

[CEECH]

i have used it to hunt down crabs the old red light trick you can add something to reduce your phos levvels slowly but as the tank is pretty new it may come down on its own.

 

[Steve_bham]

i have used it to hunt down crabs the old red light trick you can add something to reduce your phos levvels slowly but as the tank is pretty new it may come down on its own.

I might leave it for a month and see how it goes.

On the plus side payday tomorrow! So I can order my new led lights [emoji4]


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[CEECH]

I might leave it for a month and see how it goes.

On the plus side payday tomorrow! So I can order my new led lights [emoji4]


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nice what lighting are you going for ?

 

[Steve_bham]

I'm going to go for the evergrow IT5012 lights. I've already got hanging cables in the ceiling for my old light so going to reuse those.

It should (fingers crossed) be a perfect fit for the tank


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[CEECH]

I'm going to go for the evergrow IT5012 lights. I've already got hanging cables in the ceiling for my old light so going to reuse those.

It should (fingers crossed) be a perfect fit for the tank


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there nice units so they are. They look very smart indeed and a good price