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Pedro · 08-22-2006, 02:22 AM

I wanted to share an experiment that i am doing on my skimmer. It is a cs135 on a 75gal tank. I guess it all originated from back when i had a bak pak and i needed to add more air to beef it up. Well i decided to see what happens if i do the same here. What i did was run another airline hose into the intake of the pump, just far enough in to suck up the air. I then routed it so that it sits next to the other one without moving. Here i am showing what i believe is a big improvement in skimmate, at least for me. I am just doing this on my own, so i am not sure what, if any, effect it will have long term on the pump. Some say it can cavitate where it draws so much air that it basically forms a pocket and stops running. This hasn't been an issue for me as the pump is still pumping as usual. So take a look at yourself and let me know what you think.

Pic 1: Here is the airline going in!

Pic 2: Here are the bubbles on the riser!

Pic 3: After cleaning it!

Pic 4: 24Hrs later!

Pic 5: Some of the skimmate i've gotten!

Pic 6: Some more skimmate!

BTW, i replaced the lid with a plate. I always wanted the lid to fall a bit shorter so that the foam would overflow, maybe it's me, but always had an issue with that. Now that the plate is flat and lowered a bit, the foam has no problem making it all the way out. Go figure! This is just my observation, if you try this it's at your own risk. What works for me might not work for others!

08-22-2006, 02:22 AM	#1043
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I wanted to share an experiment that i am doing on my skimmer. It is a cs135 on a 75gal tank. I guess it all originated from back when i had a bak pak and i needed to add more air to beef it up. Well i decided to see what happens if i do the same here. What i did was run another airline hose into the intake of the pump, just far enough in to suck up the air. I then routed it so that it sits next to the other one without moving. Here i am showing what i believe is a big improvement in skimmate, at least for me. I am just doing this on my own, so i am not sure what, if any, effect it will have long term on the pump. Some say it can cavitate where it draws so much air that it basically forms a pocket and stops running. This hasn't been an issue for me as the pump is still pumping as usual. So take a look at yourself and let me know what you think. Pic 1: Here is the airline going in! Pic 2: Here are the bubbles on the riser! Pic 3: After cleaning it! Pic 4: 24Hrs later! Pic 5: Some of the skimmate i've gotten! Pic 6: Some more skimmate! BTW, i replaced the lid with a plate. I always wanted the lid to fall a bit shorter so that the foam would overflow, maybe it's me, but always had an issue with that. Now that the plate is flat and lowered a bit, the foam has no problem making it all the way out. Go figure! This is just my observation, if you try this it's at your own risk. What works for me might not work for others! Last edited by Pedro; 08-13-2007 at 06:54 PM.