How to tell if the skimmer is working..

[LisaJill]

Hey guys,

I've been out of the hobby for near on 10 years. I'm back state-side now (in Oregon) and have a new reef set up. It's a 65 gallon, and currently has a lone purple firefish, tons of live rock, an urchin, snails, crabs, one peppermint shrimp, a few mushrooms, a blastomussa (mangled the spelling for sure) and some button polyps. It's been going for a bit over 6 months.

Yesterday, my new Deltec MCE 600 skimmer arrived. I was having a lot of nitrate problems even with almost no bio-load; so I removed the dual penguin biowheels (this is a use tank, and it came with it and I've been out so long I forgot how bad they can be!), put on Aquaclear 500 to hold some macro algae and carbon when needed, and put on the Deltec.

Now, I'm having trouble with the Deltec. I'm getting a tank full of very fine micro-bubbles. I suspect this'll dissipate in a day or two (it is a brand new skimmer, so I know there's a break in period). I'm also getting only clear liquid. The question I have is - should I see foam coming up into the collection cup? I've got it tuned so that it's not overflowing, but some white foam is going up into the cup. I'm not seeing any brown stuff yet, and since this was previously unskimmed, I thought I would see some pretty quickly.

Even without that though, I'm not sure if I should see foam in the collection cup, or see no foam up there. Right now I've got it set so a little bit of foam is constantly being pulled up. The only way to get rid of the bubbles currently is to turn the intake totally off. Conversely, if I turn the intake all the way on, the collection cup overflows with white foam.

This is my first time *ever* using a skimmer, so I haven't got the foggiest idea how to troubleshoot this.

If you need any other details, please let me know! thanks guys!

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to the manufacter's webpage, and there is a link on it to download the instructions for that unit. Check out the operations section, it gives answers to your questions. I can't figure out how to cut-n-paste from the pdf file or I would put it here

http://www.deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/mce600.php

 

[LisaJill]

Thanks for responding!

I've read the instructions, they do come with the thing after all =) I've read them exhaustively.

I know 2 things from them that I think you're referring to: the bubbles should lower after 2 days of operation, but it still seemed like quite a few more bubbles, so I was just being panicky since there is livestock in there.

It also says there should be a dense white foam in the body of the skimmer - ok, that's great, but I have the skimmer between the tank and the wall, I can't see the body, only the collection cup. The instructions don't say if there should be foam in the cup itself. Having never used a skimmer, I don't know if there should be white foam in there - I think so, since the bubbles have to pop to collect gunk, right?

Meh. it's all entirely too complicated

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for responding!

I've read the instructions, they do come with the thing after all =) I've read them exhaustively.

I know 2 things from them that I think you're referring to: the bubbles should lower after 2 days of operation, but it still seemed like quite a few more bubbles, so I was just being panicky since there is livestock in there.

I was referring on how to tune it once it does break in. All skimmers have to have run in time before they work correctly. The microbubbles are a PITA, but shouldn't do any harm. The instructions show how to adjust the quality of the foam collected (wet=watery thin, dry = more concentrated) by moving the cup up or down and playing with the air valve so you get just the right amount of foam. I wouldn't worry just yet about tuning it for the reasons below but it is important once the unit breaks in. Otherwise, you won't be getting the most benefit out of the skimmer. The whole article I linked is good, but here's the relevent part:
http://www.reefs.org/library/faq/skimmer.html

Once you have the skimmer hooked up to the tank, it has to be tuned. Tuning the skimmer involves adjusting the water flow or airflow to produce a dry foam.So how do you tune the skimmer to produce a dry foam? Usually, it involves regulating the airflow. On an Air Driven Skimmer you'll adjust the output of your airpump, on a venturi model you'll regulate the airflow going into the venturi, needle wheel impeller skimmers will have an air adjustment as well. Downdraft skimmers will have a gate valve to regulate water leaving the skimmer.
One very important part of tuning your skimmer is allowing the skimmer sufficient "Break-In" time. New skimmers that are just placed into operation do not function properly. Before they'll start to work, the inside of the skimmer will need to become coated with a film or slime from your tank water. This can take anywhere from a few hours for a few days. During the break in period, the skimmer won't be producing normal skimmate. So it's very important not to try to get the skimmer functioning corretly from Day 1. Give the skimmer time to break in, and once that has happened, begin tuning the skimmer. An important piece of advice: If you are sending too much air through a new skimmer and it decides to start producing skimmate, you can wind up with a pretty big mess. So, when you first start running a new skimmer, be conservative with how much air you're sending through it.

It also says there should be a dense white foam in the body of the skimmer - ok, that's great, but I have the skimmer between the tank and the wall, I can't see the body, only the collection cup. The instructions don't say if there should be foam in the cup itself. Having never used a skimmer, I don't know if there should be white foam in there - I think so, since the bubbles have to pop to collect gunk, right?

Meh. it's all entirely too complicated

Pull the cup off and look down into the skimmer body. You should see bubbles all the way to the top. From there, the foam moves upthe neck of the unit (pictures in the instructions) and then hit the top where they break and run down into the collection cup as nasty greenish icky smelling watery stuff. So no, no foam should be in the collection part of the cup at all. But, as I said the unit must break in before you can tune it.

 

[LisaJill]

Lawdawg - that helped a ton, thank you! I'll stop fidgeting with the damn thing and try to relax. It's frustrating not being able to see into the unit (at least right now).

The bubbles did get less numerous today; I think also the cup had filled with clear water, so I had to empty it and turn it down a bit (figuring out what the 2o'clock position meant was a bit trying since I wasn't sure which way the valve pointed? This is all new to me!) so I've had to adjust a little just to figure out what all was meant without causing an overflow.

Alright, so chill out and relax; now I know what should be happening, it's easier to do. Thank you - you've been invaluable. =)

 

[LisaJill]

So, I still wasn't happy with this because the skimmer either didn't look like it was working or it was overflowing. This is a heck of an expensive tool so I couldn't just let it sit.

I did some more Googling and found this. It's a troubleshooting guide for specific to the Deltec skimmers and helped a ton. The bubbles have been going away and I have more understanding about what's going on so it's easier to keep my grubby hands off.

Happily, the replacement of the biowheels with the Aquaclear, and the addition of the skimmer has saved several corals that were looking mighty unhappy, including some mushrooms that I never expected to struggle with. The tank is doing much better now and I can once again see into the tank.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Anonymous]

Not that I helped much but you're welcome

 

[SnowManSnow]

Before I bought my EuroReef I did a LOT of research into the Deltec skimmers.

IMO, as you've already discoverd, just have patience. Deltec is one of the best skimmers money can buy IMO.

Unless you got some weird factory defect, highly unlikely, your skimmer IS working.

As with all skimmers it will take some time to break in and coat the sides with organics so that it works properly.

B

 

[LisaJill]

Yes, I did a lot of research before deciding on this skimmer; thing is a ton of money.

The bubbles ahve stopped and it's collecting some pretty nasty brown gunk. So it's working. I do wish I had access to the back so I could see what's going on.

It's definitely working now. It's pretty disgusting what it pulls out, though.

 

[SnowManSnow]

glad things are working for you ! Keep skimming!

B