Help with skimmer/sand

[jejton]

I have two problems bugging me right now that I'm hoping someone can help me with.

1.) I have a DSB in my display with fine aragonite. I put a filter sock on the drain and after a few days things started to clear up. The problem is that everytime I turn the pump on or off to do something, the sandstorm kicks up again. Will this always happen or at some point go away?

2.) I am running a gravity fed Octopus Recirc skimmer ( see my thread for plumbing and other details ). I have the valve at the output open all the way and am trying to adjust it with the ball valve on the line before the skimmer. If I open it up more than halfway, the bubbles quickly overflow and the collection cup fills with water. If I close it enough to keep that from happening, then I dont get water draining to the return chamber fast enough and my pump starts sucking air. What should I do ?

 

[masterswimmer]

The first issue I'll address is the adjustment of the ball valve BEFORE the skimmer. You should keep the flow TO your skimmer wide open. The gate valve (assuming there is one) on the discharge side of the skimmer is what you should use for your adjustment. Opening the discharge gate valve will lower the water in your skimmer. Closing the gate valve will raise the water/bubble level inside the skimmer.

Not sure why you're getting a sandstorm when you turn your pump on. Is the return flow kicking the sand up from the display bottom? Or is the sand somehow returning through your pump?

swimmer

 

[meschaefer]

How long has the sand bed been up and runining. Once a sand bed is fully established, the bacteria in the sand help hold it together so that It doesn't blow around as much.

Either that, or you need to repositioned your return, so that it doesn't blow the sand around.


Master -

While I absolutely agree that adjustment should be made on the output end of the skimmer, it is conceivable that he could have a lot of flow through the skimmer (700 gph) that may be too much. Wouldn't he want to cut it down with the ball valve before the skimmer at that point.

 

[jejton]

The sand kicks up after I turn the pump back after I turned it off to do some work. It settles after a day but its still annoying especially if it continues when the tank is stocked. The sandbed has been in for about two weeks now and the return is positioned just the way you had it Matt. I'll check and see if there is sand in the return chamber. Could be some got in there before I had the filter sock.

As for the skimmer if I open the supply valve all the way, the skimmer cup overflows so I have to cut it back somehow. This happens even with the valve on the outflow wide open.

 

[meschaefer]

I would guess that the sand bed needs to become slightly more established. I remember when I set up my first reef tank, I was concerned that a hermit crab I added was unable to walk across the sand because the sand just moved around him, as opposed to letting him get a grip to propel himself. Pretty soon the sand compacted and was (my best determination anyway) held together by the bacteria.

Just to make sure, you have the 90 degree piece on the return that keeps it from blowing straight down, right? If it is blowing straight down, that is no good and will keep blowing sand around.

Measure the flow going through your skimmer. Not that familiar with the skimmer you have, but there is a rating and too much flow is not good for efficiency.

 

[masterswimmer]

Matt, I didn't realize his flow into the skimmer exceeded the skimmer rating. In that case, yes, I agree with you. Especially since he says that his collection cup overflows with the gate valve completely open.

IMO also, bacteria in the sand, as Matt said, will help the sandstorm when you turn on your pump.

swimmer

 

[jejton]

The return didnt come with a second 90 degree elbow but I'll pick one up. No biggie. As for measuring the flow through the skimmer, how do I that ? I dont have a flowometer.

 

[jejton]

So how far up should the water in the skimmer be reaching ( with/without it running )?

 

[meschaefer]

The return didnt come with a second 90 degree elbow but I'll pick one up. No biggie. As for measuring the flow through the skimmer, how do I that ? I dont have a flowometer.

Take a measured amount of water from the output, time it, and calculate it.

ex. (this is just an example, without any bearing on what your numbers shoudl be.)

I have a 1/2 gallon measuring cup, if it takes 30 seconds to fill, it will take 1 minute to fill a gallon, so I know that I am getting 60 gallons per hour.

 

[jejton]

Ok I'll try that when I have a chance but how high should the water be in the skimmer?