skimmer is it working?

[ann the bone]

hi have got a 12 gall tl450 but not sure if the skimmer is working how can i tell? what should it be doing if its working? :anxious

 

[Jack.pe]

Flow rates for 24G and possible mod to outlet

Guys,

Have recently upgraded my pump in my JBJ 24G cbe to a maxijet 1200:

- is this now enough flow or could the tank benefit further from having another powerhead in there?
- also, does anyone know what my turnover rate is now with the new MJ1200 pump? not sure how to work it out...
- was thinking of drilling a hole in the existing outlet, the bit just before it flattens out for the water exit and adding another smallpipe to direct water towards a dead spot inbottom oftank... this woul reduce the main flow from the flat exit pipe a little but it would add another source of flow.. any thoughts?

 

[TimSchmidt]

Well maybe another smaller pump could help control any dead spots. Just take the GPH of all your pumps and compare to your total gallons. MJ1200 = 295 GPH vs 24 gallons. 295/24 = about 12 times turn over. You wouldn't hurt anything by adding more flow. Maybe just add another maxijet with a spray bar pointing downward to kill any dead spots.

 

[reefman23]

To answer ann to the bone's question, what kind of skimmer are you talking about? I assume a surface skimmer?? If you are talking about a surface skimmer, you can tell if it is working by looking at the surface of the water. If there is no visible film, it is doing its job.

If you are talking about a protein skimmer, you can tell if it is working by looking at the collection cup and seeing if it is collecting any skimmate.

Does that help?

Jack.pe, you should really start your own thread. You will get more attention to your question that way.

Jesse

 

[ann the bone]

thanks i believe it to be a protein skimmer its not making any signs of working only some small white fragments collected in the container no fluids but thats all would this say, that its working? :stonight

 

[reefman23]

Which protein skimmer is it? You said you have a 12g so I am assuming it is a Current USA Fission. If so, those things rarely work. If it is some other kind of skimmer, let me know and you should be able to play around with it and get it to work. The other thing to consider is often times protein skimmers take some time to break in before they begin to work properly.

Jesse

 

[TimSchmidt]

T

Jack.pe, you should really start your own thread. You will get more attention to your question that way.

Jesse

LOL I am so sorry Ann! I have a new skimmer and it's taking about 2-3 days before anything noticeable is coming out. The most difficult thing I am dealing with is water level in the skimmer.

 

[ann the bone]

thanks for the reply i persume its the one you get when you buy the tank having looked at the service of the water their is a flim... so i think its not working, i don,t know if it was working when i brought the set up but i have had the tank for 2 weeks now and all is well in the tank ann the bone

 

[ann the bone]

hi i am back again the air tube is not attached to the pump so will look into this and let you know if that was the problem thanks again

 

[TimSchmidt]

Yes an air tube normally is attached to the pump to inject air to make the bubble for the protein skimmer. Can you take a picture?

 

[FLOEDOG]

It should take a couple of days to get any color, the water may still look clear but in two or three days it will look brown. Try to clean out the collection cup often.

 

[jeffnjenny]

My protein skimmer took about 4-5 days to show any solids. But when it did, it was black and greed gunk. Now it covers the top plastic cover with greenish "protein" in a few hours. I believe this is how to tell if it's doing its job.

 

[FLOEDOG]

thats the way, mine is yellowish brown. but thats how it should look. clean the collection cup often because if you dont it may hinder the performance.