CPR Skimmer Working?

[Mikeaveli21]

I have a CPR Back pack 2 skimmer and have started seeing little or nothing in the collection cup? I had stopped running it for a while, but when I started it up I was getting a good amount of a light tea colored solution (which I heard is good), but ever since I have only been getting some foam accumulate inside. Is this normal and to be expected? Or is something probably not functioning properly. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[matrixnyc]

Here is some info from their site:

6) The quality of foam in the collection cup can be adjusted by sliding the “O” ring up or down. If the foam is too wet, raise the collection cup up by sliding the “O” ring down until the desired wetness is achieved. The base of the collection funnel should be 1/8” below the water surface for optimal performance, but can be adjusted down from this point if the foam is too dry (little to no liquid present) or up if the foam is too wet (clear liquid only in collection cup).

7) We have added an air control valve on your new Cyclone Bak-Pak 2sm. This valve will allow you to control the amount of air being drawn into the powerhead. We recommend initially opening the valve completely for maximum air flow into the skimmer. If it does not appear that the skimmer column is filled with bubbles, slowly close the valve until the column is full.


These 2 sections shouls help you start to produce foam in the collection cup.

[Mikeaveli21]

Thanks for the response matrix. Tried both of those things, and still no increase in collection. I can't figure out how it would just all of a sudden not produce anything. The bubbles are filling the column like they are supposed to, so I don't know where a problem would exist. Is it possible that there just isn't anything to be collected ??

[Chryocon]

yes, but if so, it might be a good idea to do a water change...

[steve1s]

Thanks for the response matrix. Tried both of those things, and still no increase in collection. I can't figure out how it would just all of a sudden not produce anything. The bubbles are filling the column like they are supposed to, so I don't know where a problem would exist. Is it possible that there just isn't anything to be collected ??

Do you have a planted sump or a refugium? It is more than possible that either the bio load is not enough to collect that much at a time or the possiblility you have caulerpa and that is removing the DOC's...

I have a BAKPAK2 and find it works quite well. The only thing you need to make sure of is that the air intake tubes are cleaned of salt and calcium build up every so often....

Cheers
Steve

[Mikeaveli21]

No sump or ref yet. Hey steve, how much collection do you get on avg?

[steve1s]

It is always different. Some days it does not collect much at all. It has even gone a week with nothing. But I would have to say on average It does about 1/4-1 collection cup a week of heavy skimmate.

Like I said it is also dependant on bio load and you may just not have enough. The skimmer will also react differently depending on possible additives used and food types.

Cheers
Steve

[mikeski]

I have a week old tank. It's just a 20 gal with 42 lbs of rock. I am emptying about 1/2" of liquid a day.

When the first batch of rock went in I got a lot of water with my scum. After some adjustments of the collector cup I got less water but the same amount of scum. After a few days I was getting very little scum. I added more rock a few days ago and the amount of scum went up again. There is plenty of deposit in the horn bubble tube also. What does not make it over the edge into the cup coats the tube.

Since the rock was mostly cured, I expect the amount to keep going down now until I add more bioload. This will be the cleaning crew. Next week maybe.

My horn is about half submerged now. Maybe a little less.

Mike

[steve1s]

In such a young tank it is very common not to get very much skimmate yet. There is nothing really to create the DOC's yet for it to pick up. The rock you added was for the most part cured and that as well will not be enough to keep it going.

If you have not added any animals for the cycle (which I do not recommend) then you would be okay just leaving the skimmer off for now. They are extremely efficient at removing coraline spores in the water which will prevent their spread. By keping it off for the first month or so, you can scrape small area's of the rock and seed the water and allow the coralline to spread.

Once you add more animal life it will become necessary to turn the skimmer on the more you add.

Cheers
Steve