Dialing in a prizm skimmer

Birchell · 01-01-2007, 08:26 PM

Well to start off this is my first skimmer, so I dont have a clue how it is suppost to work. I cant seem to get any flow without overflowing the cup with water. I know it has to be able to flow some water through it. Right now the skimmer has been going for 3 days, and has calmed down some, I can leave it with out worring about it. But the flow is terible!! I am getting alittle more than a tricle through it. If I turn the flow up, it just over skims and over flows the cup in 10-15 mins. Will the skimmer work better after it breaks in?? The manual said it takes 2 days to start working, but Ive read it takes skimmer around 2 weeks to fully break in. What do you guys think?? I know its not the best skimmer, but for the money it sounded like a great one, plus it is HOB so I dont have to get a sump right now. One more thing. Could it be because the tank has only been running for 3 days, that the water chimistry is not right to have the skimmer running right? The S.G. is 1.024.
Let me know what you think,

Michael

PS: it has the deluxe kit on it, so it has a suface skimmer ( dont know how it works with no flow) and a carbon chamber.

RAVEN · 01-01-2007, 11:11 PM

You have to adjust the water height so it is just below the rubber O ring. These skimmers are junk and constantly have to be adjusted. My advice would be to sell it or chalk it up as a loss and buy a good skimmer. If price is an issue look at the coralife skimmers which can be found for a good price on line.

mistermikev · 01-02-2007, 12:54 PM

have one... skims ok. prior advice is semi right on-they require quite a bit of hand holding to get em working ok. #1 do you have the correct nipple? I would check this - be on 2nd one for operation(first is for starting siphon). The first thing I would do is put a plastic air flow adjustment between the skimmer and the collection cup. This helps dial it in and makes for easy take off/replacement for cleaning.
#2 add media to the basket and drop in - I added filter floss and the resistence it adds helped the skimming come up with thicker darker skimmate. #3 when they say to wet the o ring they aren't kidding. I would guess this is half your prob. If you don't have it seated right it sucks too much air and can leak and fills the skimmer cup too fast.
#4 adjust the water intake to get bubbles forming just above the junction of the cup
hope this helps. Most hear will say it is a crap - I think they are ok... nice and quite with the re-designed collection cup.
One step up from a seaclone one step down from a coral life.

Birchell · 01-02-2007, 08:38 PM

Mistermikev thanks. I didnt wet the o-ring, lol. Im gonna take it apart right now and see what that will do. I did notice that last night the skimmer has picked up the flow some how, and is working good. I am getting a cup full of nasty gunk now. The o-ring your talking about is the one in the pick up tube right?? Im gonna go through the manual and find out. Im with you, I don think it it a great skimmer, but for the money its not bad. I think softie tanks grow better with some nutrience in the water anyway. Thanks again for the help,

Michael

mistermikev · 01-03-2007, 07:38 AM

no the oring I was refering to is between the main body and the collection cup. You will find that for whatever reason they start running faster or slower. I think it may have to do with air pressure. In addition, every time I take mine apart I have to readjust air and water input. You will find the "sweet spot" eventually. Adding inthe filter floss did wonders. I upped my water intake and now am getting 2/3 a full cup everyday from a 75. The skimmate is dark and thick and stinks like all hell. Good luck

Birchell · 01-06-2007, 06:17 PM

lol, sounds great. I finally found the "sweet spot", and its been running great for a week now. Im getting alot more skimmate than I thought would come out of a new tank. I put the carbon in the basket for now, but the media floss sounds like a great idea. Now I know what everyone says when they say," let the skimmer break in for a week or two ", lol. Thanks again for the help,

Michael

mistermikev · 01-09-2007, 12:02 PM

update: found a new mod. supposedy propping the skimmer up a little higher will allow you to run it closer to full throtle. Gonna try this tonight. FYI

mistermikev · 01-16-2007, 12:42 PM

propped her up a half inch with some rubber feet i bought... seemed to allow me to increase flow a hair but not much. I have heard of another mod that might work... you hook up a good airpump to the air intake. this forces more air in the powerhead. Haven't tried it yet but may give it a shot. I like reversable mods.

m_lacom99 · 01-16-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermikev

The first thing I would do is put a plastic air flow adjustment between the skimmer and the collection cup. This helps dial it in and makes for easy take off/replacement for cleaning.

Do you have pics of that mod so i can understand please, i might be interested.

I also have a prizm, its not crap but not far from it

. I have been running without it for a week now just cause i got tired of it. Its only a 20 gal with a very low bioload so everything is ok right now. But if the mods make it work better i will try it.

Marc.

Birchell · 01-16-2007, 02:14 PM

I already raised it about 1 1/2 higher, with little to no difference. I read about that on RC. I dont think raising it drops the water level. It doesnt rely on sump water level to operate, it just pumps the water stright from the tank and a constant rate. I did the filter media in the basket that came with the "deluxe" kit, and it did seem to help make more skimmate, but reduced the flow to the tank. The surface skimmer that came with the "deluxe" kit is usless becuase it doesnt pull enough water to do a suface skim. Im gonna use the attacment for an intake for a sump, lol. I think you can only go so far with this skimmer. If you want more flow, just get a air regulater on the air intake for the pump, and make it flow more water than air. But that will cut down on the skimmate. Good luck, and thanks for the update!!
Michael