Skimmer help....

Hi Coldshot - sounds to me like you have it set up almost right now - you need to make sure that the airline connected to the top of the power head is above water level - (dont try and have the air input on the power head outlet above water just have maybe 5 or 6 inches of airline attached to it - otherwise if the water level rises above the air inlet you will only get water out - the increased air to water ratio will slow down the flow - it does on all skimmer models I have ever used including my current hang on Deltec MCE - with no air at all - there is maximum flow - add some air and it replaces some of the water - hence less flow

I believe that if you have tiny bubbles in the chamber you will get something/ foam climbing up and into the cup very shortly

 

im glad I noticed this thread. I was about to buy one of the same skimmers, but now im not sure. Ill keep an eye on this and see if you can get it skimming correctly. Good luck my friend! Hope it works out for yah.

 

OK here is a pic set of my old Jebo 182. Similar in design, there is very little you need to do to get it to work. Step by step...I hope the 180 is similar to the 182..

Here is my 182 without the pump and hose....but you can see where the input is at the bottom.




You also notice the air intake....



When you find the intake, put a small hose on it (1/4" should fit---typical airhose) and run it up outside of the tank. The water flowing past the hole will suck air in through the hose into the chamber.



So now, your air intake is set. Your fine tuning (water level adjustment) will be done with backpressure. In this case it is the cheap plastic knob detailed in the pic below......



I cannot remember honestly what level you need the water at, it has been so long since I have dealt with this thing. I have blocked out almost all memory of it. The skimmer you bought is, honestly, not very good. It is OK minus at best. I had the 182 on my 75 for a few months before I got sick of it's ineffectiveness and got a good in-sump variety. It did produce skimmate....just not enough IMO.

Now. All is not lost. The skimmer should start pulling skimmate out of your tank in about a week. Skimmers need to cure....especially brand new out of box skimmers. Even my dirty used one needed the better part of a month to really kick in. So be patient with it and you will get some action.

In the meantime....start looking out there for better skimmers. If you tell me how big your tank is and what you plan to keep in there, I can recommend a good one for you. But skimming and lighting are something you never skimp on. That is a rule. So see if that works for you and let me know if there is anything else I can do for ya.

Peace.......John.

 

Learn from my mistake and get a better skimmer. Read the skimmer post and find whats ideal for your tank. This is going to be good for dog's washtub that his water is in. After I get upgraded...in a few months. ... So far I have learned from monetary losses the skimmer and lights are to be the best....other things you can skimp on but not those two items...