Protein skimmer question

[Mark Breithaupt]

I changed my protein skimmer (Top Fathom) feed from a Rio 2100 to the output
of my Magnum 350 canister filter, feeding out of my 15 gal sump for my 55
gal reef tank.
The flow is much slower, which I have read is better (water in contact with
air bubbles longer).
However, the water level is lower in the skimmer. It rises to just below
the top bulkhead screws of the skimmer housing..
Is this a good thing or should I have the maximum flow through the skimmer
to skim more water per hour, and keep the water level high inside the
skimmer?

Any suggestions?

Thanx.

Mark and A

[Raymond]

"Mark Breithaupt" > wrote in message >...
> I changed my protein skimmer (Top Fathom) feed from a Rio 2100 to the output
> of my Magnum 350 canister filter, feeding out of my 15 gal sump for my 55
> gal reef tank.
> The flow is much slower, which I have read is better (water in contact with
> air bubbles longer).
> However, the water level is lower in the skimmer. It rises to just below
> the top bulkhead screws of the skimmer housing..
> Is this a good thing or should I have the maximum flow through the skimmer
> to skim more water per hour, and keep the water level high inside the
> skimmer?
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanx.
>
> Mark and A

My understanding of the principles involved here makes me think that
the higher the water flow the better. The cut off point will be when
you can't adjust the water level in the skimmer properly or you start
to wash the bubbles through. The bubbles all need to stay in the
skimmer and you must be able to maintain the proper water level. Other
than that the more water you can pump through it the better. One
exception to this may be the power head based skimmers that have air
pulled into the impeller housing. Here you will need to balance the
water/air mixture as the highest water flow would be with no air at
all and this does no good....

FWIW

[Marc Levenson]

Hi Mark,

If your water flow is lessened, there is less in the reaction chamber. And if
that is the case, the bubbles will have to climb much higher to reach the
collection cup. If they can't attain to that height, your skimming will be
greatly hampered, if not stopped altogether.

Better to stick with an equivalent pump, possibly a Supreme Mag Drive if
possible. I'd retire the Rio to waterchanges/mixing sal****er only.

Marc


Mark Breithaupt wrote:

> I changed my protein skimmer (Top Fathom) feed from a Rio 2100 to the output
> of my Magnum 350 canister filter, feeding out of my 15 gal sump for my 55
> gal reef tank.
> The flow is much slower, which I have read is better (water in contact with
> air bubbles longer).
> However, the water level is lower in the skimmer. It rises to just below
> the top bulkhead screws of the skimmer housing..
> Is this a good thing or should I have the maximum flow through the skimmer
> to skim more water per hour, and keep the water level high inside the
> skimmer?
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanx.
>
> Mark and A

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[kim gross]

Mark Breithaupt wrote:
> I changed my protein skimmer (Top Fathom) feed from a Rio 2100 to the output
> of my Magnum 350 canister filter, feeding out of my 15 gal sump for my 55
> gal reef tank.
> The flow is much slower, which I have read is better (water in contact with
> air bubbles longer).
> However, the water level is lower in the skimmer. It rises to just below
> the top bulkhead screws of the skimmer housing..
> Is this a good thing or should I have the maximum flow through the skimmer
> to skim more water per hour, and keep the water level high inside the
> skimmer?
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanx.
>
> Mark and A
>
>
With a venturi driven skimmer you do not want lower flow, lower flow
makes the venturi inject less air and larger bubble sizes. I would
highly suggest moving up to at least a rio 2500 or a 3100 to get that
skimmer working well.

Kim

http://www.jensalt.com

[Aquatic-Care]

Mark,

ABSOLUTELY NOT !!! The Magnum does not have the Pressure (PSI)
strength to run Top-Fathom Skimmers efficiently. Magnums also clog up from
the time you first start them. The are mechanical/chemical filters and are
not designed for running skimmers. I am sorry about caps for highlighting. I
see many people running skimmers with these canisters and it drastically
changes the skimmers efficiently and really bugs me that professionals would
use them this way.

I also sell top-fathom skimmers and have used them for 10 years or
so now and I am speaking from experience.


Thanks,
Todd


--
Aquatic-Care aquarium services
Freshwater/Sal****er
Since 1993
www.aquatic-care.com


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[Mark Breithaupt]

I'm switching back to the Rio 2100 until I can get a 2500 or higher.
Thanx for all the advice.

Mark and A



"Aquatic-Care" > wrote in message
...
> Mark,
>
> ABSOLUTELY NOT !!! The Magnum does not have the Pressure (PSI)
> strength to run Top-Fathom Skimmers efficiently. Magnums also clog up from
> the time you first start them. The are mechanical/chemical filters and are
> not designed for running skimmers. I am sorry about caps for highlighting.
I
> see many people running skimmers with these canisters and it drastically
> changes the skimmers efficiently and really bugs me that professionals
would
> use them this way.
>
> I also sell top-fathom skimmers and have used them for 10 years or
> so now and I am speaking from experience.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Todd
>
>
> --
> Aquatic-Care aquarium services
> Freshwater/Sal****er
> Since 1993
> www.aquatic-care.com
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.538 / Virus Database: 333 - Release Date: 11/10/2003
>
>

[Wayne Sallee]

I wouldn't put a rio in my tank. They have a bad history of frying.

Wayne Sallee
http://members.aol.com/waynesallee/weblink.htm

In article >, "Mark Breithaupt"
> writes:

>I'm switching back to the Rio 2100 until I can get a 2500 or higher.
>Thanx for all the advice.
>

[Mark Breithaupt]

That has to be the most useless piece of advice I've ever received.


"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
...
> I wouldn't put a rio in my tank. They have a bad history of frying.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> http://members.aol.com/waynesallee/weblink.htm
>
> In article >, "Mark Breithaupt"
> > writes:
>
> >I'm switching back to the Rio 2100 until I can get a 2500 or higher.
> >Thanx for all the advice.
> >
>
>

[Wayne Sallee]

In article >, "Mark Breithaupt"
> writes:

>That has to be the most useless piece of advice I've ever received.

Try reading old posts on this newsgroup about rios frying, and you will see
this advice as being more important than you realize.

Wayne Sallee
http://members.aol.com/waynesallee/weblink.htm

[Kevin M]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
...
| In article >, "Mark Breithaupt"
| > writes:
|
| >That has to be the most useless piece of advice I've ever received.
|
| Try reading old posts on this newsgroup about rios frying, and you will
see
| this advice as being more important than you realize.


I figured that's why he was still using a Rio after all the bad press about
'em. Being the most useless piece of info he ever recieved, and all.

Kev