Euroreef RS100 - Dialing in Foam

[gummi]

I have an RS100.... where should the bubbles be popping on my skimmer? How often should I be filling a cup?

I've been told to skim dry and have the bubbles pop 1/2 way up the neck... thus I only fill maybe 1 inch in the skimmer cup per week. Also, my skimmate does NOT stink at all. It smells fine... almost like freshly cut grass that's a tiny bit pungent.

I've turnedmy skimmer up to skim wetter so hopefully i'll get better results.

I think I'm underskimming because my nitrates are high when they really shouldn't be.

Any guidance/info would be appreciated.

[Tennsquire]

If you want your skimmer to really hum, put a bigger pump on it. This pump is (IMHO) underpowered. I have an old CS6-1 on my prop system (same specs as the current RS100), and it never skimmed very much with the stock 3500 Sedra. I put a 5000 on it and added a gate valve and it rocks. Thick, stinky skimmate that fills the cup in 5 days, faster if I skim wet. It sucks that ER doesn't sell these with the appropriate pumps; however, it's well worth it as it makes a huge difference in the performance of the skimmer.

[gummi]

i'd consider it but my sump space for my skimmer is extremely tight... i can dial in more foam... i just dont know what level to set it at.

any other tips?

[jlt23]

I keep my bubbles approximately 2 inches down from the top. I get smelly skimmate and empty the cup once a week.

[BryanJ]

You really need the gate valve to gain proper control of this skimmer. I have a cs 8-1 and thought it was the worst skimmer I ever owned till I did the gate valve mod. Now I am still skeptical because of the performance prior to the mod even though my skimmate production quadrupled.

For your nitrate problem: Do you use RO water? If not that could be a source of nitrate. If you are using RO the container you are mixing your water in could be causing the problem so run a nitrate test on your freshly mixed water to see if that is the source. Also what are you using for a sump? If the container is something other then glass that is a possible source as well.

[gummi]

Sump is glass.
Water is mixed in reef-safe pails and I've tested - they alwasy come out 0PPM.

I'm going to be more aggressive with the skimming and do some water changes and see what happens. Also, my cleanup crew was drastically reduced so maybe now that I added another 30 snails it might help.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[BryanJ]

How big are your water changes? I would do a 20 gallon change and see what that does for you.

[gummi]

They're small. 5G at a time... 10 at the most. amounts to 6 - 12% of total water volume.

[BryanJ]

you need to up that to 20 -25% to make a difference.

[IPT]

On my RS 100 with the foam colapsed the water level is at about to the base of the collection cup. I get good stinky skimate that is a little wet but dark in color.

[Snowboarda42]

I have a RS80 which I keep the top of the rapidly breaking bubbles at the middle of the collection cup. I get dark skimmate that smells like the sewage plant, if not worse.

[colotl]

Sorry for stealing the thread but do you guys have pics of the bubble levels?
Thanks

[gummi]

I turned mine up and my skimmate still doesn't stink...

It foams and pulls out a lot of nasty looking stuff but it doesnt stink at all...

[saltydragon]

Originally posted by gummi
I turned mine up and my skimmate still doesn't stink...

It foams and pulls out a lot of nasty looking stuff but it doesnt stink at all...

thats a good thing.....
but if its pulling dark coffee nog....then your skimming good....
also....too much gph going through the sump can effect the skimmer's efficiency

[dmazz_63]

What is a gate valve and how do you use it to improve the efficiency of the skimmer?
I'm considering a RS100 or similar for my 90 gallon I'm building but I'm not sure about skimmers. The only thing I've ever is a Seaclone and it's not consistent.
Do you guys have any pics of your skimmers?

[killagoby]

You can't gate valve the new RS series skimmers. I sold my RS-100 because I had nothing but problems with it.

[dsn112]

killa sent you pm

[md14fish]

I have the same skimmer.It pulls about an inch of dark green skimmate perday. It all depends on the tanks bioload however.