Skimmer less efficient over time?

[fab79]

Hi all,

Just wana know if others out there are having the same syndrome as my skimmer does. When i first bought my Weipro 2013 it was producing lotsa dark coloured skimmate.. nowadays even after powering it up with a 3200l/hr pump, the skimmate is only lightly coloured.. like light coloured tea. Is it because nothing much to skim already?

my tank specs:

Chemical filtration:

Seachem carbon 250ml

Seachem phosphate 250ml (i know both not enuf!)

Biological filtration:

20kg of LR

50kg Live sand

Mechanical Filtration:

3 feet sump with 7 inch DSB

Weipro skimmer 2012 using cheapo dolphin powerhead(works quite well amazingly!)

Additives:

Red Sea Salt

Kalkwassar (dunno some german brand)

Tank conditions:

Nitrate 12.5 (using tetra testkit)

Calcium at 450ppm (using JBL testkit)

The rest i never buy test kit!

Pumps:

Hailea 6540 1770l/hr (which i think is not enuf!)

Alife powerhead for circulation 3200l/hr

Livestock:

1 tube anemone

1 purple tip anemone

1 jewel stone LPS(think it's called goni something)

1 regal tang

1 firefish

1 tomato clown

1 red perch

1 brazillian royal gramma

10 red legged hermit crabs

2 turbo snails

1 topshell

2 cleaner shrimp

1 reef lobster(always hiding!)

1 orange gorgonian

[typrobin]

i think u gotta wash the skimmer body....maybe too much murk on it, try using vinegar, i saw it somewhere before....

[RAV-65]

hmmm... tink vinegar is to remove calcium.... is the pump too powerful for the skimmer? Plus, how u set the skim level? too high?

Vincent Ho

[Virus]

Yes. i've rerad somewhere b4 that venturi type of skimmer need to be cleaned once in a while coz of the V shaped area accumilate 'dirt' over time and hence reduced efficiency..

Heheh everything need mantaince one lah to work at their best, filter.. light.. etc..

[fab79]

the level has no tbeen too high...

always been at ard the same level...

hmmm it has been skimming a lot last time

and i also use a sponge to clean the skim cup!

[FuEl]

Check your kH. If it is too low it will affect your skimmer efficiency.

[RAV-65]

FueL,

izit? didn'tknow KH affects the skimming... mine only 6.5 - 7 dkh... trying to raise it... izit good enough?

Vincent Ho