New old style skimmer

[rishma]

Surprised you cannot just soak them now

 

[mfinn]

Surprised you cannot just soak them now

Soak what now?

 

[rishma]

ummm....the airstones.

 

[mfinn]

I had to go get them first.
120 mile round trip drive.

 

[diciple]

That skimmer is cool!i wish they made a nano hope it works well keep us posted

 

[mfinn]

That skimmer is cool!i wish they made a nano hope it works well keep us posted

It is.
I would guess that if they got enough requests to make smaller ones they would seriuosly look into it.

 

[rishma]

I am just surprised you cannot soak the stones you already have. I would not have guessed that running air thought them without soaking them would actually ruin them.

 

[knap_123]

Explain the vinegar for me please. I'm new to skimmers

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I would ask if they can mail you a new set of stones before driving that far.

 

[mfinn]

I am just surprised you cannot soak the stones you already have. I would not have guessed that running air thought them without soaking them would actually ruin them.

I did ruin the air stones by not soaking them in water for 24 hrs, before turning the air on, according to the guy that makes the skimmers and designed them.
Soaking them is suppose to close up the pores in the air stones, even smaller than they are when they are dry. But not soaking them, I didn't let that happen.
I should have had better instruction, but the day I picked up the skimmer, there were a ton of people at the store and it was very hectic.

Not sure if this set can be fixed by drying out and then start the process over?

 

[mfinn]

I would ask if they can mail you a new set of stones before driving that far.

I could have done that, but didn't want to trust shipping.
Plus I need toi give back the old ones.
They are the closest decent lfs to me so the drive is normal.

 

[mfinn]

Explain the vinegar for me please. I'm new to skimmers

The vinegar removes any oils and residue from manufacturing, which is always there.
With skimmers it is just what helps get it working faster.

 

[ksed]

Bring your skimmer there also . They may help u tune it properly

 

[mfinn]

Bring your skimmer there also . They may help u tune it properly

not sure what you mean

 

[ReefPharmer]

i think he means if you make the drive to the store, bring your skimmer w/ you. Ahead of time call them and have them soak the stone so you can check it before you leave

 

[ksed]

Any updates?

 

[mfinn]

Any updates?

I was able to get to the store on Friday and picked up the new air stone.
Got home and put it in the skimmer in my sump without the air on, as per instructions ( new ones to me).
This morning I flipped the switch on the air pump.
Right off the bat I could see a big difference in air bubbles.
There are no larger ones like before. Plus it's much harder to see the air stone itself, which is because of the more finer bubbles.

I had to pull it completely out of my sump to install the new air stone and I cleaned out the body pretty good so it may take a day or so to produce a good foam head.

 

[ksed]

That's a good sign. Keep us updated.

 

[ksed]

Any pictures of the skimmer working?

 

[mfinn]

So far I'm just trying to slowly work the water/bubble level up to where it will work best.
It's not much to look at.
I just want to go slow, instead of making big swings each way and missing the sweet spot.
I give the gate valve a half a twist once a day. Let it go through a night /day cycle.
Nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

If I see a shot that's worth showing I'll take it.