Require assistance with a vertex omega 130 skimmer

[reef-keeper]

This is a blog I wrote but thought I'd get a better response through posting it as a thread. I bought this skimmer over 1 year ago. I have never been able to have this unit run like it is supposed to run. When I bought it I was told when first installing it to run it wide open for the first week or so or until it calms down. Well that never happened. It was over flowing like no tomorrow so I shut it down, went to work out of town. I came back thought it was in too deep of water so I lifted it up from 9" to 7-1/2". Let it run started out OK but within the hour it was back to a constant overflow. Again shut it down go back to work for another 21 days. I lifted the unit again to the minimum depth in the noted in the manual 6-1/2". Then tried it again. Started OK the did the same thing went right to overflowing. so I Just unplugged it and let it sit. Now it has been a few months since i tried it. I've changing water and replacing the carbon and Phosguard in the reactors a lot. I lost most of the wild life I had in the tank while having the wife look after it, I'm not blaming I should not have set it up then go out of town for weeks on end. I just about ready to give up. But I'm going to try one more time. If anybody is willing to assist me in setting up this nightmare in Edmonton I will not turn him/her down.

[Bugger]

Do you have filter socks that were not prewashed. They are coated with something that causes skimmers to go nuts

[albert_dao]

Have you adjusted the intake valve?

[reef-keeper]

No I always prewash everything. And tried turning the valve all the way in and out. Nothing changes. I think you are talking about the valve on the pump right??

[Bugger]

Did you add anything like new rocks

[AquaAddict]

I had to clean mine with vinegar, keep water level at a steady 7 in., and partially block the air intake with a piece of very coarse black foam. After a few months, it started running properly.

[reef-keeper]

Originally Posted by Bugger

Did you add anything like new rocks

No nothing a

[reef-keeper]

Originally Posted by AquaAddict

I had to clean mine with vinegar, keep water level at a steady 7 in., and partially block the air intake with a piece of very coarse black foam. After a few months, it started running properly.

Mine came with a silencer foam. I

[albert_dao]

Here's what you want to do:

1. get a tub you can fill to 6-7" of FRESHLY MIXED (using RODI - this is important) salt water.
2. throw your skimmer in it.
3. you should be able to get it to work by fiddling with the adjustments.

If you can get it to operate properly, you have a baseline from whence you can troubleshoot.

[reef-keeper]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Here's what you want to do:

1. get a tub you can fill to 6-7" of FRESHLY MIXED (using RODI - this is important) salt water.
2. throw your skimmer in it.
3. you should be able to get it to work by fiddling with the adjustments.

If you can get it to operate properly, you have a baseline from whence you can troubleshoot.

I will try this today. Maybe I