400 gallon project

[untamed]

My skimmer filled up again last night. For some reason, every now and then the skimmer goes nuts and fills the collection cup. Once the cup is full, the skimmer burps and spits, spattering everywhere...including on my touch screen. (one time, it actually told the controller to lock the CO2 supply on. It drove my Ca reactor down to pH of 5.8 before I noticed!)

So, I've had enough. I rigged up a float switch, and connected one of the three skimmer pumps to the Aquatronica contoller. The float switch sits in the skimmer colletion cup, if the fluid in the collection cup rises, it shuts down the skimmer. Should have done that months ago!


Here's a screen shot of the controller screen. On the right hand side you can see the various inputs including "skimmer level - OK". The skimmer is now assigned to plug "H". The "L" on that plug indicates that this plug is contolled by a level sensor. The blue outline means that the plug is currently "on".

That's your Aquatronica lesson for today...

[skylord]

Two questions...is your float valve just floating in the cup and where did you get the float valve?

[justinl]

wow a skimmer that can use a touch screen. that thing is evil

[Skimmerking]

I know why your skimmer is over flow like that ...........................

ITS A ASM skimmer

BUY A ATI BM 250 GUY

[untamed]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

I know why your skimmer is over flow like that ...........................

ITS A ASM skimmer

BUY A ATI BM 250 GUY

It is easy to poke fun at ASM, because they really are built poorly....but this G6 works very well and I would continue to recommend it as high value for the buck. I don't think the boil-overs are related to skimmer design or construction quality, in this case.

Ha..ha..new skimmer...Yes, but I don't think an ATI MB 250 is large enough...plus it won't keep itself clean. I have my eyes on a larger prize...(now, lets hope the CDN $ stays high a bit longer...)

[Sebae again]

I wonder why Asmodeus would buy a prehistoric BM 250 from the 20th century when he could have bought a BM Supermarine. Maybe he saw one on the Antiques Roadshow and is a collector of antiquities. JK.

[untamed]

As soon as there is any info on the Supermarine version, I'll have a look...but I'm pretty sure that neither of those skimmers is for me.

[Joe Reefer]

Originally Posted by untamed

It is easy to poke fun at ASM, because they really are built poorly....but this G6 works very well and I would continue to recommend it as high value for the buck. I don't think the boil-overs are related to skimmer design or construction quality, in this case.

Ha..ha..new skimmer...Yes, but I don't think an ATI MB 250 is large enough...plus it won't keep itself clean. I have my eyes on a larger prize...(now, lets hope the CDN $ stays high a bit longer...)

Do I smell Deltec?

[Skimmerking]

Prehistoric OMG shame on you.. for saying that. now if you look at my madness on skimmers. I have owned
Turo flotor T 1000
Euro Reef
Beckett
Down Draft
AIR stone
Beckett again
Euro reef again

ATI BM 250 and now IF I have my ways I will have a BUBBLE KING EXTERNAL. once I can duct tape up the wife...

Untamed I'm just bugging ya about your skimmer obvious your skimmer is working for you. imagine having Super fuge's skimmer on your tank.........................

IMO its not the tube its the pump that works in the skimmer and that is why the ASM G5 and 6 are good since they have the Sedras pumps attached to them.........

[untamed]

Originally Posted by skylord

Two questions...is your float valve just floating in the cup and where did you get the float valve?

It is pretty much just hanging in there. I haven't tested it by filling the skimmer cup yet, but I'm pretty sure it will work. The float is standard Aquatronica equipment. The AQT comes with a float switch in the standard package. I had not been using it until now.