ASM G2 not working properly

[hqgc]

I have a G2 and it will never produce more than a quarter of the collection cup of skimmate. I have tried different heights with the bubble level in the riser tube and still no different.
It currently sits in 8 inches of water. The water height can be increased, just not decreased ( the skimmer has no more room to go higher).
I don't know why I can't get more out of it considering in was a $400 touch.
The only question I have is should the lid on the collection cup be air tight? I know that it isn't but even if you wanted it to be I don't think the ASM's will go air tight.
Any help would be great.
Thanx
H.

[midgetwaiter]

The lid shouldn't be air tight.

ASM skimmers are easy to setup so you might have some other things going on but here's a few questions to narrow it down.

What is the level of the output tube, have you raised it way up?

What level does the water come to in the neck of the skimmer?

How long has your tank been setup?

How long does it take to get that quarter cup?

[Delphinus]

To be honest I have the same complaint about my G3x. (I think it's a G3x, if not it's a G3 anyhow). If I get a 1" of skimmate in a week that thing is doing well (I use the term "doing well" with a sarcastic tone).

One thing with mine is it's modified to be recirculating and is fed from the overflows, which I now gather is a "no longer recommended approach". Although I don't really think this is the problem with mine.

What I have noticed is that the venturi is *incredibly* prone to the slightest of blockages. What I've had to do is, on a weekly basis, take a nail (or other long thin tubular item, like a drill bit that you don't care if it gets SW on it), and scrape out that air inlet in the venturi. If I don't do this, the foam production will drop off very quickly after a few days. It seems that air inlet is really good at gathering a slime layer that impacts the airflow through it.

Some people drill out their venturi's to make the hole larger, and in fact some people remove the air inlet altogether and tap out the hole for a hose barb that allows more air in.

As soon as I get my airflow meter that I ordered, I'm going to modify this unit into a meshwheel (basically remove the needles off the needlewheel impeller and replace with two layers of enkamat). People are raving about this kind of modification on their needlewheel skimmers (any needlewheel) so it should be a positive move. I'm thinking I might also be trying the tapped hose barb mod on the venturi. I'll let you know how it works out.

[hqgc]

Originally Posted by midgetwaiter

The lid shouldn't be air tight.

ASM skimmers are easy to setup so you might have some other things going on but here's a few questions to narrow it down.

What is the level of the output tube, have you raised it way up?

What level does the water come to in the neck of the skimmer?

How long has your tank been setup?

How long does it take to get that quarter cup?

-The output tube is an inch above the bottom of the collection cup.
-the water comes about half way up the riser tube
-My tank has been up for about 5 months
-It takes about 3 to 4 days to get just under a quarter cup


thanx

[midgetwaiter]

I thought about this for a while and still didn't come up with anything great to tell you. I'd expect more from it based on your bio load.

Has it always been about like this or has it produced better in the past? Is the stuff you are getting pretty dry? Check your venturi intake for any blockage like Delphinus described.

[cprowler]

I have a G2 and have the same issues that you and Tony have. I have been doing the cleaning that Tony mentioned just not as often. I have considered doing the reserc and/or the gate modifications but am most interested in the mesh that Tony mentioned.

I didn't know if I just wasn't feeding enough (every 2 or 3 days ) or what.

Tony - Are you going to post your mods in a thread?

[Delphinus]

Yeah, will do. I'm just waiting for the airflow meter to arrive in the mail so I can do some "before" and "after" measurements to be sure that I've made an actual difference.

FWIW, my G3 has the recirc mod and the gate valve mod.