Skimmer performance - PM Bullet 1

[thomb]

I just can't seem to get the dark skimmate you hear about. What I will get is tea colored skimmate (if I set it to do so) and a lot of gunk on the sides of the reaction chamber and collection cup neck.

Right now, we have no bioload - but even before the crash it performed this way.

Here's the full picture.

Right now, I have it tuned to have 1" or so of water swirling per the PM FAQ's
(using the outlet gate valve and air valve)

This setting will produce the tea colored skimmate. If I lower the water level, I'll just get gunk.

I cleaned it this morning, and already here is the gunk beginning to accumulate.

Using a Sedra 12000 for the feed pump. The inlet plumming needed to be choked down to 3/4" from 1" because that's the pump's outlet.

 

[Mr. Leemr]

I have the bullet 2 and reacts the same way, i found that mine works better with the level up about 2-3 inches in the first chamber and the air valve turned down so i get really tiny bubbles, always had great water quality.

 

[thomb]

Thanks, been giving that a go and its making a difference!
Scary at first to run it that high, but I'm gaining confidence in it not overflowing.