Red Sea Max 170 Setup Help (1 Viewer)

[abomb55076]

I recently purchased a used Red Sea Max 170 to replace a take that started leaking last week and I'm having trouble figuring out how to adjust all the adjustments.... The protein skimmer (stock) and rear sump are all new to me and I haven't been able to locate any documentation on how to properly adjust any of it.

It seems that both the flow gate and the air valve on the protein skimmer have an effect on the sump water level, but I have no idea how to properly set them (more so the flow gate on the skimmer, I assume once that's set properly you make small adjustments to the air valve to get the proper skim rate.

I originally had a canister filter on my old tank which did a really good job of removing fine particles from the water, but it seems like the overflow system doesn't have a way to remove sand in the water other than letting it slowly (very slowly) settle from the water over time. Is there something I'm missing?

When I look in the output side of the rear sump, the water on top looks stagnant like the flow is incorrect. There's stuff floating on the top on that side but there is definitely water flowing from the output nozzle, so it almost seems like maybe somethings setup wrong?

Any help is greatly appreciated, I really want to get things working properly, but so far it almost seems to be less effective than the $50 canister filter I had on my old tank.

 

[abomb55076]

 

[crayonbreaker]

Open the air all the way up and then adjust the water level so that the bubbles in the skimmer "boil" just below or at the neck of the cup. The more air the better as this is what is helping the skimmer grab the floating particles from the water column and cleaning them out of the tank.

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[RSnodgrass]

Alot of people will add a washable filter pad after the overflow to grab larger particles (food) and the skimmer grabs the tiny ones. If running a softy tank then a skimmer is more than enough most times.

 

[abomb55076]

Open the air all the way up and then adjust the water level so that the bubbles in the skimmer "boil" just below or at the neck of the cup. The more air the better as this is what is helping the skimmer grab the floating particles from the water column and cleaning them out of the tank.

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Open the air all the way? When I do that I actually get water in the skimmer collection container.

 

[crayonbreaker]

Right, so once you are there then slowly screw it back in so the water level is just at the base of the cup

 

[abomb55076]

Right, so once you are there then slowly screw it back in so the water level is just at the base of the cup

Suddenly I’m getting bubbles in the output of the skimmer also. Still wondering what this “gate” is for on the output side of the skimmer also. It makes the water level in the tank go up and down and must also control the fluid level in the skimmer.

 

[crayonbreaker]

You are correct, normally there would be a sponge on the output as well to trap some of the bubbles. Its a putzy balance of water and air until you teach the prefect combo

 

[RSnodgrass]

Looks like you have the water going through material after the skimmer anf before the pump... if so that should remove the bubbles.

 

[abomb55076]

I added a bubble catcher sponge just before the sump pump, hopefully that helps with the micro bubbles. For some reason before I had a lot more adjustment in the skimmer air valve than I do now. Seems like it’s either all or nothing at this point. I may have to pull the skimmer and make sure it’s all connected properly.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Oddly, some of them seem to behave differently after running a few days. This was the case on my last one... my current is the opposite, always runs its best right away.

Perhaps it's that?

 

[abomb55076]

When I first installed it, I could slowly open the air valve and hear the air get more and more as I opened it. That caused the bubbles to slowly increase in volume in the collection bin. The output water of the skimmer didn’t change drastically when I did that. Now when I turn the valve I hear nothing until I turn it open far enough and then suddenly I hear a surge of bubbles, the collection bin begins to fill quickly with bubbles, and the output side of the skimmer is very bubbly.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Is the valve clogged with salt creep or water? Mine can easily get water in it in a back flow situation which hacks it up for awhile.