I assume you are using the fine bubble air stones?
Yea pretty much, I know its not the exact way to do it, but the other way is a math formula about a page long, lol
What is the height of your water/air bubble level from the bottom of the skimmer?
On my skimmer thier is two section of 12 inch tube, each section is 2 feet high, my water level is at about 6 inches or so below the top of the top tube.
What is the height of the skimmer foam level above the interface water level before it runs over into the cup?
The foam/water interface is as mentioned above. From thier the foam has to go up 6 inches of 12 inch tube and then 2 feet of 8 inch tube before it goes over the top.
Any thoughts on what you feel may possibly improve perfomance based on what you have observed in the skimmers you built? I f I remember, you had mentioned in one post you thought improving mixing of the air/water mix might improve performance
You know as it sits right now I dont know if I would make any changes. I did make a small plumbing add, where I raised the input of the water into the skimmer to the top of the water level. This way I was getting a full counter current with the water volume having to go through the full curtain of air bubbles (placed at the bottom) before exiting the skimmer.
One of the big differences between this kind of skimmer compared to say a needle wheel style is the point of entry. Protien skimming is a two fold process, the first process is the mechanical stripping where the bubbles beat on the water mole (that has the protien attached) and then a chemical reaction where the freed protien then attaches back to a clean bubble surface. When you inject the water and the air into the skimmer at the same point you are limiting the amount of water moles that the air bubbles see and thus the mechanical stripping. Now recirc needle wheels do help this problem allwing a better bombardment rate.
I have found in using most other types of beckket and/or style over the decades to act more like a frieght train effect. With the style of pump required you dont get much dwell time, but instead create a trains worth of foam that takes about 50% of the protiens out but also take out anyother planktonic life with it.
Again just my thoughts from using most types.
Mike
