my danged protein skimmer

[EllisColes]

hi im in the process of cycling my tank about a week into it, and my protein skimmer has been running since about litterally day 1 and yet i still cant get it to come out with any skimmate here are a few pics, i cant quite remember the model and all but it looks alot like the octopus ventu venturi skimmers

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/156905sump-1.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/156905sump-2.JPG


little help please?

[demonsp]

Looks like water level to low.

[EllisColes]

in the sump or skimmer>?

[demonsp]

Is it producing bubbles ?

[demonsp]

Both but kinda hard to see skimmer. You should be able to adjust so the bubbles right below the cup. What salinity?

[EllisColes]

yeah its producing alot of bubbles, oh and by the way you dont live far from me

[demonsp]

The bottom chamber should be full if not remove cup and fill. The bubbles lift the waste up and forces it out the end.

[EllisColes]

mine has a cut off valve as you can see in the pic that if i turn it goes up or down! this is confusing

[demonsp]

You want to go up with the level. Try and set so bubbles right below the collection cup.

[EllisColes]

ok i added water to the sump and actually it seems to of made more foam forming at the top now it just has to build up into the collection cup right?

[demonsp]

If the bubbles are somewhere around the cup it will but may take a few days. But if level to high cup could fill to fast and if to low may never fill. I like to adjust by whene i see foam coming out cup then i back off and let it skim.

[EllisColes]

thanks alot man< your a big help

[bmk]

Hi
You mentioned that you are just starting to cycle the tank, in that case there is nothing to skim, leave the skimmer off until the tank is cycled as it will only be trying to remove protiens that are needed for the cycle.

[EllisColes]

is it a bad thing to leave it on or should i turn it off?

[navajo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10041580#post10041580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bmk
Hi
You mentioned that you are just starting to cycle the tank, in that case there is nothing to skim, leave the skimmer off until the tank is cycled as it will only be trying to remove protiens that are needed for the cycle.

I don't agree with this at all. During cycling is the BEST time for a skimmer. Yes, you want some die off and ammonia buildup for the cycle, but you don't want or need all the crud just sitting in the tank rotting.

I say skim away! Also, it gives your skimmer a chance to build up the inside coating it needs to function at the same time your tank bacteria is colonizing.

GOOD LUCK!

[Wett Hands]

If the tank is cycling I wouldnt expect to see much (if any) skimate just yet.

I vote for letting it run for the same reason that navajo mentioned; the skimmer needs to break-in. The water level does look a little low in the sump. When the level is too low in mine it causes micro bubbles to come out of the skimmer.

[arts007]

Like said...Let it run, I let mine run on new tank set ups, its a good time to break it in and dial it in as well...of course you may have to adjust as load dictates.

[EllisColes]

yeah that is a pic when i first set it up and ive been playing with it and i havent turned it off yet i was just wondering, and the water level is def up now

[silvers]

looks like an odasea skimmer if so you will be lucky to eaver get any skimmate from it

[EllisColes]

it all came in a package so i really dont know what it is, but ill give it some time and if it in the end sucks ill just buy a better one!

[alexb518]

if the tank has only been running for a day there is nothing to skim besides the fine sand particles from your sand storm. you can try running it really wet, but as far as a thick foam, you're probably not going to see one for a while. also, if the skimmer is new, it will need to break in.

[EllisColes]

no its been running for about a week now with the live rock in the tank

[alexb518]

yeah, that is still considered pretty new to be getting a good skimmate. also, if the skimmer is a week old, then that is also still breaking in. right above where you see the swarm of micro bubbles, do you see any foam starting to build up? or any large bubbles? if so, it's just a matter of adjusting the skimmer.

[EllisColes]

i see some foam but not alot mostly and idk what i did yesterday but i did something and it worked but trying to make it better its not really doin its job again lol