mcbaes72
09/15/2008, 04:57 PM
Since my previous tank was skimmerless for six yrs (chaeto in sump only), I'm kinda new to using a protein skimmer again. My new FOWLR tank is less than two months old (see sig for list of fish). Whenever I clean the filter pad in overflow and do general maintenance every weekend or so, it usually takes about 24 hrs before the skimmer starts collecting waste again.
Well, it's been over a week now (since 9/6) and although I see foam rising in the skimmer column, it's not enough to push it into the collection cup (where a 1/2" flex tube and 2-liter bottle collects the waste). For a few days, I was allowing about 1/2 air flow (working fine for almost two months), but recently increased it to 3/4 air flow to see if this would produce anything. It foams up the skimmer column a little more, but nothing yet in the collection cup.
Maybe I'm worrying too much, I'm not sure. But is it normal for a skimmer to collect regularly, then a week or more passes by and there's nothing to empty out in the waste container? Maybe the chaeto in the sump is doing most of the work already and there's little waste built up for now. I still feed the fish the same amount of flakes/frozen foods daily.
Any suggestions? Am I supposed to prime it at full air flow after general maintenance, then decrease it afterwards? If so, I'm afraid it'll overflow w/ sw if I'm not home to adjust it during weekdays. TIA for any comments/opinions.
Well, it's been over a week now (since 9/6) and although I see foam rising in the skimmer column, it's not enough to push it into the collection cup (where a 1/2" flex tube and 2-liter bottle collects the waste). For a few days, I was allowing about 1/2 air flow (working fine for almost two months), but recently increased it to 3/4 air flow to see if this would produce anything. It foams up the skimmer column a little more, but nothing yet in the collection cup.
Maybe I'm worrying too much, I'm not sure. But is it normal for a skimmer to collect regularly, then a week or more passes by and there's nothing to empty out in the waste container? Maybe the chaeto in the sump is doing most of the work already and there's little waste built up for now. I still feed the fish the same amount of flakes/frozen foods daily.
Any suggestions? Am I supposed to prime it at full air flow after general maintenance, then decrease it afterwards? If so, I'm afraid it'll overflow w/ sw if I'm not home to adjust it during weekdays. TIA for any comments/opinions.