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View Full Version : PROTIEN SKIMMER


pluff
December 7th, 2001, 07:39 PM
Hi all,quick question?Was wondering how u know if your skimmer is working?I got my tank up and cycling,and i got my skimmer on.There is nothing going into the cup?there is lots of bubbles about 4 inches from the cup.is this right?or is it not working right?:confused:

Thanks :fish:
afss
December 7th, 2001, 07:55 PM
Could be a couple of things. It could be that you don't have the skimmer adjusted right. More likely is that there is nothing for it to skim. A skimmer removes organics from the water. If there are no organics (fish waste etc) then there is nothing for it to do.
:cheers: from a fellow maritimer
Scott
pluff
December 7th, 2001, 08:29 PM
Scott do you think i should have it on while i'm cycling the tank?there is nothing in the tank but Aragonite sand and i got the power heads on full plus i got 2 AC 500's helping it cycle as the water is really cloudy.:cheers:
afss
December 7th, 2001, 10:11 PM
I can't see where it would really make much of a difference either way. What type do you have? Where do you get fish in St John. I didn't think there was an LFS there. I have lots of family there. Maybe next time i'm in town we can get together, that is if I can get away from the family, and my wife :-)
Scott
pluff
December 7th, 2001, 10:29 PM
Well my tank is cycling and i've noticed the skimmer sucking out some gunk.its really cloudy still,and only been running for a few hours.Do you guys think its a good idea to get some live rock tomorrow? (saturday) to put in the tank now or wait a few more days?Scott well there is 2 LFS here that sell some saltwater fish,but trust me not a real good selection,just your basic ones,i'm not reaal worried cuz my tank is only a 33 gallon.If all goes well with this one i will get rid of my african 100 gallon and do that one in Saltwater. :cheers:

:canadian:
Dman
December 8th, 2001, 10:40 AM
Pluff,
There are two schools of thought on this one. Chances are that the gunk that your skimmer is pulling out is the minute particles of sand that are currently making your water cloudy.
One, Dr. Ron Shimek advocates leaving as much of this silt in your tank as possible. Which would mean turning your skimmer off until the water clears. Or two, you can use the skimmer to help clear the water of this particlate matter. Either way the skimmer is not doing what it was designed and purchased for until you have organic wastes being produced.
HTH
Dman