Setting up a new skimmer

[Floating Paper]

I recently purchased a Coralife 65g super skimmer. I've had it running for 2 days, and have a few questions. I read in the directions to have the micro bubbles at the base of the collection cup. It's producing white suds...I use the word suds loosely, because I know it is not soap. The suds aren't spilling over into the collection cup. Should they be? It's also not producing any waste into the cup. I read that it takes 72 hours to adjust sometimes, and am just wondering if I set it up correctly. Should I adjust the dial so that the suds are higher in the cone, and able to spill out into the collection cup?

 

[Floating Paper]

Can someone please respond, instead of just reading it! 25 views and no responses!

 

[Reeftop1]

Keep in mind that as soon has you feed your tank fish food your skimmer cup will over flow.
Just regulate it till the suds are about 1/4 of the way up in the tube and keep an eye on this. Very sensitive unit, I have 125 unit set up in a 55 sump that i modified.
You know that small air tube that comes with the unit well you will need to clean that or clear it out each week.. pain in the a--
When did you get this unit?:Hydrogen:

 

[Lushpan]

You can adjust it, just watch it closely, it's still breaking in and can overflow.

 

[Floating Paper]

I got the unit on Wednesday. It has been running now for about 48 hours. I have a drain line hooked up to it, so I am not worried about it over flowing. What is the normal break in perion for a skimmer?

 

[Reeftop1]

On a scale between 1 and 10, I give it a 6
Had mine for over 3 years I had to up grade to a PM unit
What size tank is it on?

 

[Reeftop1]

Sorry for the late delay new to this web reply thing...

 

[Lushpan]

I think it's been enough time to break in, I would adjust it so only dry foam goes into collection cup. Just don't try to do it after the feeding or putting hands in tank. Usually skimmer stops working properly for some time after that.

 

[Reeftop1]

Don`t get me wrong ,,, its a good skimmer for the price, Just could do a little better on the performance.
I took that so call venturi unit off and installed a much better one along with a 3/8 air line tube to feed it all the air it can Handel. Big differences on the performances...

 

[Reeftop1]

Venturi mod.
Used 3/4" PVC "T" with 1/2" thread top section so I can install a 3/8 quick disconnect fitting to insert my 3/8 poly line about 16" long and insert it 1/2 way in side the tube there you have it a mod venturi and you never have to clear it out...

 

[Reeftop1]

Good luck on that skimmer:biglaugh::tub:

 

[Floating Paper]

I'm using it on a 33 gallon tank. So should I do it so the foam is just about at the top, or the foam is constantly over flowing into the cup. I'm assuming just about at the top. I dopn't knwo if this has anything to do with anything, but I went away for a month, and has someone else care for my tank. When I got back on Thursday of last week, my Nitrates were at a 40!! I chanegd 5 gallons of water every day until Tuesday of this week. Do u think I reduced my waste in the tank by doing that?

 

[Lushpan]

Last time I had Nitrates 100 I did 50% water change 1st day and then 15-20% every day for a week and got it to 0 in a week or two. I was advised to do it by very experienced reefer.

 

[Lushpan]

But I don't think it has anything to do with skimmer. Usually you adjust it to have a full cup in a few days, unless you want to empty it every day.

 

[INNEED]

i just bought this same skimmer today

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Floating- a skimmer can take up to 2 weeks to break in. It has to complete the process of the plastic reacting with the saltwater. Also has to build up a slimecoat or whatever term you wanna call it. If you put the "suds" all the way up once it does start skimming it will fill your cup in a seconds and overflow- or will fill your waste container as well. Give it a couple of weeks before worrying. Especially if there is low bioload the skimmer will not produce skimmate, is supposed to produce then not- They dont constantly produce skimmate unless real high bioload or a load to the limit of the particular skimmer. Relax and let it do its thing.