New RamoraC

[intruder]

I am just starting up a 55gal system. Am curing 45 LB live rock an in no rush. Have an Emperor 400 & a RamoraC w/Maxi-Jet 1200. Problem is that when I turn on the skimmer, it foams so much that in a short time it completely fills the waste bowl with water and then foam begins coming out the vent hole. Am I over powered? Can I adjust the skimmer or do I have to change pumps? HELP!!!! Thanks in advance.

Bandit22

 

[Anonymous]

Is the cup sitting as high up as it will go? Also if you are using live rock, the emperor 400 will be unneccessary.

 

[ChrisRD]

What Rover said. Raise the cup as much as you can. Also, things will settle down - give it some time.

 

[intruder]

Have already taken the waste bowl as high as it can go. That sure helps. I'm kind of slow @ times, but then I'm sure. Thanks guys. By the way, leaving the 400 up and running won't hurt anything will it?


Bandit22

 

[ChrisRD]

By the way, leaving the 400 up and running won't hurt anything will it?

Nah, not really - as long as you keep it clean. Another option is to pull the cartridges out and just let it run empty (extra circulation). You can stick the cartridges back-in periodically when you want to run carbon/floss.

 

[intruder]

Skimmer working great now. Topped off with water this morning and it really worked for about 4 hrs following that. My whole set up is a 55G with 80 lb sand (half live). 50 lb good base rock and 45 lb live. Emperor 400, RamoraC w/Maxi-Jet 1200, and 300 Rio 400's to move the water. Light is Coralife 50/50 w/4 compact bulbs. Have had LR in tank for a week and did a 50% water change plus 2 toppings. All readings are high. Going very slow. How does it sound????

 

[PeeJ]

geez....you have 300 rio 400s? that really seems unneeded. i mean i use 225 rio3100s in my 35 gallon, but 300 just seems a little much

 

[ChrisRD]

How does it sound????

Sounds fine so far. It will take a while for things to settle down - just give it time now.

 

[intruder]

Thanks for the good words. And it is only 3 Rio's, not 300.

 

[intruder]

Another question. I plan to leave the Emperor 400 on my tank, should I remove the Bio wheels or not?

intruder

 

[fishy929]

I plan to leave the Emperor 400 on my tank, should I remove the Bio wheels or not?

I have exactly the same set up as you. I removed the biowheels around three weeks ago and all is fine. I run the carbon filters every once in a while just to polish the water. The Aqua C will do a fine job of removing the unwanted waste, and the LR will cover your filtration.

 

[pishposh]

not to barge in on the thread but i just had a quick question

do these protein skimmers work on freshwater setups?

 

[Anonymous]

not to barge in on the thread but i just had a quick question

do these protein skimmers work on freshwater setups?

I am not to sure they do. The chemical composition of salt water is differents than that of fresh water (obviously) and the bubbles in salt water are much more smaller there for can stay around and not aggitate the water as much. But I could be wrong as I usually am.

 

[smlacy]

You are correct.

In fact, there are NO skimmers that work on freshwater, as the principles that drive skimming do not apply to freshwater dynamics. (Although thats not to say that I haven't been tempted to try one anyway just to see what happens, but not to rely on it to anything)

Steve

 

[pishposh]

yeah i read somewhere that its the salinity of the water that allows skimming to work. I just wanted to make sure.
but i am still tempted to try it on my freshwater tank...

 

[PeeJ]

dont waste your time...ull find that instead of foam, youll just get a few large bubbles floating to the top...which of course will do nothing except....airate the water i suppose