skimmer question

[boomer 453]

Im in the process of converting from FO to FOWLR and have never used a skimmer before. While at the store the other day for dogfood i saw a cart full of clearance items and in it was a red sea in tank skimmer. It was the kind that just uses and air pump and it was for up to a 90 gallon (using it on a 75). Set it up and it filled the collection cup overnight with a liquid the green color of pond scum. since then it has been about 3 days to fill the collection cup about 1/3 with the scum colored water. Does this sound about right? For some reason i was expecting dry bubble looking gunk and that is what it looks like at the top of the collection tube but in the bottom of the collection cup it is liquid.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't see anything wrong with the skimmer from your description....

Only thing I don't like about air stone skimmer is that you need to replace the air stone periodically.

 

[ricky1414]

Only thing I don't like about air stone skimmer is that you need to replace the air stone periodically.

I had the same skimmer as boomer, and I have to agree with dupa, the stone would clog big time. Seemed I would have to replace it every other week or so. I moved on to a better skimmer after about a year of using it. It pulled out gunk, but it was unsightly sitting in the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont see running a skimmer if you have FOWLR..Im sure its done but i dont think in your case a necessity..if you have corals and what not, a protein skimmer is handy and even than not a necessity....However if you are gonna go skimmer dont go red sea, ive heard nothing but bad things about those...Id get a dual Bak Pak if you dont have a sump...if you have a sump then go with the Aqua C EV series... HTH