New to large powered skimmers

[starr]

I am new to large powered skimmers and have a few Q's. I just moved so I decided to set up a new tank with a sump and skimmer. The last tank I had setup for about 5 years most of them with out a skimmer. just a deep plenem type sand bed, very regular water changes and alot of carbon filtering. at the end of this tanks life I added a berlin air lift 90 that would fill the cup every day for awhile then tapered off after the tank started to get cleaned up I guess. Well I just got my new tank setup cycled put in all the stuff from my old tank other then the plenem. (I had it all in a tote waiting) Well I have the skimmer running in the sump that I got used. I thought it to be a good deal used at the time a berlin hang on with a rio 2500 pump for $60.00. I have it running wide open and am not getting much for goo out of it. Is this b/c the tank is to new? It has been running for about 5 days now I would think it would be broke in by now.

O yea it's a 55 gallon with a 18 tall converted to a sump Rio 2100 return pump all 1" plumbing a Quite One 3000 running as a closed loop.

Thanks for any idea's

Starr

 

[Len]

For clarification, is the skimmer new? New skimmers often take several days to weeks to break in. If you are seeing consistent white foam production in the skimmer body but no skimmate production, it's just breaking in. During break in periods, watch the skimmer regularly to insure it does not overflow when it "kicks in."

 

[starr]

No it's not new just new to me. It does have cansistent white foam but nothing in the cup. I will wait, great tanks are not built in a day.

thanks for the tip

starr

 

[Len]

Perhaps the water level is set too low in the reaction chamber. However, chances are, it just needs some time to develop skimmate.

 

[Sponge_Bob]

Skimmers may take up to 2 weeks to break in on a newly setup tank. So be patient and please, take Len's advice about a close watch on the skimmer.... I had a major flood when my skimmer kicked in! Not something I wish to anyone. It's really bad when you wake up to the sound of your return pump that is running dry and find out that your carpet is wet on several square foot... all that before your first cup of java! I tell ya, those skimmers have no manners!!! LOL

 

[starr]

Well I probly shuoldn't have messed with it but I did find a problem. The air hose had been pinched down for so long that it wouldn't open back up under the adjustment screw. So I replaced it with one long enogh to reach out of the stand to freash room air. I also noticed that in the chamber was starting to build up some goo so I think it's on it's way to working.

Also I have to leave town for a couple days. So I didn't come back to a dry sump and some burned up pumps I was going to turn off the skimmer till I got back to mess with it some more till then I was going to load my magnum 350 up with some fresh carbon and run it till sunday.

starr

 

[starr]

Well it's been running sence sunday. (AND WE HAVE GOO!!!) as of tonight when I got home to check it.


starr