So now that i have a skimmer, I've been looking around on the internet for info on how they work. I came across a couple of articles that say that some skimmer need a break in period to perform at it's fullest potential. Why is that?
Breaking in and how they work are 2 different things..I'll go for the easier question
If it's a brand new skimmer, no matter how well you clean it, it will have have various oily type substances left from manufacturing on it's surfaces, and those will take a little time to wear away, along with allowing it some time to build up it's own bacteria on it's surfaces (kind of like 'establishing' itself).
If it's a used skimmer, you should have good bubble production much quicker.
What brand of skimmer did you get?
As far as describing how they work, while I understand it, I'd be awful at giving a good explanation..so I'll leave that to others to describe
i have a seaclone 100 i think. it was used and seems to be getting the gunk out already. im not sure how a great skimmer works in comparison with this one but i can see the bubbles and gunk accumulating in the collection cup. i have a 29 gallon by the way. I've had it set up since march and i have not been running a skimmer until today. Live stock includes a peppermint shrimp a sally light, 2 clowns, 2 dominos, a mandarin, a frogspawn and some zoos. not that much going on. skimmer seems to be working though.
I wish I could say it's a good skimmer, but Seaclones are unfortunately referred to as 'Sea-clowns' by most...but it's good that it is producing bubbles for you. Down the line you may want to consider upgrading to a better skimmer as it will help keep your tank healthier.
Have you been doing many water changes to keep up your water quality since you weren't running a skimmer?
You have 5 fish in a 29G, you have more going on than you think! lol
Have any pics?
ok last night my skimmer was pulling stuff out and now its doing nothing...its ok though cause it was only 20 bucks. its a good introduction to the skimmer world. i see how they operate now. i will upgrade the skimmer eventually but right now 130 for a skimmer isnt in the budget. i'll post some pics soon!
i havent been doing many water changes. been experimenting with no skimmer and a few water changes. dont kill me kathy but i seem to doing pretty alright. last time i checked the water was out of whack just a tad bit. i did about a 15 percent change. i did have a cyano break out but i added phoszorb to my rena 55 and some snails and its almost all gone. all the fish seem happy.
are there any dj's, musicians or singers that want to trade a skimmer for some studio time? now that i have a skimmer, i want to upgrade it.. maybe i'll try to do a mod for it being im such a modded out kinda guy.
im in the skimmer world now george!!! its working ok though. I'm getting so addicted all over again. especially since you guys liked my tank. i want to treat my lil friends a lil better. skimmer is skimming though!!
haha. That picture is hilarious. Anyway. I'd go with a Remora for a couple bucks more...wait...I did. You should go with a Remora. No worries if it's too late though.
In a 29g tank, it wouldn't be that difficult to stay on top of water changes and go skimmer free - though the amount of money you'd spend on salt and DI resin would probably come out in a wash with a reasonable used skimmer.
Out of curiosity, is your mandarin eating frozen foods?
yeah. ive been doing just fine all these months with no skimmer and 2 hang on filters. The seaclone is pulling gunk so im sure my tank is better off now then it was. Still i would like to get a better skimmer. I can actually see the gunk getting removed so im sure id have a healthier tank when i do get the better skimmer.
oh and yes my mandarin is eating frozen brine. he's on the hunt a lot. soon as i dropped him in the tank he was on the prowl. then as soon as i dropped some brine in there he started eating right away. whew!
I see people talking bout putting a better air valve on the skimmers air intake tube but which one would be good. also is there a stronger powerhead i could use that would fit on the sea clone's tube? Seems to me that if there was a stronger pull of water into the skimmer than there would be more bubbles.