Re: Protein skimmer - what SHOULD I be seeing in the waste cup?

On Nov 29, 11:58 pm, George Patterson <grpph...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Big Habeeb wrote:
Well, the skimmer I have is an oceanic, though I dunno what model. It
has an adjustable air hose, a hose on the side that I can raise or
lower to raise or lower the level of the bubbles in the skimmer
etc...but no matter how high and wide open I set the thing, I can't
seem to get it to bubble over into the cup. It's still pulling a
decent amount of scumminess out, so I'm not terribly concerned, but
I'd like to get it up and running in its intended way before my
bioload DOES get higher.

Sounds like it's working correctly and your water is pretty clean. The level of
the top of the foam is not important - what's important is the level of the top
of the water column. The water level should be about 1/2" below the base of the
column at the top of the skimmer. The range on this should be between 1/4" to
3/4" below the base.

If the water level is lower, either the water pump (usually a powerhead) is
undersized or it's malfunctioning for some reason.

Also make sure that the airstone is still ok - they wear out. As long as it's
producing a fair amount of tiny bubbles, it's ok. When they wear out, the
bubbles get bigger and fewer. Mine last no more than 6 months.

If the pump keeps the water level ok, and the airstone is putting out well, you
just don't have a lot of waste products to remove.

One last thing. The air powered skimmers such as you and I have don't produce as
much foamate as the venturi models. I would say not to worry about it. The
venturi models are noisier, which is why I stay with the air-driven skimmers.

George Patterson
Worry doesn't improve the future; it just ruins the present.

George,
Thanks for setting my mind at ease. The water certainly tests as
clean, and for a 72 gallon tank my bioload is very small right now...8
snails, 6 hermits, ocellaris clown (sp), golden headed sleeper goby,
PJ cardinal, and a cleaner shrimp...so yeah, to respond to another
poster, there isn't much 'poop' in the tank. I've also done my best
not to overfeed, putting in only a tiny pinch of food twice a day.
Seems that just about everyhting I put in gets snapped up between the
clown, card, and shrimp.

Going this weekend to the LFS to add some more snails to help a bit
more with the algae situation, and potentially adding a hippo tang as
well (if they have any smaller ones...I know they get quite large, but
I'd like to start off with it a bit smaller...and according to the
LFS, its rare to find juvenile hippos this time of year).

Mitch
.

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