Too early for skimmer to work?

K

karategirl

[Hi everyone, I am completely new to the hobby . I have a 110 G tank with a Aquaclear Pro 150 Wet/dry with built in skimmer. I have had the tank up for about 2 weeks and am cycling with 3 damsels and 4 chromis. I used 1/2 already cycled water and 1/2 new mix saltwater. My skimmer is bubbling away but is collecting absolutely nothing. Is this normal?? My water parameterare Amm 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, pH 8.4. P.S. Thanks for whoever posted the picture of the aiptasia hijacker, I thought those were just some cute little corals until I saw those pics (I am now in the process of trying to kill them with lemon juice). :D]
 
[
My skimmer is bubbling away but is collecting absolutely nothing. Is this normal?? said:
I may of read that wrong, I was thinking it was overflowing filling the collection cup but had no color to it :)

Turn it up or lower the height of the collection cup, or let it be a bit longer and it may be fine the way it is, skimmers usually take 2 weeks or so to break in]
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[Hello all, I'm still not getting any (and I mean any) skimmate from my skimmer. It's been up and running for over three weeks now. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Aquaclear Pro 150 series (wet dry with built in in sump skimmer). Someone suggested lowering the collection cup but there doesn't seem to be anyway to do that. Should I take the whole thing apart and clean everything with vinegar to see if I have a blockage? It seems like I'm getting less bubble production than I started with but I have never gotten any foam production (even in the neck)??? Would appreciate any help before I get frustrated and start bying more equipment. :bomb:]
 
[I would actually recomend a different skimmer. Your skimmer is one of the single most important parts of your tank. And you wont find a good one for cheap either. I dont think the built in skimmers on the wet/drys will do the job as well as others. Alot of people on this board really like the Aqua C skimmers. I would do research and then purchase a better one. BUt thats just my opinion.]
 
[Is this a powerhead driven built in skimmer? I have one built into my wet/dry unit as well. The more bubbles the better... if you are not getting alot of bubbles then, the pump is not pushing enough flow through or something is blocking the pump flow path. I would take it apart first and make sure there is nothing stopping flow. Since this a fairly new setup.. it maybe that you need a stronger pump to push it.

Looking at your setup any of the via aqua series pumps would fit in that space check out this site they have them cheap.

Via Aqua Pumps]



Edited By dnkygirl on 1102975457
 
[Kristi, a good skimmer set up right, would have been taking junk out of the tank right from the beginning. A good skimmer is a very important step to a successfull tank. I am not sure about your particuliar skimmer set up, but it should be putting something out by now, no matter what type it is. Hopefully someone in that area could stop by and look at the skimmer for you. This would at least let you know if it is set up right and working properly.]
 
[Is there a way to raise the water level in the skimmer?

Turning up the flow? Turn up the air pump if it has one...
Some let you close the water return a bit to make the water level higher. Key point, is to raise the water level in the skimmer by about 1/2" then let it be for a couple days and monitor.

All skimmers have a way to adjust them, if it doesn't then I'd agree it may be time to find a new skimmer.]
 
[This is a new tank right? Do you have any live rock yet? The reason I ask is, if all you have are a couple of small fish and are not feeding much, you may have nothing to skim from such a large tank. If you had live rock and the rock was cycling, then you should have plenty.

Case 2, your skimmer isn't set up properly. What do the bubbles look like? Are they large bubbles or small tiny ones. The small tiny ones are better and you should have a ton of them. The more the better. Adjust the level in the collection cup area so that the bubbles can rise and dump into the cup. The higher you raise it the wetter the skimmate will be. The lower, the drier until you go too low in which case you wont be collecting anything.

It may take some time for a new skimmer to get coated and collect stuff.

I have the cheapest skimmer (Jebo modified with a stronger pump) made so if your skimmer isn't collecting anything, I don't necessarily think you need a new skimmer.

HTH,

-soji]
 
[I have around 100 pounds of live rock (cured) plus three damsels, 4 chromis, some peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails. There are also several mushroom corals and polyps that came in on live rock. The bubbles look pretty small but I think I'm getting less than I started with despite messing with the valve. I think it may be get clogged up but like I said it never has put out anything. Thanks for all the help.]
 
[I agree with Rick! Maybe one of our Fort Worth Reefers will chime in and offer to stop by after work one night and look at it.]
 
[I don't know, her username makes me worried I might get judo-chopped!

Your skimmer is probably very similar to what used to be under my 55g. Here's a picture.

front_newsump.jpg
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If yours is the same, it uses a small powerhead (Rio?) to push water into the round tube. There is a flexible airline tubing that goes into the powerhead, which chops up the air and blasts bubbles into the skimmer's reaction chamber. Is that other end of that airline tubing above water and unclogged?]
 
[Thanks for all the input. I promise no unsolicited judo throws or karate chops (I have learned that lesson from practicing on my unwitting husband). I think my system is probably very similar to the system in the picture. It is driven by a Aquaclear CAP 1800 pump. i am planning to take it all apart tomorrow and clean everything and see if that solves the problem. I dont think I can lower the collection cup but I may be able to raise the air output tube. If I can't get it to work after that I'll let ya'll know. I hate to impose on anyone to come look at it - I live about 15 minutes west of White Settlement (I know- out in the boonies!). Thanks :uhoh:]
 
[Thanks to all who helped with my skimmer issues. I took the whole thing apart tonight and cleaned everything with vinegar. I reconfigured a few things and all of a sudden I had BUBBLES! I mean real bubbles (not what I thought were bubbles before)!! Now I have a mountainload of skimmate coming out (oh probably about three weeks worth!) I was so excited I had to sit there and watch it skim for about twenty minutes. Thanks again, I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon. :idea:]
 
[Congrats. Usually what can happen is the inside of the airline tubing (venturi tubing) can get clogged with salt crystals. Dipping or pouring hot water in the tube can clean it right out.]
 
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