offminded

How do you know if your skimmer is running right? I have a 55 gallon tank set up with live sand and saltwater...how do I know if my skimmer is working up to par at this point? I know...its a really dumb question, but I have to ask.

agsansoo

It should be producing a light green tea like skimmate in the collection cup.

offminded

even with just live sand and water?

Gozer_1

You won't see much of anything for awhile, especially without live stock. Refresh my memory, what kind of skimmer do you have and how long has it been running. It can take months for a skimmer to get "broken in" even in a stocked tank.

offminded

i have a coralife super skimmer rated for up to 125 gallons. i can adjust the height of the micro bubbles...i plan to go to my lfs and talk to him just to make sure that i am doing everything right up to this point. i don't expect to see much waste, but wasn't sure what i should expect to be seeing...

Gozer_1

I'm sure you're doing fine. You just won't see much out of your skimmer at all for awhile. Mine took 3 months to really produce more than a little ooz. For now try setting it to the highest postion. Leave it for 10 or 15 minutes then move it down some and wait again. When you see a little foam forming at the top of the tube you'll be set up. As your organic load changes you may have to adjust it accordingly. If you get it all the way down and it isn't producing foam, don't worry you just have nothing to skim. Any skimmer would skim something by that point if there was anything to skim.

agsansoo

Adjusting the height of the micro bubbles will determine if you're wet or dry skimming. Adjust the height half way up the neck in the collection cup area. Posting a picture will help also. Also my CSS produced skimmate from day one. No break in time was needed. Though the direction states it's about 24 hours.

offminded

ok...i'll take pictures tonight. i know that i was adjusting the red knob and that controlled the bubbles inside of the collection cup...just not sure where the level of bubbles should be and all of that. i will have some pictures posted tonight after i get off of work.

Gozer_1

LOL I think I had that backwards. Not start at the highest, start at the lowest, but yeah halfway is probably a much better start. Sorry.

PS. Mine works the other way round, in my defense.