Help with MDX Skimmer

Help with MSX Skimmer

I have searched, so I apologize in advance if this is already listed somewhere. I bought an established reef aquarium last Sunday and have it set up in my house. It's 55 gallons. It came with a MSX skimmer, which I cannot seem to get to work correctly. I have been adjusting it since Sunday, but I still can't get FOAM or bubbles in the cup. This morning when I got up, I had an almost full cup of light brown water. If I adjust it more closed, I get nothing. If I adjust it more open, I get water. UGH!

Is there something I am doing wrong? Is it better to get water than nothing? What should I be looking for?

Thanks!

ETA: I think it's MSX...I had MDX originally.

ETAA: Further research indicates it's an SWC Xtreme...

 

HI Camsmom,

I too faced the same issue when I started playing iwth my skimmer, I belive you skimmer have to break through and it might take some time for it. When you said that it collected some brown colored Saltwater in it, I belive it started doing its work. Keep an eye on the water level. Skimmer will take care of remaining things.

I believe my reply served some purpose.
Thanks.

 

I don't think the skimmers brand new!!!

How long does it take for a skimmer to break through... a few weeks right?!

Ive had mine for about 10 months and never collected any thick brown gooey stuff... jus low amounts of dark sometimes light liqiud..?!

Camsmom?? are you using any other kind of filtration unit? like a canister filter or anything....?

HI Camsmom,

I too faced the same issue when I started playing iwth my skimmer, I belive you skimmer have to break through and it might take some time for it. When you said that it collected some brown colored Saltwater in it, I belive it started doing its work. Keep an eye on the water level. Skimmer will take care of remaining things.

I believe my reply served some purpose.
Thanks.

 

HI Ibiaaquariums,

If so I belive that the quility of the Saltwater you got is very good. may I know whether you are using salt mix/ natural SW. I use both.

 

HI Ibiaaquariums,

If so I belive that the quility of the Saltwater you got is very good. may I know whether you are using salt mix/ natural SW. I use both.

Hey my freind...

I have tried and tried to tune my skimmer so it starts collecting this thick dark goo... ive tried moving it at different heights and depths in the water but nothing seems to work. I find that a closed air-valve does nothing for me all... for best results I have to tune my skimmer to about "3 oclock", which tends be good bubble production and "4 oclock" for even better bubble production... I can't get it any better then these.

My skimmer isn't the greatest, but for a fish only set up... and already working off a canister filter, "buying the best skimmer on the market" isnt... I don't believe required if you ask me.... if when I decide to house corals then maybe yes!!

This skimmer is also a delctec 300... by far not the worst brand on the market, and is powerfull enough to do my full tank over 2/3x per hour!!

Soon I have to move my canister filter to my new tank that's in its last week of cycle, to clean it out. I'm going to directly install my skimmer onto my first tank and see if I then start doveloping the dark goo.... as the skimmer would then be the "only" filtration system on the set-up.



Salt mix or natural sea water... if you mean do I collect natural seawater from the shores, no... I'm nowhere near any reef areas, I'm located in london england. We don't have this gorgeous underwater life that you lucky people possess lol!

In terms of my salt mix... from December 09, I used tropic marine... but was too expensive but is VERY GOOD, I then tried seachem, wernt impressed... then I found coral pro reef salt... which is excellent, I used that for the whole time up until about 2 weeks ago.... no ph swings (but has been rather low @ 7.8-8.0 but I'm not really bothered.... id rather leave it if its stable, rather then put additives in my tank, only to unbalance it and kill all my stock, no thanks) no trace of amm, nitrite or nitrates, very low phosphates, no copper, calcium and Kh at correct levels... calcium sometime a touch on this high side, but that don't matter. I do believe this coral pro salt played a major part in a very healthy stable tank

The only additives I add is liquid calcium (every 2 days) and liquid magnesium iron (every saturday - weekly).

However from the beg of jan I have now changed to Kent Marine salt and the reason being is because.... I was cycling my 2nd bigger tank at a low salinity (run out of salt by accident - thorght I had enough)... went down the fish store and I managed to pick up a massive bucket and I mean massive, un-liftable bucket of salt on special offer @£35! what.. something like $26 I gather, not sure. I had to get a taxI home lol. So ive used this to top up my 2nd big tank.... and I might use it for the next change in my 1st tank, but I'm not sure.

But after I finish the big bucket I will revert back too coral pro reef salt... or I might keep the upstaires tank kent marine and coral pro downstaires then compare the both!! At some stage.

So that's the brand of salts ive used

Making my water:
I then make r/o water, raise it to the tank temp... then add salt, and mix! Then I leave it for a while with my spare temp heater to properly melt & mix in! Then I down-feed the the new water though a small 4/5mm piping hose into my water change area, beneath the tank, which is then fed up into my tank via a slow feed.

Second thorghts I think I'm going to set my skimmer on my big tank... and see what I collect!! Hmm.. think ill start it tongiht.. and see what's its like in the morning!!!

 

I have searched, so I apologize in advance if this is already listed somewhere. I bought an established reef aquarium last Sunday and have it set up in my house. It's 55 gallons. It came with a MSX skimmer, which I cannot seem to get to work correctly. I have been adjusting it since Sunday, but I still can't get FOAM or bubbles in the cup. This morning when I got up, I had an almost full cup of light brown water. If I adjust it more closed, I get nothing. If I adjust it more open, I get water. UGH!

Is there something I am doing wrong? Is it better to get water than nothing? What should I be looking for?

Thanks!

ETA: I think it's MSX...I had MDX originally.

ETAA: Further research indicates it's an SWC Xtreme...

Try this...


Open it fully... so water is gushing....

Then slowly start to close the air valve.... real real gently.... youshould hear little noise, a hissing type soound.. or you might feel a little vibration from the air valve on your finger, and at that instant that bubbles or foam look like they could be developing hold still right their and take note?? and just watch to see what's happening?? The water should no longer be gushing... it should of some what decreased and not be so erratic...

this is the process I use on my skimmer. Through the air-valve is in fact the only way I can actually tune my skimmer. so I assume I'm not doing it wrong and so... at this delicate stage of turning the air-valve gently and slowly, should I start generating foam/bubbles signals to me that I'm near on "fine-tuning" it... right?!

It has to be this. theirs is no other way! As for the dark poop, not a trace.

But have a try and see what happens with yours?! good luck!!