Why?
Ok, ok, a little background. Yes, I read most of that loooooong Coralife thread, but that was a few months ago, and don't really want to spend several hours again.
So, here goes:
29 gallon main tank, running for 6 months
40 lbs LR
15ish assorted corals
false perc
6-line wrasse
bicolor psuedochromis (sp?)
lawnmower blennie
most livestock has been in for at least 2 months
15 gallon sump
skimmer sits in my sump, using pump that came with it
pump is 1.5 inches below water line
skimmer return is simply PVC that is about .25" below water line.
Generally feed fish every other day (mysis, sometimes pellets), 'Seavegies' every other day, phyto 2 to 3 times a week.
The skimmer had been pulling a small amount of dark skimmate for 4 to five months, so I was fairly happy with it. In the last two weeks it has started to periodically overflow. Two things have changed with my setup. First, I switched from Kent phytoplankton to DT's about the time this started happening, and use about 1.5 teaspoons every feeding (2 to 3 times a week). Second, I bought a firefish around the time this started happening, but when I got it home I had an emergency I need to leave for, so I could only acclimate for about 20 minutes (no, no QT tank, bash me in another thread if you want to ). Firefish immediately swam into the depths of the LR, never to be seen again. I assume he died (or was killed) back there, and the resulting 'flesh decay' or 'extra food for everyone else in the tank' added to the 'crap' in the water.
So, would either of those two occurances account for the skimmer overflowing, or could there possibly be other reasons for this? Any idea's would be greatly appreciated!
Ok, ok, a little background. Yes, I read most of that loooooong Coralife thread, but that was a few months ago, and don't really want to spend several hours again.
So, here goes:29 gallon main tank, running for 6 months
40 lbs LR
15ish assorted corals
false perc
6-line wrasse
bicolor psuedochromis (sp?)
lawnmower blennie
most livestock has been in for at least 2 months
15 gallon sump
skimmer sits in my sump, using pump that came with it
pump is 1.5 inches below water line
skimmer return is simply PVC that is about .25" below water line.
Generally feed fish every other day (mysis, sometimes pellets), 'Seavegies' every other day, phyto 2 to 3 times a week.
The skimmer had been pulling a small amount of dark skimmate for 4 to five months, so I was fairly happy with it. In the last two weeks it has started to periodically overflow. Two things have changed with my setup. First, I switched from Kent phytoplankton to DT's about the time this started happening, and use about 1.5 teaspoons every feeding (2 to 3 times a week). Second, I bought a firefish around the time this started happening, but when I got it home I had an emergency I need to leave for, so I could only acclimate for about 20 minutes (no, no QT tank, bash me in another thread if you want to
). Firefish immediately swam into the depths of the LR, never to be seen again. I assume he died (or was killed) back there, and the resulting 'flesh decay' or 'extra food for everyone else in the tank' added to the 'crap' in the water.So, would either of those two occurances account for the skimmer overflowing, or could there possibly be other reasons for this? Any idea's would be greatly appreciated!
