how do i know if my protein skimmer is actually working?

[arlo12]

i've had it for about 2 days and it seems like nothing is being collected into the cup. how long should i wait ? are there signs that will let me know its working? it has a pump attatched to the bottom and an outlet pipe letting water flow out. its in my sump.

 

[Blown 346]

All new skimmers will have abreak in period, and the time it takes for them to do this depends on the skimer itself.
It can take a day or even a week to fully break in.
Maybe you dont have much for the skimmer to skim, if you dont have a bioload there wont be anything for it to skim.

Also the water level in the skimmer has to be at a certain height in the neck of the skimmer for it to skim properly.
I find that almost all skimmers wourk best where the water level is half way up the skimmer neck.

 

[Nanook]

[moved]

 

[peecook]

you get a thick green milk shake

 

[Swanwillow]

mine pukes out green tea... how many bubbles are in the chamber: the part that the pump is pumping water into? it should be thick, so thick ya can barely see through, if you can see through it at all.

what type of skimmer is it? that may help a bit.