Is My Skimmer Set Up Correctly?

[Darth_Tater]

So I'm not exactly new to the hobby but have a newbie question. My nitrates are up around 10 PPM and I've got Xenia and algae declining in a tank with no light, but I don't really have much going on with my skimmer. It's an Eshopps, I don't remember which model, but one with the Sicce pump. This is all it's produced in about a week:

I have the water level of the sump sitting about an inch above the bubble chamber and right above the output pipe:

When it's running I have it adjusted so that the foam starts about half way up the collection cup, and I still only collect this much in a week. I just cleaned the whole skimmer thoroughly in vinegar about a month ago.

Oh, and if it makes a difference there is tons of sand flying around in the water column (thank you pesky clownfish...). Any tips?

 

[billdogg]

That looks about right to me. Your skimmer can only pull out any excess organics in the tank. With such a low bioload I wouldn't be expecting too much.

 

[Darth_Tater]

Ok. Normally I think the same thing. I just thought with nitrates being detectable for the first time since I started the tank and lots of Xenia and algae dissolving it would be pulling a lot more out. Guess I'll just keep an eye on nitrates and prepare for water changes!


Thanks!

 

[homer1475]

Your skimmer will not skim out nitrates, per se'. What it does do, is skim out the stuff before it breaks down into nitrates