nano skimmer not skimming much

[lakwriter]

Last week, I installed a 9002 nano skimmer that I bought used (for approx. 1 yr). Hooked it up, water level is just under 8" deep. I started with the air screw almost closed and then gradually began to open it up. After a week of operation, I was getting skimmate about the color of green tea, but not much. In doing my water tests, I'm getting a reading that my nitrates are 10 ppm. So I opened the screw up a little more (not even a quarter turn). Still very light colored skimmate.

Do you think its still breaking in?

 

[lakwriter]

Another concern...is my skimmer skimming out my salt? I cannot seem to keep my sg above 1.021. I've added about 1/4 cup of salt over the course of the past few days, and the sg just won't budge. Could the skimmer be skimmer out the salt?

Yes, I am mixing the IO with a little RO water first, but not enough that it would be equal to the tank water.

 

[macawdad2003]

Could just be breaking in. Could still need to be dialed in correctly. That can take a few days of patience I found the 9002 to do am awesome job in my 30G. Keep working with it. I am sure you'll get it to perform the way you are hoping.

I do not think it would be possible for the skimmer to skim the salt out of the tank. How are you testing the SG? If you are using a hydrometer you are probably getting false readings. I would suggest testing it using a refractometer. If you are adding salt to the water and your SG is not increasing it is probably a faulty testing device.

If you don't have a refractometer yet I would suggest adding one to your arsenal. In the mean time maybe take a sample of the water to your LFS and let them test the SG.

My new 9005 was skimming like a banshee for the first few weeks. Now that the tank is allot more stable the skimmate has really gotten much weaker. Still if all parameters are okay, then all is well

 

[lakwriter]

I am using a refractometer. Prior to adding the skimmer, I was able to keep the sg at 1.024 and the refracto was able to measure differences in sg (i.e. tank water vs. change water).

 

[macawdad2003]

Hmm.. that is very odd.. Sorry I could not be of much help on this one.. . Maybe someone else has some insight?

 

[rvitko]

Skimmers do remove some salt but keep in mind it takes 1cup of salt to raise 2.5gals to an SG of 1.020. It really takes a lot of salt. I don't think it is possible for a skimmer to remove so much salt the SG drops but yes, there will be salt in skimmate.

Skimmate the color of tea sounds about normal and a skimmer does not remove nitrates, it removes waste before it breaks down into nitrates but normally nitrates will still acumulate and what is there cannot be removed by the skimmer. The skimmer slows the accumulation to an acceptable rate that small water changes and resin media can effectively deal with.

 

[lakwriter]

Thanks for the help, Roger, I was mistaken in my understanding of the operation. I appreciate the clarification and I will continue with my water change schedule.

as an aside, today I got the darkest skimmate since I've had it set up. I'm thinking its finally breaking in.

I'll keep an eye on the sg and up my sg in the next water change batch.

Thanks again!