New skimmer smells can I run it part time?

[wrightdawg]

Hi everyone. I have just set up a Reefer 350 and started to cycle the tank with Red Sea mature pro. The 21 day system says you need a skimmer so I bought a Red Octopus classic 150 internal.

I've been running it for a few days and it smells like a musty sweaty sock. My wife is not pleased to say the least. Is this normal and will it fade or do I need to consider some sort of masking agent to cover the smell? It is definitely the skimmer as smelling it up close makes it obvious.

When I turn the skimmer off the smell fades a bit. Could I run it part time when we are away from home at work and turn off when we get back? What about carbon at the top ring of skimmer? Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[JUNBUG361]

The smell is from you cycle stage, it would go away after the cycle period. It wouldn't matter if you turn off your skimmer. Let the skimmer run for the break in period.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

The smell should get better after Cycle. The only time I can smell mine at all is when I'm emptying the collection cup.

If you still smell it after your tank is cycled, you could always rig up some sort of GAC to filter the air coming from the holes in the top of the collection cup, but I don't know how easy this would be to do or how well it would work. I'd just reassure your wife that the smell will get better soon on it's own.

 

[cincyjim]

I placed a carbon pad (cut to fit) on top of my skimmer to collect the odor and it worked awesome. Just a thought.

 

[wrightdawg]

Okay thanks for the replies. I will wait it out until tank is cycled. Jim a question on the carbon - do you place it around the collection cup in a circle or literally on top of the skimmer lid?

 

[homer1475]

He uses a carbon PAD. Not the granulated carbon.

 

[cincyjim]

Yes it was a pad. Bought them from Amazon and then cut to size for the skimmer lid. I just laid it on top of the lid and no more odors.

 

[wrightdawg]

Okay excellent, thanks for the information I will get one of these right away. One more question on carbon, is it a bad idea to stick some in the sump during cycling? Or at all? What is the feeling on adding this to your tanks?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

I run a bag of GAC in my tank. I don't see any issue with running it during your cycle if you'd like, but It wouldn't make the cycle any faster or anything like that. I'm not familiar with the carbon pads. I'd just make sure it's not going to release any bits of carbon into your display.