protein skimmer on a new tank

[kravi]

So I'm cycling my tank now. I've got about 30lbs of live rock on a 30 gallon tank (FOWL for the time being). It is Fiji rock

I've got two 55 watt compatc flourescents (50-50s).

About 1" bed of aragonite sand (coarse). The rock was placed before the sand for stability reasons

A supersized Nautilus/Nautica (something like that) protein skimmer (I'm at work, so can't check) which is rated for a 120 gallon tank.

a 10 gallon sump

I'm sure there is more stuff I should list, but i'm half dead from sleep dep, so I can't think of it right now.

Okay. So my question (finally).

My protein skimmer is not using a venturi effect (it can, though) but it's recommended setup which has a plastic air sucking device that connects between the pump and the tube (rather than the venture device that connects between the tube and the skimmer).

Anyway, it seems like it's working. The skimmer is filled iwth white water (micro bubbles). But I'm not getting much, if any, foam coming out of the top of the skimmer. Perhaps because live rock wasn't that alive (it came pre-cured).

Also, as an aside, the cycle time finished within two weeks.

So my question is, is my skimmer working properly? My friend, who raises clams, said that when I start increasing the bio load (by actually putting living creatures in the tank) I'll get the foam at the top and need to adjust the arm to keep the cup from filling up to fast (it is currently at the "highest" setting).

I've known him since I was 14 and so I naturally don't trust him on this (even though he has myriad tanks and lots of success/experience with salt water aquariums. Sadly, he is several States away right now, so he cna't actually LOOK at the setup I have.

Thanks, and sorry about the rambling. Lack of sleep plus a desire to explain things lead to a far to long post.

--kravi

 

[IslandCrow]

Did you get the rock "pre-cured". If there's nothing decomposing in the tank, I don't think you get much if any skim. I cured about 15 lbs of rock in my tank when I first set it up, and I still didn't get very much skim. If your rock wasn't cured, I would think you'd be pulling stuff out of the water with the skimmer, but I guess your tank would still be cycling as well.

Anyway, that's just my guess.

 

[kravi]

Yeah, it came pre-cured.

When I got hte rock, I did hte "soak in fresh water for 60 seconds" approach, and got 0 lifeforms squirming out.

--kravi

 

[kravi]

/bump

In case people are wondering why I'm bumping, it's because I'm still trying to figure out how to tell if my skimmer is working properly when I don't have the bio-mass (as far as I'm aware) to see the foam.

--kravi

P.S. And any other feedback on my tank is welcome, of course...

 

[Dert42]

i think it is working properly, there is just nothing to skim yet.
i wouldn't worry about it until you have fish in there for a day or two.
that was my experience.

 

[sttroyiii]

Even if the rock came cured, there will still be some die-off during shipping unless it came shipped in water. Whether it is cured, or un-cured, it is still considered 'live'. If you buy rock that is already dry, has no color, and has been dry for a while, then it is considered 'dead' or may be considered base rock but sometimes base rock is live as well if it has been wet. Moving on, since the rock is indeed 'live' there will be some die off as the rock acclimates to your tank. So yes, your skimmer would normally be collecting skimmate. I say normally, because if all of this is a new setup, I dont think the skimmer has had time to break in. I believe 72 hours is the usual time suggested for breaking it in. Until that time is up, you will have a hard time producing bubbles, adjusting the levels, and getting any consistancy. Mine started collecting on the second day, but it was inconsistant. I would suggest watching your ammonia levels and make sure they dont get too high. Too high of a spike will kill off a lot of stuff in/on the rock. I didnt have hitch hikers wash off of my rock either, but stuff still appears as if by magic weeks later. If the skimmer isnt broken in yet, you need to do water changes for a few days until it is. You would be doing water changes anyway, but since the skimmer isnt broken in, I would suggest more often. So you have a bioload, although its not much. Live rock and live sand is a bioload. I just dont think you are collecting anything because the skimmer isnt broken in. So, in summary, dont worry about collecting skimmate until those 3 days are up.

 

[kravi]

Aaaah, something I forgot to mention. The tank has been cycling for about a week already, the amonia is gone (thought I still have a little bit of nitrites left).

There is some residue in the cup, but I actually never got to see it foaming. It looks like I foamed for a little bit, but probably only when I was alseep.

--kravi

 

[AngeloM3]

you shouldnt skim while cycling.... there really isnt much to skim until you put livestock in there... i have Aqua C remora... didnt start getting good skimmate until a month after livestock was introduced

 

[kravi]

Aaaah. Thanks for the heads up.

I assume that skimming during cycling won't hurt anything (even if it is useless)?

--kravi