Lilbitreefer
New member
scopas tang
Protein skimmer proper use
- Thread starter Lilbitreefer
- Start date
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
Skimmers need a bio load to work, 1 tang will not cut it.
This is the same reason many people have problems with a skimmer too big for their tank.
Unless there is enough food, fish poop, & other stuff in the water there is nothing to remove, or they work for a while & stop producing.
This is the same reason many people have problems with a skimmer too big for their tank.
Unless there is enough food, fish poop, & other stuff in the water there is nothing to remove, or they work for a while & stop producing.
Lilbitreefer
New member
I am trying to be slow in adding fish because the tank has only been up a total of two weeks. I am following the direct for the red sea and it says to add fish this early.
champion6sigma
New member
Vinny nailed it. That's why I asked about bioload . Surprised no one else did. U won't need to run your skimmer full time right now. There's nothing in water to skim constantly. Follow the directions from red Sea or trusted advisors but no need to worry about skimmate in skimmer right now. When u have multiple fish and feeding more daily you will see a difference in skimming
Lilbitreefer
New member
I figured as much my by nitrates are really high I just assumed it was because the skimmer was not able to remove junk before it became a nitrate.
leviburns89
New member
Also, in addition to what's been stated, most skimmer take a bit of time to "break in". Some people say it takes a week or two for it to properly skim
Lilbitreefer
New member
yeah I know it has been up and running for two weeks now. and I was getting some good looking skim the other day it is just being weird.
leviburns89
New member
Well, then I would chalk it up to what everyone else said, not enough bioload.
If you do have enough bioload, and everything else is in check, perhaps you may want to consider getting a different skimmer, or changing brands.
This hobby has a lot of "process of elimination" involved in it. If you've met all the above requirements, replacing the skimmer itself may be the only variable left to play with
If you do have enough bioload, and everything else is in check, perhaps you may want to consider getting a different skimmer, or changing brands.
This hobby has a lot of "process of elimination" involved in it. If you've met all the above requirements, replacing the skimmer itself may be the only variable left to play with
Lilbitreefer
New member
Nah I appreciate it I I think it is just new skimmer condition that is all. I appreciate all your help. I just hate how there is very little solid facts out there except personal experiences which makes it frustrating as well because being new to the hobby you worry so much about messing something up or doing it wrong. you guys are the experts I just wanted to make sure I was doing everything right.
champion6sigma
New member
Read the stickies in the forum. Very helpful. Also consider watching the bulk reef supply youtube weekly series. Start at beginning. If you can do both of those things and take things slow you will be ahead of the curve ! Good luck
leviburns89
New member
I also highly recommend watching BRS Vids. I know Ryan, we shop at the same LFS. Everything he says is unbiased, and includes almost every variable you can encounter. They are extremely thorough.
You appear to be doing everything correctly, I follow you build thread, and if something seemed out of whack, I would have mentioned it by now.
I'm no expert, but I spend about 2 hours every day reading on reefing, and learning. So book smart has to account for something lol.
Lilbitreefer
New member
Thanks. That is pretty cool you know him. This tank has basically been built from the BRS site. Only thing that did not come from there was the tank and stand.
