Protein Skimmer question

[ChunksInClemson]

I'm almost done setting up the sump. I turned on the skimmer although the tank and sump are not connected yet and it produced bubbles for about 30 minutes and then stopped. Does this mean it cleaned all the water and didnt have anymore to clean? It was still spitting out water, just no bubbles.

Thanks!

 

[FloatingFish]

It should always put out bubbles. Make sure that the air line end that feeds the pump is out of the water.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

yeah, it is.

 

[bertoni]

Do you mean there aren't any bubbles overflowing into the collection cup or do you mean that the skimmer isn't injecting air at all anymore? If it's the latter, something's very wrong. What kind of skimmer do you have?

 

[mg426]

Bubbles in the tank ? Or do you mean bubbles/foam in the body of the skimmer?

 

[ChunksInClemson]

There aren't any bubbles coming into the overflow cup. The cylinder is white (obviously working). This is a Berlin Turbo skimmer. I just took the pump apart and cleaned it. Im thinking there might be something wrong with the air tube but i can feel it sucking but it does sound like there is water in the tube.

Should I just leave it running overnight and let it work itself out. Everything else is going great.

Let me know what yall think!!!!

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Nobody???? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Fmellish]

My skimmer took about two weeks to break in.

 

[bertoni]

Well, if the skimmer is pumping air, then I wouldn't worry. There might not be much that the skimmer can take out right now.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Betoni, right when I turned it on for the first time, it produced bubbles in the collection cup for about 30 minutes. After that, nothing. It can't be anything to bad, b/c it was working earlier and the main tube is working. If there are no bubbles in the cup, then its not skimming though right?

 

[pitt_prodigy]

Your skimmer is still in the break in period..... have patience and it will take off on its own. Most skimmers come with factory oils and residues on them that take a while to wear off before the skimmer really starts to produce. Some people prevent this by cleaning with hot water and vinegar and some just wait for it to happen on its own.

If you dont have anything in the tank dont expect to see much skim. Without a source of waste the skimmer WONT pull anything out. As long as the cyclinder is white with bubbles and you have it dialed in right (bubbles about half way up the collection cup tube) you'll be fine.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

The Skimmer is used. But it had been sitting for about a month in water without being used. I'm pretty sure its fine. The tank is 2 weeks old and only like 5 lbs. of LR. Like I said, I hooked up the skimmer into my sump (keep in mind the sump wasnt hooked up to the tank yet), and it skimmed for 30 minutes (heavy skimming) and then nothing. This could have quit b/c the water in the sump was all skimmed out (cleaned out). Could the water be coming in to fast for it to skim?

I also just read about ppl's skimmers that dont skim for a couple of weeks and then all the sudden pull out some crap. Makes me feel better to know as long as there are bubbles in the cylinder, its fine. I guess I'll have to wait until I get some bioload in there.

Here are some pics of the setup.

 

[old salty]

AAHHHH! The sump isn't hooked to the tank yet. Once you get the plumbing done, it will start to work again. No worries, when I feed my fish or put my hands in the tank, my skimmer stops working for several hours. Once you get the plumbing done, and some LR in the tank, you are gonna be cleaning out your cup daily.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Well, it is hooked up now (and still no bubbles in the collection cup), but I'm pretty sure it just doesnt have anything to clean. The first bubbles I saw was the little bit (2 gallons) of nasty water that I just left in the sump. I guess my water is just too clean.

Thanks guys!!