Protein SKimmer - working or not

[squid row]

My protein skimmer runs but I am not sure I have it set up properly.

If I close the valve so there are foam bubbles falling into the collection cup, it will fill the cup and overflow

If I have the valve open enough so bubbles are not streaming into the collection cup, is the skimmer actually doing anything?

 

[Optionman]

all skimmers take time to "break in". u want foam/skimmate to collect in the cup. eventually the cup will collect a very dark, almost black, liquid. i remove over an inch of black skimmate on a weekly basis.

 

[j.falk]

Post the name of the skimmer you are using. There are different types.

 

[RobZilla04]

Adjust the valve so that the bubble level is just below the top of the neck. Basically right up the level where they won't quite overflow into the collection cup. Leave it at that level for several hours/days and constantly adjust to keep the bubble level at that point. As it breaks in you will see it develop the skimmate.

 

[nereefpat]

You want the bubbles to be breaking somewhere in the bottom of the neck inside the collection cup. How high up will make your skimming more wet or more dry.

 

[Uncle99]

Overflow is usually not good cause the over has to go somewhere.
Under sometimes looks as if is doing nothing but give a week, if still nothing, crank up a notch and let it go for a week. The goal here is to get the darkest, smelliest stuff you can for a once per week dump.
If you get nothing, perhaps your disolved organic compounds are very low.
That would be a good thing.

 

[ROB2005]

What type of skimmer do you have?

 

[Sk8r]

In a new tank there's usually not enough yet to skim very much; but bubbles overflowing is called 'skimming wet,' and is useful only under certain circumstances, like need to get something fixed fast; in general, skim 'dry', and be patient. If by tomorrow you have no skimmate, go wetter but not too wet. Each day, adjust until overnight result shows, well, results. That's 'tuning' your skimmer.

 

[hkgar]

If the skimmer is producing bubbles, it is working. If the bubbles don't get to the top of the neck they will just coat the inside of the neck with thick ugly gunk. I produce about a pint of skimate a week but the neck gets about 1/4 inch thick gunk coating. I could push the water level up so more flows up into the cup.