Skimmer question

[deaclauderdale]

I currently have a AquaMaxx ConeS Q-3 skimmer. Twice now the foam head has collapsed without any reason that I can figure out, and it then takes a couple of days to re-establish itself. Water level is 8 inches, and I only added a couple of corals and 3 fish a few days ago (skimmer functioned properly after additions).

Any idea on why it’s happening?

 

[joseserrano]

Hard to pinpoint with a new tank. I wouldn’t blame the skimmer though quite a simple device. It’s definitely something in the water that Is causing this.

 

[deaclauderdale]

Figured as much. Maybe there’s just not enough to skim all the time. Not feeding much and murk and hung from adding sand has settled. I’ll keep an eye on when I feed or add something new to see if that’s what’s effecting things.

 

[Emac909]

1. My question is why are to running the skimmer?

New system right!

2. Any live stock?

Most likely the head is collapsing because there’s nothing it the water to stick to the micro bubbles. There for how will the head sustain its self.

When I set my 150 up a few years back I left the skimmer off. The reason being is I wanted to water to get dirty as possible. So that the bacterias will reproduce faster and colonize the rocks.

I also bumped up the heat to 82. Sense I did a fishless cycle I had no reason to keep the temp lower. So look at it like this. Say you have a steak and you forget about it in the frig. Over a few weeks the meat will go bad yes but eventually molds and bacterias will eventually start the break down the meat. But if you leave that steak outside on a warm day that process will happen way faster then it did in the refrigerator.

 

[deaclauderdale]

Yes a new system run on a fishless cycle but I do now have 3 fish and a few corals now that the cycle has been completed (need to update my build thread). Initially the skimmer was off, but I began running it because of the sand dust from the live sand I added to the system

 

[Emac909]

Just remember the phases of a tank. There is a ugly phase.

But yea there’s no way your system has the bio load to hold a head on that large of a skimmer.

 

[deaclauderdale]

Just remember the phases of a tank. There is a ugly phase.

But yea there’s no way your system has the bio load to hold a head on that large of a skimmer.

Yep I’m looking forward to it.