Skimmer not skimming

Hello,

I have been away for a while, my last reef tank was boiled alive because I failed to replace my stealth heater : (; however, I have completely rebuilt and ready to go. My skimmer (best choices aquarium products) modified (I basically made my own skimmer by buying 3 of these and using all the parts I needed to build one) is not skimming. This is the same HOB skimmer I had on my tank last time and it was working fine. I did modify a few things from last time though:

1. I added a mag drive 7 pump for the intake with a kent marine venturi
2. the pump sits on the bottom of the lank instead of right under the water line.

The skimmer produces millions of micro bubbles and a white froth at the top but never bubbles over into the cup. Right now all I can do is skim wet. The tank cycled for 2 months and I know there should be skimmate because I used previously live rock to cycle and it took 2 months to cycle. Anyone that can help?

 

Sound like it just needs to break in again and get a slime buildup on the chamber neck and collection cup parts.

 

If the tank is freshly cycled and you've yet to add livestock, there's a good chance there isn't anything left to skim out. Skimmers pull out DOCs before they break down into Ammonia. When the cycle is complete, there are no more DOCs until you start feeding something.

 

Doc?

 

What if I never start feeding anything? I don't really plan to have fish as they make a mess and my tank is a starboard BB. I had the skimmer running 24/7 when cycling too and never got any skimmate. What about pump position, does that have anything to do with the skimmate production?

 

doc= dissolved organic compounds.. I would agree that there is nothing to skim or the organic level is not high enough to form a good head of foam.

 

With or without fish, you will still need to feed. Corals cannot live on photosynthesis alone. Most absorb DOCs from the water, and many also feed on particulate matter (plankton, mysis, krill... all depending on the species). Corals can thrive on the detritus generated where fish are involved, but even then, most folks still target them occasionally.

I'm not familiar with that pump or venturi- If your tank is very deep, it might be possible that it can't draw enough air. The only way to know for certain is to raise it up to the normal position.

 

Its a 4o breeder, not very deep. The pump is 700 gph and is pumping up about 12". I guess I'll just wait. Thanks for the reply's

 

If it's making good bubbles, when soluble proteins are present, it will make bigger bubbles and 'skim' over into the cup- ideally.

Ya got bubbles? I agree with the wait and see

All good advice previously