2 weeks and still having trouble

It will be two weeks this Wednesday, that my Coralife 125 Super Skimmer has been up and running on my 29g tank. I only have rock, sand, and a fw crabs in the tank, but my nitrates remain high...last week I tested about 20pppm NO3.

While the skimmer appears to have built up the film in the cup(like most skimmer need in order to work properly), I don't get many bubbles at all.

Could this be from a low bioload? I have diatoms all over my rock though, along with my 20ppm NO3. I have only seen a small increase in nitrates since the skimmer was added. I have been doing 10% WC, weekly.

Water reaches the skimmer cup(tube) but does not go into the cup; what does, is only water.



I just opened the valve more, so the water level used to only reach where the dark line is, across the middle tube of the skimmer cup.


FTS as of today...

 

how long is the tube between the pump and the connection?

I made mine only about 3 inches, which seems to work best. The directions called for 8". But I think I get more efficiency this way.

The lack of bioload is probably also a factor. And the nitrates should deplete on their own over time.

 

Clean the throat the grime build up prevents the bubbles from rising up. 2 weeks is early on a new tank and for many skimmers.

 

I will clean it. The pump is in about a foot deep of water. I guess I am just impatient. Thanks for the tips. I will also connect the shorter tube that came with the skimmer. ZThat should help with the water depth.

 

On my 65G i have it about 1-2 inches below the water surface, and IME i found that in my sump is not a good place for them unless you have an ATO unit, it need a really steady water level, so if its on the back of your tank your golden

 

My sump isn't set up yet. haha. I got this for the 75g which isn't set up yet. So I try to top-off daily.

 

When the new tank is set up, I will have a 10g ATO tank.

 

Then you should be alright, just make sure its about 1-2 inches below the water, the pump that is, as someone already said thats the more effective solution.

 

Now that I switched the tube so the tank is 8" under water(rather then 12", before), the pump doesn't seem to be working properly...

It is running, but the water will not go up as high in the skimmer. It is just below the red screw on the neck, when I have the valve on "medium."

 

Give it some time for the bubbles to build up, they are VERY touchy skimmers, you have to turn it slow, walk away for a few mins and then come back to check it and make another adjustment lol it takes forever it seems, but you'll get it eventually