I need help understanding skimmers...

Hi all,

Have had my skimmer for a while now and need to understand the basics of air to water intake ratio. The skimmer makes a good amount of small bubbles. I get a good amount of fluid in the overflow/cup compartment and sometimes I don't. Was told by a hobbyist that the cup should ALWAYS be filled with waste within 7 days of cleaning it out. SO when I don't, I get worried. Hopefully this makes sense.

 

noone can predict how much waste your tank is going to put out at any given time. what kind of skimmer did you buy,

 

ASM G-1X Protein Skimmer w/ Sedra 3500 Pump

 

does the water level in the sump change where your skimmer is sittin???

 

Skimmers sometimes need to be tuned in. Read the instructions. Thats a great skimer BTW Luna

 

Water level in sump causes change, sometimes the water intake will suck in debris and reduce flow and it's a good ideal to run water through the air intake once in a while to dissolve salt build up where water meets air.

 

My skimmer has gone a week in the past sometimes without producing any skimmate. Then the next week it will fill the cup nearly halfway. I'd say that inconsistencies in the amount of skimmate is nothing to worry about unless it's a permanent condition.