Is my protein skimmer working right?

this might be a dumb question but how do you know if your protein skimmer is working.

like here are some pic's
keep in mind i cleaned it the day before these pic's






is that stuff it is pulling out is that to light???

is the protein skimmer not bubbling enough.

 

The bubbles should rise up toward the bottom of the cone in the middle. Having it that high will be more of a wet skim, which is why it looks clear. Make an adjustment and give it an hour. Results usually aren't for a bit that's why I would wait an hour and check to see the level. Mine is REALLY finicky so hopefully yours isn't as bad.

 

so push it down all the way?.

Edit: nvm

 

it looks like it's pulling skimmate, which is good... I'd say it's doing it's job... is it new? because new skimmers take a few days at least to really break in... you also may not have a whole lot of stuff to skim if it's a new tank....

edit: the only way your skimmate is going to get musch darker is if there is a heavy bioload, and/or you're using something like biopellets...

 

Just turn it down abit. Since you just recently cleaned it will take awhile to rebuild the slim coat on the inside of the cone. HTH

 

thanks everyone and no it is not a new skimmer but you are right i guess i do not have a big bio load

 

From the pic, the water level is way too high up in the cone. Adjust it to come just to the very bottom of the colection cup. The majority of the cone should be filled with frothy foam and then gradually foaming out of the top. This pic may help.

 

Looks much better.

 

ya my cone never looks like that never. is it because my filter and protein skimmer are like in one and my filter and protein skimmer are for tanks 40g to 150g and i only have a 30g?

 

If you just bought it'll have to break in. Another thing is your bioload. More fish you have the more waste the skimmer can pull out.