Skimmer HELP PLEASE!

hey, i just got a red sea prizm protein skimmer. ( i am new to the hobby by the way.) i have my tank cycling now but i am not sure whats wrong with the skimmer. i have a 40 gallon tank and the skimmer is for up to 60 gallons. it fills up the collection cup and overflows within 15 minutes. i dont know why it does that. now i just let it run. with the cap on it leaks in only one place which is over the water so there is no spillage. please help me!

 

Do you have the skimmer hanging off the back of your tank?

J

 

there must be a flow rate valve mine does but its not the same kind as yours

 

Either a flow rate valve or an air flow "knob" or something. A control to either increase or decrease the bubbles. If you have this, I would turn it until it is all the way "off" where no bubbles or air is getting in, and then slowly turn it "on" until you see it start to foam up. Basically you want it almost off. That's what we had to do with out skimmer, works like a charm now. When it ran "wide open" the collection cup filled with water in 15-30 minutes.

 

Ok looking at the Prizm's manual online, there will be a "flow rate" control valve. Close that up and then open it just a tad.

It will take a few days for the skimmer to break in, after that time you will be able to adjust the flow to the optimum level that's best for the tank.

I would actually wait on the skimmer until you are done cycling. By using a protein skimmer, you are getting rid of waste that would eventually convert to nitrate. However, your tank needs this waste at this stage to build up the proper bacteria to convert ammonia into nitrites, then nitrates. The skimmer removes this material before it can break down completely, which will slow down your cycle considerably.

The best time to add a skimmer is after the first 2 or so fish, where enough waste is produced to keep your bacteria alive, but not enough is produced to cause nitrate problems. After adding our skimmer, our nitrates have been at 0 and that algae is dying dying dying.

 

Sorry to tell you this but the prizm skimmer kinda sucks i learned the hard way. But anyways you have to slow your flow down, close the valve on top more if you close it to much it will loose its prime and then you will have to reprime it. If your tank water an dskimmer is new its going to take a while for the skimmer to break in. I am new to the hobby also its so much fun after working 11 hours a day i cant wait to come home and look at the tank. All i can say is research everything and ask peolpe on this sight there is some very very smart people on here. Good luck

 

+1 on adjusting flow, sounds like your skimmer is running VERY wet. I'm not a skimmer pro, maybe some of the more equipment savvy guys will chime in.

 

okay! i was thinking i shouldnt have run the skimmer yet anyway. i lowered the water level incase it was too high ( which it was) because it was at the very top. i emptied out the skimmer but now it wont start again. it just stirs the water inside it. whats wrong now!? haha.

 

you have to re prime it take the hose off the collection cup hold your finger over the small hose open the valve all the way open till the water flows again then hook the hose back up to the cup and close the flow valve so the water just flows through its going to take sometime to get it set rite.Good luck

 

some times skimmers over react when first used. On the one that I bought I had to adjust the flow way down and also cover up the intake with some thing for a day. Some products you use will cause the skimmer to over react too. Read the lables and they should say: suspend skimming while useing this product. I know when I feed a product called coral frienzy it cause my skimmer to over react. What ever you do don't empty cup back into tank(that will just put the bad stuff back in) even when skimmer over reacted. Good luck