bubbles from protein skimmer

[Clownfish Lover]

hi guys,
just need to find out is it normal for tiny bubbles to be accumulated & floating on the surface of the tank, or it's supposed to be in the collection cup of skimmer? I just set up abt 4days ago. THe system is working fine, but no foam collection at all in the cup (it's dry!), however, all bubbles flaoting outside. Is this normal? Must i do anything to counter it? Cheers.

Clownfish lover

[kelstorm]

hi guys,
just need to find out is it normal for tiny bubbles to be accumulated & floating on the surface of the tank, or it's supposed to be in the collection cup of skimmer? I just set up abt 4days ago. THe system is working fine, but no foam collection at all in the cup (it's dry!), however, all bubbles flaoting outside. Is this normal? Must i do anything to counter it? Cheers.
wat skimmer u using? it could be that there is nothing to skim.. which is hardly the case.. if not, u might not have set up the skimmer properly..

[Clownfish Lover]

Hi,
I'm using the Prizm (hangon type) skimmer by Red Sea. As there is no air stone, i wonder how the foam can be created. Thanks.

[ZeRoC00l]

I also usign a prizm.

Just follow the instructions carefully, and everything will be fine.

Make sure you have at least 1" of water in first compartment, water valve fully open <inline with intake tube>, tube connected to the hole nearest the edge. Then on the motor.

Take care in ensuring the rubber seals are proper bedded in their groove, as their tab hard to get in place. loose sealing, or seal not properly installed will cause the skimmer to start leaking.

After the skimmer is fully filled, unplug the hose and plug to the other hole, it will instantly draw lots of air into the skimmer.
<drawing of air is due to the design of the impeller>

next tune the water valve to abt 45 degrees to the intake tube <diffs for every tank>. Set the water level to just below the black rubber seal from the body to the collection cup.

This should also reduce the amot of bubble flowing into your tank. only very little bubbles will get out of the skimmer, but they shouldn't stay after exiting the skimmer.

*** skimmer takes a few days to fully break in. clean the collection cup regularly

[Clownfish Lover]

Hi there,
Thanks for your advise. It's working now. May i also find out how often does the cup fill up? Thanks.

Clownfish lover

[kelstorm]

Hi there,
Thanks for your advise. It's working now. May i also find out how often does the cup fill up? Thanks.

Clownfish lover
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it depends on your tank.. if your tank is very clean.. it can take a week or more to fill up.. if not, u might even have to empty it once every 2 to 3 days...

[Clownfish Lover]

Hi,
Thanks for your input. However, there are currently no fish in my tank. Just rocks. Water is cystal clear. Skimmer working well (no foam in cup yet), but nitirate lvl is rather high (more than 50), ammonia relatively low, PH, abt 8.2. Advise advise, cos keen to get fishes. Which on eis more critical, ammonia or nitrate? Thanks.

[kelstorm]

Thanks for your input. However, there are currently no fish in my tank. Just rocks. Water is cystal clear. Skimmer working well (no foam in cup yet), but nitirate lvl is rather high (more than 50), ammonia relatively low, PH, abt 8.2. Advise advise, cos keen to get fishes. Which on eis more critical, ammonia or nitrate? Thanks.


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are u putting on your skimmer during your cycling period?? my advise is to remove it.. ammonia is more critical than nitrate.. it is poisonous to the fishes.. u should wait till your NH3 and NO2 to be zero before u add any livestock.. give it more time to cycle the tank.. as for fishes.. perhaps u can mention what fishes u like to have before i can advise u again.. like whether are they reef-safe or compatible with other fishes.

[Clownfish Lover]

Hi Kelstorm,
Appreciate ur advise. Currently, the ammonia is almost zero. Only nitrate abit high. Still unsafe to keep fishes huh? Only want to have clownfish in my tank (thus, clownfish lover).
[]

[Spiff]

hey clown

ALMOST, not zero. so i suggest u wait awhile more. check ur no2 olso.

once no2 is zero u can start changing water to reduce the no3. by then u can start to add clownfish liao. but do it slowly!!!jus make sure tt ur no3 is not too high.