RSM 130 original

ewnzll · 11/05/2012, 07:31 PM

Well. I'm not "new" to the hobby. But I did shut off the hobby about 7 years ago. Had a few kids and now that I can re afford the hobby I'm back. Yet clues less again. I have an original rsm 130. Bought off cl new in box. It's great. I set it up about a month ago. Bought 25 lbs dry rock and 5 lbs live. Due to the recent hurricane my shipping was pushed off on the live rock. I just threw it in today. The skimmer still isn't picking up anything. The bubbles barely reach the base of the skimmer cylinder. Not sure what to do. Nitrate levels aren't insane but about 10ppm. Everything else at 0. No livestock introduced yet. As far as I see fit, I still have at least another 3-4 weeks before tossing in a decent cuc. I think I'm just talking to talk. The skimmer is bothering me. With live rock being shipped for over 10 days. There was a lot of die off and I'm sure I should be skimming something by now. It's been 5 hours. Air valve fully open. Maybe I'm just insane. But. Any ideas?

thegrun · 11/05/2012, 10:07 PM

Skimmers usually take between 2 and 7 days to break in, give it some time. You may need to add additional nutrients like a dead raw shrimp, a daily pinch of flake fish food or a 1/4 teaspoon of pure ammonia to kick start the cycle.

ewnzll · 11/06/2012, 09:14 AM

Like I said. It's been several years. I've never had an issue with a tank cycling itself before. Thanks for the info. Ill give it a few days and post back.

ewnzll · 11/09/2012, 12:44 AM

I waited a bit, nothing happened, all my levels were good. I didn't like it, it seemed "fishy". So I tossed in a chunk of raw shrimp. My live rock finally showed up, almost dead. I threw it in anyway. Bought a 5lb cured lr at my lfs, and everything started cycling. Skimmer working overtime now. Today, my lr shipper surprised me with yet another 10lb shipment of lr to replace the almost dead 5 lb shipment received earlier.
I tossed it in the tank, but can't keep it in. I now have approx 40 to 45lbs of rock for this tank. Way too much. I guess I'll have to grab a 10g and make the kids a tank too.
Anyway, amonia levels have spiked, nitrite levels on the rise, and nitrate starting to show. Skimmer functioning normally now. So now I wait. Thanks for the help.

11/05/2012, 07:31 PM	#1
ewnzll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 9	RSM 130 original Well. I'm not "new" to the hobby. But I did shut off the hobby about 7 years ago. Had a few kids and now that I can re afford the hobby I'm back. Yet clues less again. I have an original rsm 130. Bought off cl new in box. It's great. I set it up about a month ago. Bought 25 lbs dry rock and 5 lbs live. Due to the recent hurricane my shipping was pushed off on the live rock. I just threw it in today. The skimmer still isn't picking up anything. The bubbles barely reach the base of the skimmer cylinder. Not sure what to do. Nitrate levels aren't insane but about 10ppm. Everything else at 0. No livestock introduced yet. As far as I see fit, I still have at least another 3-4 weeks before tossing in a decent cuc. I think I'm just talking to talk. The skimmer is bothering me. With live rock being shipped for over 10 days. There was a lot of die off and I'm sure I should be skimming something by now. It's been 5 hours. Air valve fully open. Maybe I'm just insane. But. Any ideas?

11/06/2012, 09:14 AM	#3
ewnzll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 9	Thanks Like I said. It's been several years. I've never had an issue with a tank cycling itself before. Thanks for the info. Ill give it a few days and post back.

11/05/2012, 10:07 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Skimmers usually take between 2 and 7 days to break in, give it some time. You may need to add additional nutrients like a dead raw shrimp, a daily pinch of flake fish food or a 1/4 teaspoon of pure ammonia to kick start the cycle.

11/09/2012, 12:44 AM	#4
ewnzll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 9	I waited a bit, nothing happened, all my levels were good. I didn't like it, it seemed "fishy". So I tossed in a chunk of raw shrimp. My live rock finally showed up, almost dead. I threw it in anyway. Bought a 5lb cured lr at my lfs, and everything started cycling. Skimmer working overtime now. Today, my lr shipper surprised me with yet another 10lb shipment of lr to replace the almost dead 5 lb shipment received earlier. I tossed it in the tank, but can't keep it in. I now have approx 40 to 45lbs of rock for this tank. Way too much. I guess I'll have to grab a 10g and make the kids a tank too. Anyway, amonia levels have spiked, nitrite levels on the rise, and nitrate starting to show. Skimmer functioning normally now. So now I wait. Thanks for the help.