protein skimmer help

tannerc407 · 01/19/2017, 04:51 PM

hi this is my first post so I hope someone can help.
i set up my first saltwater tank a week ago,
it is a fluval evo 13.5 gallon here are my actions so far followed by my problem.
day 1 added live rock and bio spira
day 2 addes 3 hermits and 2 snails and more bio spira
day 3 added a clown fish and citron goby along with more bio spira
day 4 added a serpent star and condy anemone along with more bio spira
on day 4 the fluval ps2 protein skimmer arrived and i installed it.
i have tested all parameters which come back 0 obviously cause its only 7 days old.

my problem is i know plenty about fresh water aquariums but protein skimmers are not involved so i have no knowledge and as of now after 4 days there is still no foam being produced by it even after adjusting it in every way possible, any ideas whether its something im doing wrong? maybe its defective? or is there just nothing to skim?

-again any help is deeply appreciated.

slief · 01/19/2017, 04:59 PM

You need dissolved organics in the water for proper foam fractioning to occur. Also, it can take up to a week or a skimmer to break in. I think the combination of there not being any dissolved organics in a new system as well as the skimmer not being broken in is why your skimmer isn't making foam.

That said, I would slow down. Adding fish and inverts to a system so new that hasn't even cycled is asking for issues. Nothing good comes fast in this hobby. I waited 6 weeks before adding my first fish to a newly setup 100 gallon display at my house and that was a system that was moved from one place to the next. It's best to be patient and allow the tank to cycle and settle down before adding livestock unless you don't mind spending money on things that are less likely to survive.

ericarenee · 01/19/2017, 04:59 PM

The skimmer removed waste from the tank.. a 7 day old non cycled tank would likely have very little for a skimmer to pick up. I would suggest running the skimmer wide open until it starts to get dirty .. I cant comment on adjusting that skimmer i have never used it..

I However ask you to please slow down.. I to came from Tropical tanks long ago and i would not even stock a Tropical tank as you have with this one.

I SUGGEST PLEASE PLEASE Read the stickie threads and the current threads recently in the New forum area...
You are moving way too fast

Welcome to Reef Central

ericarenee · 01/19/2017, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

You need dissolved organics in the water for proper foam fractioning to occur. Also, it can take up to a week or a skimmer to break in. I think the combination of there not being any dissolved organics in a new system as well as the skimmer not being broken in is why your skimmer isn't making foam.

That said, I would slow down. Adding fish and inverts to a system so new that hasn't even cycled is asking for issues. Nothing good comes fast in this hobby. I waited 6 weeks before adding my first fish to a newly setup 100 gallon display at my house and that was a system that was moved from one place to the next. It's best to be patient and allow the tank to cycle and settle down before adding livestock unless you don't mind spending money on things that are less likely to survive.

I was typing that first..

tannerc407 · 01/19/2017, 05:15 PM

awesome thanks for your help!! the aquarium is in my classroom i am a ecology/ aquatic ecosystem professor at valencia college (idk why i feel so proud it's basically a community college) and work for Florida fwc as for freshwater tanks u can add everything day one if u plan on a lot of maintenance for the first month, as for my new saltwater i did do a lot of planning and research before starting on this endeavor, some people on here may very well hate me for this but i am aware the inverts i bought may not make it, however after buy a substantial amount of products meant to instantly cycle a tank i wasn't to worried.

in short im quite aware of the "biology" of a reef aquarium and its needs i was just wondering if i should worry about the skimmer.

i appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me and your awesome response time!!!!

01/19/2017, 04:51 PM	#1
tannerc407 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: orlando fl Posts: 10	protein skimmer help hi this is my first post so I hope someone can help. i set up my first saltwater tank a week ago, it is a fluval evo 13.5 gallon here are my actions so far followed by my problem. day 1 added live rock and bio spira day 2 addes 3 hermits and 2 snails and more bio spira day 3 added a clown fish and citron goby along with more bio spira day 4 added a serpent star and condy anemone along with more bio spira on day 4 the fluval ps2 protein skimmer arrived and i installed it. i have tested all parameters which come back 0 obviously cause its only 7 days old. my problem is i know plenty about fresh water aquariums but protein skimmers are not involved so i have no knowledge and as of now after 4 days there is still no foam being produced by it even after adjusting it in every way possible, any ideas whether its something im doing wrong? maybe its defective? or is there just nothing to skim? -again any help is deeply appreciated.

01/19/2017, 04:59 PM	#2
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	You need dissolved organics in the water for proper foam fractioning to occur. Also, it can take up to a week or a skimmer to break in. I think the combination of there not being any dissolved organics in a new system as well as the skimmer not being broken in is why your skimmer isn't making foam. That said, I would slow down. Adding fish and inverts to a system so new that hasn't even cycled is asking for issues. Nothing good comes fast in this hobby. I waited 6 weeks before adding my first fish to a newly setup 100 gallon display at my house and that was a system that was moved from one place to the next. It's best to be patient and allow the tank to cycle and settle down before adding livestock unless you don't mind spending money on things that are less likely to survive. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

01/19/2017, 04:59 PM	#3
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	The skimmer removed waste from the tank.. a 7 day old non cycled tank would likely have very little for a skimmer to pick up. I would suggest running the skimmer wide open until it starts to get dirty .. I cant comment on adjusting that skimmer i have never used it.. I However ask you to please slow down.. I to came from Tropical tanks long ago and i would not even stock a Tropical tank as you have with this one. I SUGGEST PLEASE PLEASE Read the stickie threads and the current threads recently in the New forum area... You are moving way too fast Welcome to Reef Central __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

01/19/2017, 05:15 PM	#5
tannerc407 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: orlando fl Posts: 10	awesome thanks for your help!! the aquarium is in my classroom i am a ecology/ aquatic ecosystem professor at valencia college (idk why i feel so proud it's basically a community college) and work for Florida fwc as for freshwater tanks u can add everything day one if u plan on a lot of maintenance for the first month, as for my new saltwater i did do a lot of planning and research before starting on this endeavor, some people on here may very well hate me for this but i am aware the inverts i bought may not make it, however after buy a substantial amount of products meant to instantly cycle a tank i wasn't to worried. in short im quite aware of the "biology" of a reef aquarium and its needs i was just wondering if i should worry about the skimmer. i appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me and your awesome response time!!!!