Skimmer overskimming? I need advise.

SahuaritaMike · 09/09/2006, 11:34 AM

Ok here we go I have a 50gal tank that has been up and running for about 5 months or so. I have a aquaclear 110 that I set up as a refugium and a fluval 305(more for flow than filtering) an aquaclear 50 powerhead, 50lbs of LR, 80lbs of LS 5 fish lots of zoas, shrooms, xenia, frogspawn and rics.

Question is I bought a aqua c remora about 3 weeks ago and it has been working great cup gets half full about every 6 days. Problem is that ever since I have used the skimmer the fish have been inactive and most of my corals haven't been opening all the way. So as a test I stoped runnig the skimmer for a day and the fish started becoming more active and my corals seemed to enjoy it more (except my frogspawn) then I hooked up the skimmer again and same thing happened with the fish and corals.

Is it possible that the skimmer is removing too much beneficial nutrients and so forth? Any advise would help thanks.

Michael

sir_dudeguy · 09/09/2006, 12:17 PM

no the skimmer wouldnt be taking any beneficial nutrients, especially bacteria if thats wht you meant.

My guess is that they dont like the pump? maybe you could test for stray voltage? Tho i dont think that would make the fish less active..i think it makes them go crazy.

But this is very strange..i too run a remora on my 55 and i've never had any problems like that. Maybe they're just not used to it yet?

ahenson · 09/10/2006, 06:48 AM

Maybe the pump is noisy. I have a seio and it's loud and my fish hide when it's on. Mine probable needs a vinegar bath

SahuaritaMike · 09/10/2006, 08:30 AM

what type of vinegar to use? will this help the pump "break in" or something.

sir_dudeguy · 09/10/2006, 08:42 AM

no it will help clean the pump tho. I'm thinking its just white vinegar, but dont take my word for that one. I've never used it myself, so i'll wait for someone esle to help on that one.

ahenson · 09/10/2006, 08:44 AM

The vinegar cleans calcium deposits. Just buy the gallon of white distilled, cheaper the better. Run the pump in it for routine maintenance. If the pump is quiet this is not your problem. Is this new or did you buy it used?
As for cleaning I run them in bleach then vinegar. Bleach gets the organics and vinegar the calcium deposits

ahenson · 09/10/2006, 08:46 AM

I just put it in a 5g bucket and let it run for a while with bleach and water, then I drain and rinse and run in vinegar and water, you can clean all your pumps, powerheads that way, just rinse them good.

SahuaritaMike · 09/10/2006, 09:43 AM

right on thanks guys. How would I check for stray voltage? Should I just buy a grounding probe?

sir_dudeguy · 09/10/2006, 09:48 AM

theres some sort of probe that you can test for. But i dont know if thats whats causing it. That was just one idea that i had so i figured i'd throw it in there.

09/09/2006, 11:34 AM	#1
SahuaritaMike RC Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tucson Posts: 614	Skimmer overskimming? I need advise. Ok here we go I have a 50gal tank that has been up and running for about 5 months or so. I have a aquaclear 110 that I set up as a refugium and a fluval 305(more for flow than filtering) an aquaclear 50 powerhead, 50lbs of LR, 80lbs of LS 5 fish lots of zoas, shrooms, xenia, frogspawn and rics. Question is I bought a aqua c remora about 3 weeks ago and it has been working great cup gets half full about every 6 days. Problem is that ever since I have used the skimmer the fish have been inactive and most of my corals haven't been opening all the way. So as a test I stoped runnig the skimmer for a day and the fish started becoming more active and my corals seemed to enjoy it more (except my frogspawn) then I hooked up the skimmer again and same thing happened with the fish and corals. Is it possible that the skimmer is removing too much beneficial nutrients and so forth? Any advise would help thanks. Michael

09/09/2006, 12:17 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	no the skimmer wouldnt be taking any beneficial nutrients, especially bacteria if thats wht you meant. My guess is that they dont like the pump? maybe you could test for stray voltage? Tho i dont think that would make the fish less active..i think it makes them go crazy. But this is very strange..i too run a remora on my 55 and i've never had any problems like that. Maybe they're just not used to it yet? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/10/2006, 08:30 AM	#4
SahuaritaMike RC Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tucson Posts: 614	what type of vinegar to use? will this help the pump "break in" or something. __________________ Current Tank Info: about 3000 gallons :)

09/10/2006, 08:42 AM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	no it will help clean the pump tho. I'm thinking its just white vinegar, but dont take my word for that one. I've never used it myself, so i'll wait for someone esle to help on that one. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/10/2006, 09:43 AM	#8
SahuaritaMike RC Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tucson Posts: 614	right on thanks guys. How would I check for stray voltage? Should I just buy a grounding probe? __________________ Current Tank Info: about 3000 gallons :)

09/10/2006, 06:48 AM	#3
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	Maybe the pump is noisy. I have a seio and it's loud and my fish hide when it's on. Mine probable needs a vinegar bath

09/10/2006, 08:44 AM	#6
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	The vinegar cleans calcium deposits. Just buy the gallon of white distilled, cheaper the better. Run the pump in it for routine maintenance. If the pump is quiet this is not your problem. Is this new or did you buy it used? As for cleaning I run them in bleach then vinegar. Bleach gets the organics and vinegar the calcium deposits

09/10/2006, 08:46 AM	#7
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	I just put it in a 5g bucket and let it run for a while with bleach and water, then I drain and rinse and run in vinegar and water, you can clean all your pumps, powerheads that way, just rinse them good.

09/10/2006, 09:48 AM	#9
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	theres some sort of probe that you can test for. But i dont know if thats whats causing it. That was just one idea that i had so i figured i'd throw it in there. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!