protein skimmer help

powdertang05 · 05/08/2006, 04:05 AM

ok first of all im not that new to reefing so i know that major brands to buy euroreef, ASM, AquaC maybe pacific coast now i have a 40g with a heavy load and now i originally purchased a ASm mini for my 20 long sump but im having a problem my sump is just covered in like alge just pure dirty water crap if you want a pic just ask but my mini is pulling a small amount of it i thinks its because its using a small pump genx1000 that it should be using like a sedra or larger genx pump but my tube is like half full and i empty my cup every 1.5 weeks and thats usually half full with good looking skimate but im worried that the skimmer is not pulling what my tank is needing so i have to change carbon and do water changes much more often but im wanting input on what i should do. now im thinking its that problem because i have a phosban reactor and PO4 is 0 and no alge growth in tank and its like fish poop and just like left overs now i do minimal feeding mon,wed,fri and feed them less then 1 min so its not my feeding and i put my hands in the tank not often 1 every 2 weeks if that now i want to know should i buy a euroreef cs80 or with recirc mod or ASm g1x with recir mod or aquaC 120 or RPS-1000 from pacific coast or what No clue PLZ help.

sorry for long question
thanks in advance!

thanks

jmcmahon66 · 05/09/2006, 08:29 AM

If your sump is "dirty" but your main tank is not, I would shut off the pumps, pull it out, and give it a good cleaning. Then I would adjust the output of the skimmer to produce more skimmate, raise the grey output tube to acheive wetter skimmate and empty the cup every day or two. Also, a bigger protein skimmer never hurts!! If you have the cash a bigger, more stable skimmer would help a lot. HTH

05/08/2006, 04:05 AM	#1
powdertang05 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 613	protein skimmer help ok first of all im not that new to reefing so i know that major brands to buy euroreef, ASM, AquaC maybe pacific coast now i have a 40g with a heavy load and now i originally purchased a ASm mini for my 20 long sump but im having a problem my sump is just covered in like alge just pure dirty water crap if you want a pic just ask but my mini is pulling a small amount of it i thinks its because its using a small pump genx1000 that it should be using like a sedra or larger genx pump but my tube is like half full and i empty my cup every 1.5 weeks and thats usually half full with good looking skimate but im worried that the skimmer is not pulling what my tank is needing so i have to change carbon and do water changes much more often but im wanting input on what i should do. now im thinking its that problem because i have a phosban reactor and PO4 is 0 and no alge growth in tank and its like fish poop and just like left overs now i do minimal feeding mon,wed,fri and feed them less then 1 min so its not my feeding and i put my hands in the tank not often 1 every 2 weeks if that now i want to know should i buy a euroreef cs80 or with recirc mod or ASm g1x with recir mod or aquaC 120 or RPS-1000 from pacific coast or what No clue PLZ help. sorry for long question thanks in advance! thanks

05/09/2006, 08:29 AM	#2
jmcmahon66 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chicago. Illinois Posts: 439	If your sump is "dirty" but your main tank is not, I would shut off the pumps, pull it out, and give it a good cleaning. Then I would adjust the output of the skimmer to produce more skimmate, raise the grey output tube to acheive wetter skimmate and empty the cup every day or two. Also, a bigger protein skimmer never hurts!! If you have the cash a bigger, more stable skimmer would help a lot. HTH __________________ I ain't no hula-hoop-eyed, chicken-necked lookin' jive turkey. Current Tank Info: 150g RR Oceanic, 750W 20K MH with 300W 14K MH, Deltec Turbo 1060 skimmer, Tunzes with controller, all types of corals-but mostly SPS and Acans