Might be a problem?

[DanJ]

My skimmer use to take like a week to be almost full before i would clean it but this last month it has barely done anything and i made shure everything is working well. Is that normal?

 

[Mbodell]

what kind of skimmer? Mine has an injector that seems to get clogged all the time.

 

[DanJ]

Its a seaclone hang on the back type rated up to 100 gallons i have a 55 gallon tank.

 

[mnat]

My HOB skimmer started to do the same thing (Remora C) so i took it out and cleaned the whole thing. Pull the pump apart and clean it up, some will do a vinegar bath. Calcium and build in the pump and slow it down. Also make sure the pump is connected really well to the skimmer, seems to help.

 

[Hawkeye]

Its a seaclone hang on the back type rated up to 100 gallons i have a 55 gallon tank.

unfortunately manufacturer ratings are over-stated and to make matters worse the Sea Clone is about as bare bones a piece of equipment as you can buy. The classic "you get what you paid for" applies.

That stated - to obtain a consistent froth - you need to ensure that a) you're not sticking your bare hands in the tank; b) the salinity in your tank is reading correctly (with a refractometer).

Good luck...you're going to need it with that skimmer.

 

[DanJ]

Its a seaclone hang on the back type rated up to 100 gallons i have a 55 gallon tank.

unfortunately manufacturer ratings are over-stated and to make matters worse the Sea Clone is about as bare bones a piece of equipment as you can buy. The classic "you get what you paid for" applies.

That stated - to obtain a consistent froth - you need to ensure that a) you're not sticking your bare hands in the tank; b) the salinity in your tank is reading correctly (with a refractometer).

Good luck...you're going to need it with that skimmer.

LMAO that is so funny That was recommened to me for my 55 fish only tank from a local fish store. And i told him money wasnt the problem. So he said thats the best to get for a 55 fish only. Thanks I put 100$ in the toilet =) What do you think of the coralife uv sterliver turbo twist? more money in the toilet?

 

[Hawkeye]

I wouldn't get a uv for a reef tank- but that is just MY 2 cents. They work wonders on keeping the water clear in freshwater ponds - but their usefulness in a reef tank is debatable.

 

[njstillwell]

quote from HAWKEYE ...That stated - to obtain a consistent froth - you need to ensure that a) you're not sticking your bare hands in the tank; b) the salinity in your tank is reading correctly (with a refractometer). What would sticking your hands in tank have to do with skimming.... And if salinity was way off he wouldnt be posting... he would have just made adjustments to the water..

 

[Hawkeye]

Surface tension of water creates the bubbles that allows a protein skimmer to function.

A cool experiment would be to take a bowl of salt water and running an airstone. See how the bubbles form. Then place your bare hands in that same bowl and see if the bubbles are as large as they were before. The surface tension changed because your skin has natural oils on them.

Finally - one cannot assume that the OP is measuring salinity with a refractormeter. A lot of people in this hobby try and take short-cuts. If his LFS told him to buy a sea clone - there is a high correlation that he would have been advised to buy a hydrometer. Therefore the OP may not know if his salinity is accurate or not.

That reminds me - Dan do you have an ATO?- because if you don't, during the course of the day your salinity is fluctuating (due to evap) -so this might also impact skimmer performance.

 

[Nickjr000]

Putting your hands in the water does stop your skimmer from foaming. I use to notice it with my old setup. Whenever I would work on the tank moving rocks and such my skimmer wouldn't foam. Also when some people feed the skimmer reacts to it. Lots of variables involved with a skimmer.....

I think if he lost water due to evap during the day then his salinity would be higher and doesn't that usually mean more foam? Just saying cause when I went from .24 to .26 I noticed my skimmer had a little nicer head of foam on it.

 

[DanJ]

Ok well i took it apart and cleaned it. Put it back in. So i will see like in 2 days if it is actually doing something. And a ATO never heard of it in my life but it seems pretty cool i might go get one. And again this is a fish only tank. I do have a refractometer too. And my salt level is a bit high.

 

[Hawkeye]

I think if he lost water due to evap during the day then his salinity would be higher and doesn't that usually mean more foam? Just saying cause when I went from .24 to .26 I noticed my skimmer had a little nicer head of foam on it.

goes to show is houldn't be replying to posts at 2am. you are right! duh on me.

 

[Nickjr000]

I'm usually on here around that time too LOL. Like I say reefers are the craziest!!!

And a ATO never heard of it in my life but it seems pretty cool i might go get one.

Auto Top Offs are the way to go. Keeps your salinity the same all the time. No fluctuations cause it adds a little at a time. I have a tunze and love it.