Skimmer Worries

Brandon1023 · 03-14-2006, 08:38 PM

Hello! This is a skimmer problem, but first some details... I have had my 46gal bow-front running now for about 3 1/2 years so I am fairly experienced at this. However for the last two years (after my monumental failure at trying to keep corals due to lack of money and lighting) it has been pretty much fish only with a couple mushroom corals (about the hardiest corals, in my opinion). The fish: 1 gold striped maroon clown, 1 royal gramma, and 1 damsel (i forget the type, pretty big now, black with neon blue stripes). I finally have the money, and have invested in an additional 2 96w power compacts, which brings me to 3 total, and 6.2 watts per gallon, some power heads....and my skimmer. I just got it today and have been reading they have a break in period? That is new to me because the last skimmer I had (years ago) started skimming immediately, but the difference is now the one i have is a hang-on, and before it was a pretty cheap one that stuck to the side of the tank. My question is, I have about 5 corals on the way which I ordered on the Internet. I didn't anticipate this break-in period. They will be here Thursday, will they be OK until the skimmer is going properly? I certainly hope so because there isn't much I can do about it now! (Maybe my LFS could hold them for me)....anyways any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!

holiday · 03-14-2006, 09:31 PM

A good water change will probably remove more than that skimmer would in a fews days anyway...so just do a healthy water change regardless of the last time you did one. Use R/O or distilled water if you can. Break in periods are only a few days anyway if at all.

Matt Rogers · 03-14-2006, 10:54 PM

The skimmer will only help. No worries with the new coral. What kind of skimmer is it?

Brandon1023 · 03-15-2006, 05:21 AM

I already did a water change a couple days ago in preparation of all my new arrivals. The water used was actual ocean water (dont distillers sometimes use copper pipes? even trace amounts of copper can be very deadly to some corals and inverts). The skimmer is an Odyssea PS75. Well I'm glad that the corals will be ok! After all is said and done (lights, new bulbs, corals) I will have dropped a good $500 into this tank. Hopefully I can get some good pictures to show off to everyone, I know its going to be very cool! Thanks for the advise guys!

ragc · 03-24-2006, 09:52 PM

I've run my 10 gal for 9 months without a skimmer and with a healthy amount (for a 10) of corals of various types. Water changes are enough to keep them well cared for. A skimmer helps in preventing the conditions that are solved by water changes, so theoretically it extends the period between changes and saves you work, but the corals only care to have good water, not how they get it! They will be fine.

coral reefer · 03-25-2006, 05:42 AM

The water change will buy you time as your skimmer gets broken in. Your corals will be fine. What kinds of coral did you purchase? The name of the damsel you described is a Velvet damsel I believe!!
good luck.