WAVE 400p Protein Skimmer

[BayBud]

Hello again.

Today i purchased a skimmer for my tank, I decided not to bother until now as my bioload has been so low that with weekly water changes it wasn't prudent.

To cut a long story short the instructions say i have to run the skimmer for 72 hours to break it in, it is however awfully vague in explaining what process must happen within those 72 hours.

I was hoping to run the skimmer perhaps a little each week, i don't want want the water stripped of all the nutrients, however if im reading this right does that mean i will only ever be able to run a skimmer in batches of at least 72 hours? Or is it that once it's broken in i can use it more sparingly.

Thanks for your help all

Best wishes.

BayBud

[Jason McKenzie]

I would always run a skimmer 24/7 it will not pull out anything that would otherwise create problems.

Most skimmers need a break in period. It usually means you have to dial down the air intake because the foam is too much and it will flood. Or the opposite it does not skim much at all.

After the 72 hours you should then begin adjusting the air and water levels to achive the skimming you want

J

[BayBud]

thanks for taking the time to respond Jason

The problem is i have a nano and leaving this thing on the side of the tank really is pretty unworkable.

I must confess in my ignorance i just assumed i would be able to connect it to the tank via hoses and have the unit under the tank in a cupboard.

I suppose i should clarify that, is it possible to your knowledge for me to just have the pump and outlet in the tank and keep the skimmer in the cupboard?

Do you think i will need to add more supplements ( seachem reef plus) than i do now to counteract any effect the 24/7 skimming may have.

Anyway ill stop now as im sending you a barrage of questions lol.

Thanks

Best Wishes
BayBud

[Jason McKenzie]

How big is the tank?

It's not a 100% requirement that you run a skimmer. If you are willing to do small water changes weekly and feed the fish sparingly you should be able to get away with out a skimmer. I run a little 14G nano without a skimmer.

I would never ever add any supplement to the tank with out first knowing what the level of what ever it is you are adding is in the tank (WOW I'm sure I could have worded that better)

J

[BayBud]

Originally Posted by Jason McKenzie

How big is the tank?

It's not a 100% requirement that you run a skimmer. If you are willing to do small water changes weekly and feed the fish sparingly you should be able to get away with out a skimmer. I run a little 14G nano without a skimmer.

I would never ever add any supplement to the tank with out first knowing what the level of what ever it is you are adding is in the tank (WOW I'm sure I could have worded that better)

J

Well i have in the 24g 3 peppermint shrimps, 3 blue legged hermits various sponges ( on the liverock) and recently a Tubastrea.

Obviously the skimmer is a response to the purchase of the Tubastrea and it's hefty feeding requirements.

I don't imagine the livestock increasing soon if in fact atall, it will essentially be a tank just for the tub.

Im feeding it a mixture of mysid, mussel, dallies, clyclopeese with a small dash of reef plus for the vits, the colony is currently around 25 heads, the piece measuring about 3 by 2 inches.

At the moment i'm feeding it nightly but am considering looking into bi-daily feedings (if it wants it)

Just to go back a step if we may, why exactly does it take a skimmer any time to break in, this may perhaps sound like a stupid question but i am curious to know.

[BayBud]

Sorry Jason, i quoted the wrong reply.

In addition to my last post, i currently change 5 litres of water per week.

I haven't tested the tank for a few weeks but when i last tested the results were.
temp 27'celsius
Sal 1.026
Ca 460mg/l
KH 4.5 meg/l
Mg 1300mg/l (trying to get that up a little)
ph. seldom test as its pretty much 8.2-8.3

Last time i checked nitrates they were about 5mg/l

at the moment when i do water changes my water has the same parameters as the tank water only with a mag level of 1600, in an aid to help gently raise the level.