Protein Skimmer question

[WtksBlondie104]

I have never had a proetin skimmer before today, but I just installed Lee's small protein skimmer for up to a 30 gallon tank. I am using it in my 29 gallon tank. I just got it set up, and I am still trying to find the right adjustment.

My question is, I was just wondering if it usually takes some time, like several days, for the skimmer to start accumulating skimmate in the cup, or does it normally happen immediately when you get the right adjustment?

[dakar]

If you wash the skimmer thoroughly before putting it in your system it will generally start producing a good foam within the first 24 hours. Aside from that it should be continuously producing skimmate, adjust to suit your tastes from lighter to darker skimmate.

[hummer]

light to dark skimmate whats the dif. between them and whats the bigest skimmer that shoud be on a55gal

[carpenterwrasse]

It was told to me that you should get a skimmer rate 3 times the size of your tank, but thats just talk. I got a coralife superskimmer with the needle wheel impeller( supposed to be better)for a 125 gal tank....Other than smell the darker the skinmate the more concentrated the organics that are in the cup the lighter the less.
George

[greg97527]

I'm running a coral life super skimmer with needle wheel on my 55 and it's quite nice but IMO the bigger the skimmer the better. I also know from experience that the super skimmer we are all speaking of takes about 24 hours to get adjusted, after that it's pretty easy. I set mine to skim dry and dark, seems to do more for the tank.

[carpenterwrasse]

thats where i have mine do you notice it cycleing....quiate for a while tghen a little bite louder for a brief time then quiate again????

[hummer]

thanks guys

[Fatman]

Blondie anywhere from 1 to 24 hours and you should start seeing foam accumulating near the top and pushing its way (slowly) over the edge to the bottom of the cup.