When you say water level, do you mean the top of the bubbles or do you mean the top of the water with the bubbles above it overflowing into the cup?

Also I have a UV Sterilizer. Should I run that too? It is a saltwater tank, one crab, one damsel, one clown. No live rock or reef or anything. I did buy the "live sand" that is supposed to speed the 1st cycle. Tank has been set up for about two months. One fatality... a big angelfish.

My ammonia, nitrite have stayed way safe. The nitrates run between 10 and 20ppm. -That's according to my test kit. I tested the regular tap water and it showed up as 20ppm so I'm not sure the test is accurate. I was hoping the skimmer would be able to lower the nitrates.

Thoughts?

Dave