skimmer not collecting - Aquarium Advice

reefmaster · 03-04-2006, 11:38 PM

hey, i have a CPR BakPak 2 skimmer http://www.windowtothesea.com/displa...=21&subcat=120(i dont have that blue stringy stuff in there)its for a 60 gallon and i have a 30 gallon. I havnt emptyd the skimmer box for who knows how long. I checked it yesterday and practicly nothing was in it. Is there something wrong with it? Everything in my tank is normal.

40 pounds live rock
2 fish
anemone
coral
snails

PC · 03-04-2006, 11:58 PM

You have 2 fish in a 60G. Unless they are some very adult tangs, grouper or the like then your not going to see a lot of skimmate. You can adjust it way down if you like to 'force' it to skim, however the skimmate should look like a green tea color. If its just water, your throwing out perfectly good tank water. HTH. BTW IMO keeping a low bioload is the way to go. I have a 29G with a couple shrimp, snail and 2 perc clowns. Its a reef tank with lr, etc and I run no skimmer on it. Matter of fact the only reason I have to change the water is becuase of depletion of trace minerals. Most people jack their tanks up with a huge fish load and then wonder why they have to jump through so many hoops to keep the tank free of algae. Anyway, until your fish load increases, you can safely remove the skimmer. 2 fish in a 60g is a very light load. (Less they are 24" sharks or something!)

Peace.

jasno999 · 03-05-2006, 10:26 AM

Interestign I learn each and every day. Good post PC

reefmaster · 03-05-2006, 06:41 PM

lol, i meant the the skimmer is ment for a 60 gallon, but i have it hooked up for my 30 gallon, in case i wanna go to a 60 gallon

seaham358 · 03-05-2006, 08:03 PM

is it adjusted correctly? most skimmers have some type of adjustment on the to increase flow and or bubbles.

philthefish · 03-06-2006, 08:47 AM

I have the same skimmer. I adjust the air intake so that the bubble stream just about hits the bottom of the skimmer. My collection cup is about 1/4 inch below the top of the bubbles in the reaction chamber. I pull out about 1/2 cup of dark green skimmate once a week.

Hope this helps
Phil

03-04-2006, 11:38 PM	#1
reefmaster Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: california Posts: 119 Images: 2	skimmer not collecting hey, i have a CPR BakPak 2 skimmer http://www.windowtothesea.com/displa...=21&subcat=120(i dont have that blue stringy stuff in there)its for a 60 gallon and i have a 30 gallon. I havnt emptyd the skimmer box for who knows how long. I checked it yesterday and practicly nothing was in it. Is there something wrong with it? Everything in my tank is normal. 40 pounds live rock 2 fish anemone coral snails

03-04-2006, 11:58 PM	#2
PC Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Memphis, Tn Posts: 726 Images: 5	You have 2 fish in a 60G. Unless they are some very adult tangs, grouper or the like then your not going to see a lot of skimmate. You can adjust it way down if you like to 'force' it to skim, however the skimmate should look like a green tea color. If its just water, your throwing out perfectly good tank water. HTH. BTW IMO keeping a low bioload is the way to go. I have a 29G with a couple shrimp, snail and 2 perc clowns. Its a reef tank with lr, etc and I run no skimmer on it. Matter of fact the only reason I have to change the water is becuase of depletion of trace minerals. Most people jack their tanks up with a huge fish load and then wonder why they have to jump through so many hoops to keep the tank free of algae. Anyway, until your fish load increases, you can safely remove the skimmer. 2 fish in a 60g is a very light load. (Less they are 24" sharks or something!) Peace. __________________ To fail to plan is to plan to fail.

03-05-2006, 06:41 PM	#4
reefmaster Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: california Posts: 119 Images: 2	lol lol, i meant the the skimmer is ment for a 60 gallon, but i have it hooked up for my 30 gallon, in case i wanna go to a 60 gallon

03-05-2006, 08:03 PM	#5
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	is it adjusted correctly? most skimmers have some type of adjustment on the to increase flow and or bubbles. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

03-06-2006, 08:47 AM	#6
philthefish Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 46	I have the same skimmer. I adjust the air intake so that the bubble stream just about hits the bottom of the skimmer. My collection cup is about 1/4 inch below the top of the bubbles in the reaction chamber. I pull out about 1/2 cup of dark green skimmate once a week. Hope this helps Phil __________________ 55 Gall glass. 30-40lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym], CPR Bakpak 2R skimmer, Eheim 2215 canister, 2 x MJ1200 PHs for flow. 2 [acronym="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym] Marine White tubes, fine layer of Arganite for substrate. Just switched to [acronym="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym] water. Occupants - Currently re-cycling tank....will be adding 3 Chromis once cycled

03-05-2006, 10:26 AM	#3
jasno999 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: King of Prussia, PA Posts: 527	Interestign I learn each and every day. Good post PC

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