I remember the first time trying to set up a skimmer. My thoughts were fretting over getting to much waste in my tank, and killing everything...... not the case. When I finially figured out how a skimmer operates, is after leaving it off for about a week. I was not running it, because I was trying to find a way to plumb it into my tank nice and neet. After not using it for a week, and then turning it on, it produced foam almost instantly. I have experimented with different ways and times of running it. I hope this is not bad practice, being still fairly new at the hobby, but the more corals I add to my tank, the less I run it. I am now using my skimmer about every 3rd day, and only in the daylight hours. I leave it off at night, because of the noise. Like Guy said, if you have your water flow too high, your cup will fill with water...... I do not think this was mentioned though, If you have your water flow too low, it will perculate like a loud coffe machine. What I go for is the smoothest, most quiet coffe maker noise I can get, with good air flow.
Something no body explained to me is that there are 2 adjustments, water flow, and air flow....... to little air flow gives you big (pea size) or no bubbles. Too much air flow causes air to leach back into the tank..... Try to find the middle, and leave it alone.........
Also mine produces more foam when I feed, so I try to turn mine off when I feed, in hopes that some of my corals can snatch some food at the same time.
Something no body explained to me is that there are 2 adjustments, water flow, and air flow....... to little air flow gives you big (pea size) or no bubbles. Too much air flow causes air to leach back into the tank..... Try to find the middle, and leave it alone.........
Also mine produces more foam when I feed, so I try to turn mine off when I feed, in hopes that some of my corals can snatch some food at the same time.
