Either a GREAT protein skimmer or...?

Bluefish9 · Dec 2, 2016

So I've got my new 150g system up and running using SW I mix with a brand new RODI system. The water quality is great... 0TDS in the RODI and 0/0/0 in the SW. even my tap water only has 35ppm. All items are brand new, from the sump to the lighting. Im using Tropic Eden dry sand and Caribsea "life rock" and I started pulling yellow skimmate on day one! Only thing I can think of supposedly Caribsea seeds the life rock with a dormant bacteria... has to be that right?
The skimmer is an icecap k2-160

Now if only I could get these microbubbles to settle down lol

Thoughts?

biggen · Dec 2, 2016

I think it is working as intended to be honest. This is a brand new tank with no livestock, correct? I wouldn't expect you to get dark skimmate out of a tank that has nothing living in it but some LR. Every new skimmer that either isn't broken in or is skimming a tank with no bioload should produce "something" like what you have. So, in other words, what you are seeing is normal in my opinion for any skimmer.

Get your tank up and running with some bioload. That skimmate will turn to tea/coffee real quick! The microbubbles should also go away once the skimmer breaks in.

Bluefish9 · Dec 2, 2016

No I wasn't expecting dark skimmate.... I wasnt expecting ANY skimmate lol.

I was just kinda stumped as to what it was pulling from the water if there is nothing to pull yet...?

Reeferdood · Dec 2, 2016

Reeferdood · Dec 2, 2016

Your skimmer is also skimming wet... throttle it back a tad..

Bluefish9 · Dec 2, 2016

I did that intentionally once I saw that there was something in the water. Also because its helping with the microbubbles some.

Was planning on throttling it back once its broken in.

Mr_Banana_Pants · Dec 2, 2016

Has a tank finished cycling yet? I know they said the rock with bacteria, but you don't need to run a protein skimmer if there's no fish and it hasn't finished cycling

Bluefish9 · Dec 2, 2016

No Im going the bio spira route. However, Id like to have the skimmer be finished with the microbubble routine before adding livestock anyway

Brew12 · Dec 2, 2016

Bluefish9 said:
No I wasn't expecting dark skimmate.... I wasnt expecting ANY skimmate lol.

I was just kinda stumped as to what it was pulling from the water if there is nothing to pull yet...?

Even with dry sand and dry painted rock, they will still contain dead organics. These organics are breaking down into your water in very low levels which is why you are seeing some discoloration in your skimmer.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2016

Brew12 said:
Even with dry sand and dry painted rock, they will still contain dead organics. These organics are breaking down into your water in very low levels which is why you are seeing some discoloration in your skimmer.

and dust.