skimmer questions

[philr]

I built this from a 20g long tank. The skimmer is an ASM G1x rated for 150g on my 90g. While everything seems to run fine. I have a constant nitrate problem. It remains constant at around 40ppm. When I first started up the filtration on the existing tank the nitrates briefly went to 0 then within a week back to 30-40ppm. I want ZERO nitrates prior to putting any corals. The skimmer seems to constantly need adjustments. Especially after I do a water change. Then the skimmer seems to go crazy and just pull out clear water. Anyone with more experience on this please advise.

 

[Mike J.]

I have found that when the skimmer fills up like that it needs to be dumped. Usually dump it once and it will go back to normal. Every time I clean the tank, stir things up or change the water I watch the skimmer. What you're describing I would think is pretty normal.

 

[philr]

Ok Thanks for the advice. I find the best part of this forum is to opportunity to find out from others what "normal" is. Now if I can just get the nitrates under control......

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, some skimmers are finicky when it comes to water, and water changes, to what people feed their tanks. Mine goes nuts when I feed Freeze Dried Mysis, I have to turn it down for an hour, then back up to froth position. It happens. Ya just need to keep an eye on it.
Once you've set the Nitrates at higher levels in the tank, its a bit tougher for the skimmer to get rid of them, especially if you keep adding things that keep trying to push that number higher, so its maintaining. You either Carbon Dose at this point, or you do a bunch of 50% water changes daily until those numbers get to where your comfortable.

 

[philr]

I have the reactor in the final stage of the filter sump. The reactor has 2 bags of chemipure-elite. I used to run nitrex, but started using purigen to remove nitrates. I am going to have to do larger water changes right now to reduce nitrate levels. Then hopefully the filtration and chemicals will keep them low. I use RO water its tests at zero nitrates.