Protein Skimmer.....

[Seratuki]

Hello all....

Well, after much issues with Ich, I've begun to straighten out the issues I had, starting with having no protein skimmer...(bad lfs advise )
But I want to make sure I'm doing it correctly....the instructions are a bit confusing for me, and if I don't have it in right, well...there'd be no point in having it in there...lol
this is the protein skimmer I have.....http/saltaquarium.about.com/cs/prskimmers/gr/aaprberlinairli.htm
It has a sticker on the side that says "water level" I've put it in the tank up to that point, leaving the larger top part out of the aquarium....(not sure if it's supposed to be submerged.... ) ) and I attached it to the air pump....
The air pump I'm using has an adjustable air stream....I've got it half way right now...which is causing bubbles (foam) in the center of the skimmer...If I put it on higher, the foam seeps out the top....so I assumed I shouldn't have it on so high?

How can I be sure it's actually working? seems like a fancy airstone to me right now....

there are no bubbles actually going INTO the aquarium....just the foam in the center of the skimmer......

Sorry if this sounds dumb....I just want to get it right....

Thanks!

Sera

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, I've never used an airstone skimmer, but you want to adjust the bubble rate so that they create a froth that just barely starts to foam over into the cup at the top...

 

[Seratuki]

Okay...is the cup at the top supposed to fill with this nasty looking brown stuff

Maybe I had it right all along....LOL


Sera

 

[SkiFletch]

yeah, nasty looking brown sludge, not water... If its filling with water your flowrate is too high. If its nasty brown thick stuff, you're all set