Also check the water level in both return chambers. The water goes down the middle chamber, out each side at the bottom, back up over a baffle then down to the return pumps. If the water level is low, the water going over the baffle towards the return pumps will fall like a water fall creating air bubbles that get sucked in by the return pump and set into the tank.
Hope that makes some sort of sense.
I don't run a skimmer on mine. I have an intank media basket in the center chamber with chemi-pure, purigen and filter floss. switched the return pumps to maxi-jet 1200's, with one running through a 1/10hp chiller. I also have an mp-10 in the tank. I have 2 clowns, damsel, watchman goby, pistol shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, plus hermit crabs, various snails and 1 starfish. SPS, LPS, softies, zoo, etc.
I do water changes once a week (maybe once every 1.5-2 weeks if I am lazy) and have no issues with water clarity or quality. Unless she has a big bioload, the skimmer is more a personal preference. From my experience, most of the small airstone skimmers for nano tanks are a waste of money. They pull very watery skimmate at best, and are far too finicky to be consistant. The slightest water level change and either the collection cup is full of water or not skimming anything at all.
Just my $0.02
If you want a small skimmer, search some of the other posts around here on what they used, or you could check out nano-reef.com. They have a bit more info on nano specific tanks.
Jon
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