Can you tell if your system is good or bad from looking at the skimmer

[Casey8]

I got a new skimmer just about a week ago and it skims so well. When I look at the skimmer, I am wondering how can it skim so much goo in just 4 hours. I get 1/3 of dry skimmate in a cup everyday, I have to clean it EVERYDAY. I know people clean their skimmer cup 3 or 4 times a week. I feed my 11 small fishes a 1/3 cube of mysis, a 1/3 cube of brine shrimp and a pinch of dry food 2 times a day. Is it a sign of overfeeding, or is my tank having a heavy bioload system from fish and corals ? Or maybe from something else that I don't know.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Casey8

I got a new skimmer just about a week ago and it skims so well. When I look at the skimmer, I am wondering how can it skim so much goo in just 4 hours. I get 1/3 of dry skimmate in a cup everyday, I have to clean it EVERYDAY. I know people clean their skimmer cup 3 or 4 times a week. I feed my 11 small fishes a 1/3 cube of mysis, a 1/3 cube of brine shrimp and a pinch of dry food 2 times a day. Is it a sign of overfeeding, or is my tank having a heavy bioload system from fish and corals ? Or maybe from something else that I don't know.

both combined with a good skimmer.....perfectly normal.you can run the drain into a larger bucket for less cleaning and maintanance

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

The skimmer is trying to catch up

BTW, you never stated how big your tank is.

[Casey8]

The total volume of water is 100 gallons.

[Casey8]

Originally Posted by reefwars

both combined with a good skimmer.....perfectly normal.you can run the drain into a larger bucket for less cleaning and maintanance

That's a good idea, I never thought of that. I kept worrying it would overflow if I am not home.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Casey8

That's a good idea, I never thought of that. I kept worrying it would overflow if I am not home.

whatever you run it into make sure it has a lid to keep the stinky out

[Casey8]

OK reefwars, yah I don't want to smell it in my bedroom.

[lockrookie]

i still say new skimmer rule must taste the skimmate from the first cup lol...ok i just made myself sick.

getting ready to clean skimmer blah

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by reefwars

whatever you run it into make sure it has a lid to keep the stinky out

+1.

Or you might smell like Denny... I mean his skimmer.

[Myka]

That happened on my reef when I first put the SWC on it. I had a small SWC on it for a few months as an emergency skimmer before I got around to ordering the bigger one. The new, bigger SWC pulled gunk out of the tank big time. I had to empty the cup everyday or it would overflow. Now I clean it every 2-3 days because if the neck gets dirty it impedes the ability of the skimmer. I only get about 1/2" in the cup in 2-3 days now.