how long for the remora to break in?

Maverick00 · #1 12-25-2010, 02:03 AM

Hey guys, ive had this remora on my tank now for nearly two weeks (monday) and im still not impressed with performance. I decided to get this and retire my coralife super skimmer and im starting to wonder if that was a mistake. I must say the remora itself looks alot better sitting on the back of the tank than the SS did but this thing is only pulling out tea colored water and hardly any thick "mud". The collector cup is at its highest setting. Anyone that has one of these have any tips on getting the most out of this thing?

mws · #2 12-25-2010, 02:41 AM

Did you run it with hot/warm water for 10 min before you put it in your tank?
I did this and still mine took about two weeks to start working properly.

I remember it takes a while but then it runs like a clock . Mine stops skimming for a few hours after I feed the fish, I don't adjust it or anything it just comes back to normal on it's own.

It will also will react to the clue/epoxy, so try not to use it for now.

zum14 · #3 12-25-2010, 04:50 AM

If i remember right mine was the same thing, 2 or 3 weeks for the thick stuff to show up.

Wayne · #4 12-25-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mws

Did you run it with hot/warm water for 10 min before you put it in your tank?

+1 For hot tapwater (don't burn yourself though). I do this with all my new skimmers and it greatly reduces the "break in" period by washing off production byproducts.

Lampshade · #5 12-25-2010, 03:33 PM

I've heard that putting some vinager in with the tap water will help even more. Water itself won't get lots of the oils off, vinager will help this. Good luck with your new skimmer.

Abe · #6 12-25-2010, 03:45 PM

actually I have mine for about 2 years now, I only get tea colour water as well but I didnt put it in hot water to break it in ( didn't know back then

) so i am wondering if it will do anything if I do it now or maybe I should get another skimmer.

Madreefer · #7 12-25-2010, 05:58 PM

I used a Remora Pro for a few years on a 72G slightly overstocked predator tank. Mine was the same as Abe's, had never produced anything sludgey at all. Tea colored water is all I ever seen. Skimmer was highly recommended by a reputable sponsor of the site. Way over rated IMO.

reefwars · #8 12-25-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lampshade

I've heard that putting some vinager in with the tap water will help even more. Water itself won't get lots of the oils off, vinager will help this. Good luck with your new skimmer.

+1 vinegar will help breaking it in bigtime or change the pump out for something with some more power imo brown water is a sign your skimmer isnt doing what it should or doesnt have the power to do it, even in a wet skim there should be some solid waste.

mike31154 · #9 12-25-2010, 06:26 PM

I'm afraid I won't be much help to you, except to add my more or less negative experience with this skimmer. I'm back to an old school wooden air diffuser skimmer after having tried a Remora C Pro with mag 3 pump for about 6 months or so.

Thin tea is all I ever got and a hell of a lot of noise from the injector with the mag 3. I don't like the design of the pump hanging from the intake tube, too much weight there with a bigger pump and that's how I ended up cracking mine. The lid on the collection cup warped as well, material too thin or cheap I reckon. I'm glad it's gone to be honest.

Maverick00 · #10 12-25-2010, 06:31 PM

thanks for the replies! when i bought it i gave it a quick wash with warm water in the bathtub. I have a piece of sponge on top of the injector nozzle that isnt affecting the actual stream, i wondered at first if this was the problem but it looks like alot of people use this technique to quiet it down. Ill give it another week i suppose and see what happens, maybe take it out and give it another wash with water/vinegar that was mentioned. its frustrating pouring out colored water when i remember getting 1/16" thick of sludge out of the inside of the super skimmers collection cup.