Stupid Skimmer Question

[Zukari]

Ok so ... got this skimmer used, almost free. Seems to be working, but how can I really tell? The bubbles don't seem to go all the way up the tube, only about 90% and stop. It has only been on for about 30 minutes.

Am I doing something wrong or is this normal.


Hopefully the stupid questions end soon, I got lighting today, power compacts - a sump for a 75 gallon tank (Pump and UV included), and this skimmer with a lot of other little goodys for 125$. Kind of lost and confused, but tomorrow I'll hook up the sump and begin the design for my new lid to hold the lighting.

I got 2 different "Sets" of lighting, both are 50/50 Coral Life 96 Watt bulbs. Settings and all - making a hood to hold them tomorrow...anyone know much on these lights? Another set i got looked a lot like these, only with 2 bulbs being dedicated to sun light, and one lunar. But the 2 sun light bulbs need replacing. I know they are power compacts.

(Also i had another post but i didnt think it was in the appropriate place for hardware questions)

-Zuk

 

[Zukari]

With further research I have found that my lights include 2x: Link and 2x Link! and 1x Link 3



So here it goes, is this a good setup for a 55 gal tank? What should I do, do I need more blue, or less...Or is what I have here perfect. It would be roughly (if you add all the watts up) 5.2 - 5.8 (provided all lights are on?) watts per galon, or so. Any ideas?

Im going to make a canopy out of wood with air flow (with fans) hanging from my ceiling to hold these guys over my tank, the 2 96 watts being on the left and right, and the 3 32 watts being in the middle...if that sounds good to you guys, I'll do it.

As an update - got the skimmer to work, though I don't know what good it is doing as of now, the tank is very new after all

Also, so I know later on, do I keep all these lights on at once? Ie, would i leave the blue lights on at the same time as the day time lights, or are the blue lights only for night time use...? I think with that out of the way I'll be set to let this bad boy cycle and start it up!

 

[SkiFletch]

Heh, that lighting sounds adequate to me. You can play with timings if you want. The general consensus among the hobby is to start with just blue lights and then add the daylight ones and reverse in the evening. Anyway you can get pics or a model of the skimmer?

 

[Zukari]

Let me find my camera. I got it working for a bit ... it seems to have stopped getting bubbles up the tube again =/.

-Zuk

 

[SkiFletch]

Let me find my camera. I got it working for a bit ... it seems to have stopped getting bubbles up the tube again =/.

-Zuk

Remember, when you stick your hands in the tank, the skimmer will stop functioning for a period of time. The oild on your skin impede its ability to form bubbles.