[newton27]

I have started my system up 3 days ago,

40g
20lbs of LR to cure system with
caribsea sea bed, 4 inchs thick
wet/dry system
heater
air driven skimmer in wet/dry box

The question is: What is the clear substance in the skimmer? Mine has a weird smell, hard to describe, totally clear. I have seen pictures of the skimmers in action on established tanks and see the foaming, it has color. This stuff looks like concentrated saltwater...should I have anything at all yet, as the system is only been running 3 days.

Ok someone said adjust the skimmer for a "drier" foam, I lowered the foaming level in the unit but the foam is about 3 or 4 inches from the cup, how will this get high enough to spill over into the cup?

All chemistry is correct.

[leebca]

You can count on one thing about a new system -- nothing. Each system will initially go through major transitions, then fewer transitions as it ages, until it reaches what we call a mature aquarium status. (See: The Mature Aquarium).

During the first few days the skimmer can malfunction not only because the tank is new but because the skimmer is new. All the equipment needs some time to 'break in.' You shouldn't expect any skimmate (the stuff that overflows into the collection cup location) the first few days. The usual foam should be fast-breaking bubbles when everything starts off.

When those bubbles start lasting (not breaking up) and start looking brownish, then you set the skimmer to slowly overflow that thicker foam into the cup. But, this could take a few more days or a couple of weeks.

[newton27]

Thanks for the nice explanation of that...I will see in a few days then.