protein skimmer adjustment

[ms_p_mcpie]

I got foam!!! That was a major acheivement for me b/c I got the skimmer from a friend (no booklet included) and I finally got it hooked up correctly and got foam!! However, I got too much. The cup is filling with water and I know how to turn the knobby and adjust the flow of water but how do I know when to stop adjusting? How little is too little and how much is too much?
Thanks

[Ray_D]

I got foam!!! That was a major acheivement for me b/c I got the skimmer from a friend (no booklet included) and I finally got it hooked up correctly and got foam!! However, I got too much. The cup is filling with water and I know how to turn the knobby and adjust the flow of water but how do I know when to stop adjusting? How little is too little and how much is too much?
Thanks

your looking for a tar like substance in the cup, thinner like weak coffee works as well but thinker is better


and i know the feeling it was not that long ago i was doing the same thing

good luck

[ANGRY JOHN]

skimmate consistancy is a personal prefrence but it should be at least as dark as light coffee or tea. there in starts the hole how do you skimm debate but clear skimmate is not the best and the darkest is not the best either. go for brown and that should put you in the ballpark.

[Reefland]

A good cup of skimmate a day will help keep the hair algae away.

[ms_p_mcpie]

OK-- hair algae? I think I have that.... So do I adjust it so that the bubbles don't reach the top of the cup to spill over? If yes, then why does anything ever make it to the top and into the cup? Also, my niger trigger is turning on his side and brushing the bottom of the tank recently? Normal or problem?
oh help....
I have so much to learn!!

[Ray_D]

A good cup of skimmate a day will help keep the hair algae away.

lol

[ANGRY JOHN]

sounds like your trigger has ich......

[Ray_D]

I have so much to learn!!

we all do its none stop

there is not 'expert' in the hobby, there are some people that know what is what today, but that could change tommorow and then then are out of date, even biologists are learning new things all the time about how it all works