[philolsen]

I just purchased a new skimmer and it has been running for 2 days now. It does not produce foam yet though, I called the store where I got it and was told this was normal and it could take up to 2 weeks for a new skimmer to break in before it will work 100%. Is this correct? It is a asm skimmer, needle wheel pump on a established (18 month) tank. Also, how detrimental will it be to the tank if it wont be effective for that amount of time? My last skimmer broke so I cant put it back on I have to wait for this one to start working properly. I do however do a 20% water change weekly as well.

[golfish]

Originally Posted by philolsen

I just purchased a new skimmer and it has been running for 2 days now. It does not produce foam yet though, I called the store where I got it and was told this was normal and it could take up to 2 weeks for a new skimmer to break in before it will work 100%. Is this correct? It is a asm skimmer, needle wheel pump on a established (18 month) tank. Also, how detrimental will it be to the tank if it wont be effective for that amount of time? My last skimmer broke so I cant put it back on I have to wait for this one to start working properly. I do however do a 20% water change weekly as well.

Yeah, your LFS is right, its takes a while for them to break in. I wouldn't worry about the tank, it'll be fine while the skimmer is breaking in.

Some skimmers take longer then others. My old ER skimmer took about two weeks to break in. My Geo recirc started skimming right off. I had a ETSS Reef Devil that never broke in, man! I hated that skimmer.

[Reefland]

Ditto, it could take some time.
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0505/medprod4.php

Some skimmers that have very high foam production can produce right away. Our new Bermuda started collecting waste (dirt from the water) before any rock was even added to the tank.