crabs and protein

[booya]

I have two questions. I set up my tank, a 55g with 90lb of live rock. I was wondering why my protein skimmer is foaming over nonstop. I have been bumping the cup every 3 min. Why would this be happening?
My second question is how long do in need to wait until I add hermit crabs to my tank? I added live rock today.

 

[jb1]

are you judt now cycling your tank with the live rock, if so you do not need your skimmer on right now during the cycle

 

[bdhough]

If you are cycling then turn the skimmer off, you are just delaying the cycle. Clean up crew can be added when your parameters come down. Treat them like a fish. Especially the snails and shrimp. Crabs are a little more forgiving.
Copious bubbles are a sign of alot of organics in the water. So your water is dirty OR... Is it purely bubbles or is it alot of sea water? If its see water you are running your skimmer pump to strongly and its just pumping water into the cup. Try and turn it down some so just foam gets over the top.

 

[booya]

could it be that my skimmer is new and i need to wash it better? Or will it get less bubbles when the cycle is done?

 

[nas19320]

What kind of skimmer is it?

 

[booya]

it's a redsea prizm

 

[birdy]

you need to turn the valve way down, start so that is is almost letting no water in, then slowly adjust is so that the foam is at the bottom of the spout part, it will then allow the skimmate to fill the cup. right now you are just pulling out water from your tank, no organic matter. I usually dont' start my skimmer until week two of my cycle. Or basically when the Ammonia starts to drop.

 

[koolaid]

I also hear it takes a couple of weeks for the prizm to break in so you can get a consistant skim. I have not had such luck yet. I have had mine now for more than 4 weeks and still have trouble getting it set right. It is either too much or too little. But hey, you may have better luck.
Good Luck

 

[huckleberry]

yeah, i have one of those too...
it does take a while (a couple of days) for the skimmer to start working properly...
also, make sure that the water level (the bubbly portion) is right at the neck (where the black gasket -rubbber thing) is on the back of the skimmer...
when i have mine up too high (over the neck) mine fills up very fast too, otehr wise it works great... only bringing in NASTY foul smelling stuff...
and yep, i agree, turn it off when cycling...
good luck