How do I know when a protien skimmer is broken in?

[hobbes]

I recently purchased a Reef Octopus protein skimmer and the instructions said that it is a 3-4 week "break in" period. How do I know that it is truly broken in? When it is broken in how should I adjust it so that I get the proper amount of waste being pulled out?

 

[geridoc]

When the stuff in the collecting cup is so repulsive that you wouldn't offer it to your ex-wife, then the skimmer is broken in. After that, you want the foam into the funnel, but not continuously flowing out into the collecting cup. The principle here is that the surface of the bubbles contain precipitated proteins that stabilize the bubbles. At first the concentration of protein is low, and the foam is semi-liquid. However, as the bubbles break at the top of the column, they deposit the proteins on the bubbles coming behind, increasing the protein concentration, and the bubbles break again, etc., until the bubbles have enough protein to fully stabilie themselves, at which point a semi-dry, stable foam emerges from the cone into the collecting sup.
While this is going on, the skimmer itself is breaking in by having a fine layer of protein form on the plastic surfaces, allowing the foam to flow past without breaking.

 

[hobbes]

Thanks Geridoc. As of right now I have the waterline one inch above the neck as the instructions say to have it. I am getting a small amount going into the collection cup but not much. Hopefully I will start getting more in there soon.

 

[heymybigfish]

It'll come around. Eventually it'll get to the point where if you clean the glass in your tank, your cup will fill up 2 or 3 times, full, of dark green brown slime crap. It's gross.

 

[hobbes]

I hope it does. I guess I just do not have good luck with protein skimmers. I thought maybe it was my old one that was having the problem but I think it is just the user (me). It has been running for a little while now and I am still not getting it to act right. For example I set up so that the bubbles were popping just over the rim and falling into the cup last night but when I checked it this morning the line was lower again and I was not getting anything in the collection cup. Very frustrating! I am hoping it is still just "Breaking in".

 

[heymybigfish]

The skimmer only bubbles over the top for a little bit, then once the tank has reaches a certain cleanliness, the skimmer settles down.
Let me explain something..... As long as its on and bubbling, it's working..... It sucks water in, the waste attaches to the bubbles, and the bubbles go to the top...... You can just leave the level low. And the waste is still in that bubbly foam.... Then at the end of the day, turn it up until that bubble level gets to the top of the cup and spills over....
I shut my skimmer off at night, because I don't like the sound,
Also, When your skimmer is broke in, sometimes your skimmer will bubble over even when set as low as possible.