Protien Skimmer, not skimming a lot

[something'sfishy]

My tank is almost 3 months old. I noticed when it was new itas skimming a lot, recently the cup is not filling-up. sometine just 1/8 of the cup is being filled-up..Is this a good sign or bad? Does this mean tyhat I don't have that much toxins in my tank or it's a pump issue? Please help

 

[viper_930]

I'm guessing it would be a pump, unless your bioload has decreased significantly. Just take the pump out and clean it. I run my pumps in white vinegar for 30 minutes, 30 more minutes in fresh water, then take it apart to wash out anything still inside.

 

[jlem]

Your skimmer probably has been doing it's job and has removed enough organics that there is not much more organic waste to remove. Low PH will decrease skimming ability also so see if your PH has dropped somewhat.

 

[something'sfishy]

My water parameters are excellent..bioload actually has increased, added 2 chromis to the tank. The skimmer is frothing continously but it producing less by-product..Shoulf I also take out the whole skimmer and clean it..?

 

[andretti]

First of all, what type of skimmer do you have? Second, what's the size of your tank and it's inhabitants? Like this guy said ^^^ maybe your skimmer has done all it needs to do. If you have a fish only tank or a reef tank that has a small bio load, your skimmer will not have that much work to do.

 

[something'sfishy]

I've got a 55 gal. uniquarium with built-in wet/dry filter..My skimmer is of venturi type that you could at the back of the tank. It's reef tank. with the ff:
1 star polyp colony
1 yellow polyps colony
1 tube anemone
1 samll hammer coral
some inverts
2 chromis
1 percula clown
LR
LS
1 kelp
1 rcok with grass
Water parameter is perfect
Do 10% water change weekly