Skimmer Help! Please

[jessed244]

I just bought and set up my first skimmer and could use some help, the directions werent real great.
I got the Seaclone skimmer (just an inexpensive one) and it is hanging on the back of my tank. Here is the question:
Is the water going up the tube ( out of the tank to the skimmer) supposed to be clear water, or white frothy, (air filled) ???
I am not clear how it is supposed to go.
Thanks!

 

[allenk]

Your pump should be sucking water from the tank, injecting it with air bubbles and sending the bubbly water up the reactor tube (the fat tube). At the top of that tube is the cup which has an upside down funnel inside of it. As the bubbles continue to froth inside the reactor tube, dissolved organics will be pulled out of the water on the surface tension of the bubbles. As more and more organics are drawn into the tube, the bubbles will become more stable. The more stable bubbles, instead of popping, will continue rising up the tube, through the funnel and will then "bubble" out the top of the funnel into the cup. What you will eventually see in the cup is a yellow or greenish or brownish liquid.
The trick is adjusting the air flow going into the pump to get the water level in the skimmer to an efficient level. Too much flow and clear water ends up in your skimmer cup. Too little and you don't get any skimmate. Just right, you have a nice "dry" skimmate that is the dissolved organics being removed from the tank.
In short, I think the answer to your question is frothy. The water in the bigger tube should be white and frothy.
Hope this helps answer your question.

 

[jessed244]

Yes I think this does help.
Although it didnt appear that any of the stuff was making it all the way up to the collection cup, but maybe it just takes a while for me to notice anything.
It was hard to see behind my tank, so I think I will put it out on the front of the tank for a bit so I can make sure it is doing what it is supposed to.
Thank you!