smelly protein skimmer

[corally]

When I empty the collection cup on my skimmer, it smells REALLY bad, almost makes me sick! Is this normal?

 

[jdragunas]

yes. that stuff in the collection cup is a bunch of crap, like waste, leftover food, etc. It smells so bad because it's breaking down. Aren't you glad you have a skimmer that's removing that stuff from your system???

 

[turningtim]

Skim mate is possibly the most vail substance know to man! My kids call the skimmer "The STINK Maker". I glad to hear someone else "gags" like I do when dealing with this nastiness. But I guess if you think about it. its really just a sewage plant. Everything you don't want in your tank ends up in the skimmer but concentrated.

 

[pfitz44]

had my 1st experience with that on monday... boy, thats an understatement!! im glad i emptied it in the toliet.... because thats were it belongs!!!

 

[payne66801]

I bought a 125 gallon tank the guy that sold it to me did not have a skimmer on it. Would all of you say you need one with salt water tanks. He kept his fish alive for the most part but will this item improve my chances of keeping them healthy and happy ??? I have not bought one yet --- anyone have a favorite in mind??? It will be going on the back next to one of my 400's bio wheel filters.
thanks
brian
ps Sorry for barging in but I am so new at this it is not funny..

 

[ophiura]

Well, you CAN run a tank without a skimmer...Fish only especially as fish aren'y quite as impacted by nitrate levels. But there is definitely a benefit to running one, especially if you keep predators. It helps with overall water quality.
You can get by on water changes alone, but a skimmer helps, especially with preventing things like algae problems. I had all sorts - but had living animals - before I got a skimmer. But with one, things improved a lot.
If you only have hang on filters...I would definitely add a skimmer. It will help tremendously, and basically be more effective, IMO, than the filters themselves.

 

[pfitz44]

never can hurt.. only help. remora aqua c is a good hang on the back one. many recomendations that its good. check a famous auction site for one. thats were i got mine

 

[corally]

I do NOT recommend the prizm deluxe. You have to prime it all the time because will stop coming up the intake tube for no reason.

 

[pfitz44]

corally.... is it on there level??? im guessing it runs off of a powerhead (dont know nethign about the prism) maybe u/g the powerhead???

 

[mikeyjer]

I put up with the smell every other day. It takes out A LOT of gunk. We use Aqua C Remora, it works great! I thought our water was clear at one time, but still not completely clear, but once the skimmer is on, our water was CLEAR! :happyfish

 

[1journeyman]

Yep... it reeks.. mine overflowed the other day (HOB) and man did my carpet stink...
I've got a turbofloter Hang on Tank. Love it.

 

[milomlo]

Hey let me ask you guys something. I had a SeaClone on my 29 gal (don't know the actual model as it was given to me), and I purchased a used CPR Bak Pak for it as I read on here that they were better than the SeaClone. However this CPR has not skimmed anything off. It has been on my tank about 1 week and it just doesn't seem to make the foam that the SeaClone did. Could I be doing something wrong with it?? I have adjusted and readjusted the little air intake and it really doesn't make that much of a difference. Any advice??

 

[blue20051]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Yep... it reeks.. mine overflowed the other day (HOB) and man did my carpet stink...
I've got a turbofloter Hang on Tank. Love it.
Why did it overflow? Im going to get a CPR bak pak and dont want it to overflow. Is there anyway i can prevent that?

 

[jdragunas]

most likely he forgot to empty it... if you don't empty it when it needs to be, it'll overflow.
The prizm is a skilter filter if i'm correct, which is a really crappy filter if you ask me... I've never heard one good thing about them ever!

 

[jdragunas]

oh, and milo, most skimmers take about 2 weeks to break in. Is it producing bubbles at all?? Maybe you need to turn up the airflow?

 

[milomlo]

Even if it is used it takes 2 weeks? I get bubbles in the one side but it really doesn't make much foam. What it does make isn't enough to go up into the cup.

 

[jdragunas]

can you increase the air flow???

 

[blue oasis]

We have a 90gal and have a Euro Reef protein Skimmer 5/2 and it is inside the Berlin 150 Sump and we have to agree with everyone. We have to empty it about every other day and the kids run out and leave the job to us...lol
N & G

 

[milomlo]

Originally Posted by jdragunas
can you increase the air flow???

I took the little cap completely off for a few minutes and it didn't seem to make any more. I will take it off again and see what happens.

 

[jdragunas]

hmmm... i don't know then. I'm not too familiar with your type of skimmer. Maybe you could search, or start a new thread asking people that have your particular model...