Vacation & Eeeew

[kynekke]

#1... EEEEW! Just got a protein skimmer, hooked it up... figured it would NEVER work, no moving parts.. just bubbles. This morning the collection cup is full of some brown sludge! What exactly is it?
#2... We're leaving on Christmas Vacation and will be gone 4 days... any suggestions on feeding the fish while I'm gone? The auto-top off will take care of evaporation but need to feed the poor guys.
Thanks!

 

[renogaw]

do not feed them, they will be fine.
that sludge is basically fish waste

 

[patandlace]

I agree they will be fine for 4 days. They will pick at the live rock if they get hungry.

 

[dinogeorge]

That “cup of crud” you got means your skimmer is working perfectly. How it works is that proteins are free floating in your tank. These proteins are made up of fish waste, uneaten food and decomposing matter within your tank. If not removed from your tank, these proteins will break down and turn into ammonia.
Proteins will adhere to the outside, or skin, of a bubble. The bubbles in your skimmer are just creating lots of surface area for the proteins to adhere too. As these bubbles rise, they take with them the proteins. Once they reach the top of the skimmer, the bubbles burst and the protein falls harmlessly into the cup.

 

[alex4286]

Originally Posted by Dinogeorge
That “cup of crud” you got means your skimmer is working perfectly. How it works is that proteins are free floating in your tank. These proteins are made up of fish waste, uneaten food and decomposing matter within your tank. If not removed from your tank, these proteins will break down and turn into ammonia.
Proteins will adhere to the outside, or skin, of a bubble. The bubbles in your skimmer are just creating lots of surface area for the proteins to adhere too. As these bubbles rise, they take with them the proteins. Once they reach the top of the skimmer, the bubbles burst and the protein falls harmlessly into the cup.
very WELL SAID!