[IceMan]

ok i had an old sealife systems, very tempermental to water level in sump, attempted a mod... uhh lets just say it is a paper weight now. put an old red sea prizm on until i got another in sump. got an ASM mini (needed this due to footprint size) if i put the asm in the water level is apx 10" (it won't draw air) put a jar under it, pump now only apx 3" under water. drawing air fine. both the asm and the redsea are bubbling the water but NO FROTH! why? what am i doing wrong? it looks like i'm trying to skim freshwater, boiling but no froth climb at all! i'm afraid my nutrients are gonna go through the roof if i don't figure this out.

[IceMan]

also can anyone explain a breakin period for a skimmer to me? i can't find an explanation online.

[Taras1]

Depending on the age of your tank, the bioload in the tank and a host of other things, the break-in for a skimmer can be from 1 - 10 days. The air-water interface is critical -- the finer the bubble and the longer it's in contact with the water produces the best foam. The most important thing is that anything that disturbs the surface tension of the foam (oil, lubricants, fish food, etc.) will delay foam production. The instructions that came with your skimmers should give you "tuning" instructions to produce skimmate.

[IceMan]

didn't get any... just skimmer in a box.

[Ganrin]

This thread has my reply to a similar post about an asm skimmer.
ASM Mini-G Protein skimmer.. help - Reef Builders Forums
The grey tube with the sponge on it controls the water level in the skimmer and as a result the consistancy of the foam.

[IceMan]

thx, looks like the manuf. would buy your post since they can give instructions of there own.