When a tank is new (age < 4 months), it may not have much to skim. It may have one
substance (relatively speaking) that skims off immediately and then, though the pump is
running, the skimmer may seem dormant, producing few bubbles. Not to worry.
Those bubbles are building up an accumulation of waste that stays in the chamber and will eventually reach the collection cup
Be patient and wait.
Don't be too quick to adjust the level either via the skimmers standing depth or effluent outlet adjustment relative to the exterior water level and/or interior foam level. The foam level should eventually stabilize, though it may end up different than in the beginning.
When an older tank (age > 12 months) has not been skimmed in a while, it may have an abundance of compounds that easily foam. Soap is just one substance that makes bubbles.
Heaven forbid that there was soap in the aquarium, but soap is an example of one of the best foams that a skimmer can produce. Natural oils and surfactants can build up in an aquarium so that a skimmers first days are spent in what may seem like an overproduction of skimate(a pure reefing term not found in dictionaries).
It is important to remember that skimming is not a necessity, not the same as AC (activated carbon) is a necessity. Please don't misunderstand. Yes, skimming can be helpful
but it's just one way to run a reef aquarium. Skimming removes waste that is actually food. Food that would ordinarily feed micro-organisms like bacteria, algae and very tiny bugs - all beneficial to a reef ecosystem. In the absence of that food, those organisms will be reduced and not be available to feed the animals at the next level.
Some hobbyists choose not to skim. Some choose to do frequent water changes. Some choose to grow lots of Macroalgae. Some choose to use an undersize skimmer or to skim at regular intervals. Then of course, there are hobbyists that choose to overstock their aquariums, relative to the biofiltration capacity, and use not only an oversize skimmer, but other supplemental filtration as well.
A tank with a skimmer ends up a little different than one without a skimmer. Not better, just different.
This reef geek just thought you might like to know that.
Aloha,
Mark
AC all the way.
Edited by Mark Peterson - November 15 2013 at 8:02am
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