cyho II brand protein skimmer

[bandito974]

I have a cyho protein skimmer, I dont have the blue bio balls in it. I have a 17 gallon tank. Should I be concerned about adding one?
Or am I good just running it with out the blue stuff?
My tanks been up about 2 months now, I had live sand and live rock in it all this time but now am adding coral.

J

 

[james734]

First Welcome to RF.

I've never heard of the skimmer before, But as for the Bio-balls don't be concerned about them. They're nothing but a nitrate producing factory and not needed.

 

[bandito974]

Thanks for the feedback, so basically the skimmers job is to skim the surface and push all the junk up into the top?

 

[twilliard]

Thanks for the feedback, so basically the skimmers job is to skim the surface and push all the junk up into the top?

May want to read up on "foam fractionation"

 

[james734]

You called it a CYHO skimmer. I was trying to find it on the web and the only thing I can find is a CPR BAK-PAK skimmer. Is that what it is?

http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/bakpaks.html

Here's a quick 101 on Foam Factionation

http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/commercial/protein-skimming.asp

But in short it's pulling out the organics from the water before they have a chance to start breaking down.

 

[bandito974]

You called it a CYHO skimmer. I was trying to find it on the web and the only thing I can find is a CPR BAK-PAK skimmer. Is that what it is?

http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/bakpaks.html

Here's a quick 101 on Foam Factionation

http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/commercial/protein-skimming.asp

But in short it's pulling out the organics from the water before they have a chance to start breaking down.

Yes thats it

 

[TinaPerry]

Just curious .......your temp gauge is reading 82.......is that accurate temp on your tank?

 

[bandito974]

probably,
is that too warm? the water doesnt feel at all that warm when I stick my hand in it, the thermom did say its bewteen 79-80, thats a good catch I hadn't noticed that, I wonder if the light adds that much more heat!

 

[TinaPerry]

My understanding is the tank should be between 76-78 ........ that is just what I keep mine at.....80 and above is too high IMO...............Just my 2Cs

 

[ronj]

i have that skimmer on one of my tanks(20g)..it works pretty well...i wouldn't put the blue media in it if i had it!!

 

[mmkeeper]

Leave the blue media out if you want to increase the output of the skimmer you can an air stone with air pump. You drop it down the side where your heater is and slip it under the interior wall to the side that your bubble are feeding up to the cup.

 

[mmkeeper]

Make sure you keep the venturi and the airline clean.

 

[csababubbles]

a skimmer basically makes bubbles. organics bind to these bubbles and get pushed out into the collection cup. a pump usually mixes air & water to make those bubbles which then fill up the chamber.

also, average temps in the oceans reefs is 81F. I run my tanks between 79-83.

 

[mmkeeper]

This link might be of some help. http://www.athiel.com/lib10/bakpak.htm