Skimmer breakin

[Micelli13]

I'd like to breakin my skimmer in a bucket. Do I need to heat the water or no?

 

[CodyRVA]

There's really nothing to gain from doing this. Just put it on your system and let it do its thing. The water in the bucket would have to have some sort of nutrients or your skimmer wouldn't pull anything because there would be nothing to pull out and in turn wouldn't break in. The only thing that happens during a break in is a build up of bacteria.

 

[Micelli13]

Thank you for your reply.

My only reasoning for the bucket is so I don't have to turn the skimmer off and on while I dose the tank during its first cycle. It's a bubble magus and I hear I should run it with some vinegar to get the left over stuff from the factory.

Can I just wait until after the tank is cycled to add the skimmer instead or still just put it in now?

 

[Ocelaris]

I would put it in now, they say you're only going to get 40 percent of organics out with any skimmer anyways. That amount isn't going to stop the cycle also a lot of people want to get the organics out so they don't bond to the rock surface, so if you have room, it won't hurt anything. Just make sure the skimmer doesn't overflow as you'll just dump the nutrients back in. You need the organics to coat the surface of the acrylic, cleaning the skimmer with vinegar can remove any oils, but it will happen regardless.

 

[CodyRVA]

No need to run it during the cycle. You're going to and want to see a nitrate boost to confirm end of cycle. Turn it on when you've cycled and let it go; as mentioned it might overflow until it does break in, just keep an eye on it. It's a new setup, you're going to have an ugly faze regardless.

 

[stevo01]

Why not just let it run without the cup? Itll help break it in, you wont pull anything out, and itll be additional aeration.

 

[bo0sted2g]

I ran mine 24/7 during my cycle to break it in, pulled very light tea colored skim. Still saw elevated nitrates at the end of the cycle.
I would just run it in the tank!

 

[Micelli13]

Thanks for the replies. I'll wait until the water clears up from the sand going in and get the process started.

 

[stevo01]

I ran mine 24/7 during my cycle to break it in, pulled very light tea colored skim. Still saw elevated nitrates at the end of the cycle.
I would just run it in the tank!

Lovin that eclipse my friend, im rolling in an evo10 ;)