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Cultivated Reef

29g biocube protein skimmer problems?


slackcub

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Hello everyone, I started a 29g biocube about a month ago, and everything seems to be going well. However, I seem to have run into an issue. I had picked up the protein skimmer that is made for it, but it seems to be blocking the water flow in back too much. I had removed the cartridge which is included with the tank and replaced it with a bunch of floss, and put some activated charcoal in a media bag below the bio-balls.

 

After freshly replacing the floss and making sure the sponge filter is clean, the water level in the third chamber, was still below the min line. After taking off the top of the protein skimmer, the level immediately rose and stopped halfway between the min and max levels.

 

Sounds like I'm in the market for a different protein skimmer. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good mod for this, or any idea of what I could do to correct this?

 

David

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Does anyone have any suggestions for a good mod for this

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/BioCube-29_c16.htm

 

I'd remove the bio-balls completely and get a media basket from inTank. I believe there is a tab that you can cut; which BC do you have (Oceanic or Coralife)? Which skimmer are you using? Remember that the max level is primarily for the stock media. You can add more water if you wish.

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When a skimmer is turned on, water is going to be filling the body and neck, essentially increasing the total volume of your system. In bigger skimmers, this can be a significant amount of water. This is why if you turn your skimmer off (or remove the cup and neck) the water level goes up (it'll go up more if you totally turn it off).

 

Turn the skimmer off and measure your salinity to ensure it is correct and mark the position of the water level. Turn the skimmer on and watch the water level drop. Once it drops, add more saltwater to the tank until the water level reaches your mark.

 

I also agree with Seabass to remove the bioballs. As the filter media clogs and becomes full of detritus, it'll also cause the water level to drop slightly in the last chamber. These slight variations don't make a big difference and aren't even measureable when testing your salinity unless you have a super accurate electronic conductivity meter. Don't worry about it.

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i dont have a skimmer but the slim skim nano from what i hear works well and fits in first chamber. second chamber i am running media and fuge baskets. so far im doing quite well without a skimmer. i do weekly water changes of 5 gallons and monthly changes of 10 gallons.

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Sorry for the delay. For some reason I thought I would get emails when people responded ;)

 

Anyway, on to the topic at hand. I did end up aging more water and it seems to have solved the problem.

 

Just for the record, I have the coral life biocube. My sg is around 1.026.

 

I seem to have run into another issue with my cuc, but that's a topic for another post.

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