Protein Skimmer Reeks!!

I removed all my mechanical filtration and bio-balls. That was a great
suggestion as my skimmer is now picking up 2-3x the debris as before.

Problem is that now the skimmer reeks bad! Putrid bad! I was emptying
it once a day, and started twice a day. Problem is that by it's very
design, it has air flowing through it and the aroma isn't the most
appealing for living room. (Of course, I've opened the windows now due
to nicer weather.)

Any ideas? I can hope that this will settle down eventually.

--Kurt

Can it be run a abit more onthe drier side? It would increase time
between having to empty the collection cups. I screwed up on mine the
other night. I dosed some B-Ionic, and also swirled in a good heavy
feeding of silversides and home brew frozen foods........I forgot to
turn off skimmer, and walked off and went out to the shop. came back
in an my tank was a mass of bubbles and ppaque looking
water......Iknew imediately what was wrong. It had so much air mixed
inthe tanks water from the level being low, is what made it opaque,
and what was not in the tank was on the floor / carpet.......Wife
liked tohave had a fit, when she came out and walked over to he tank
and got damp feet ;-) At least the skimmer was cleaned about 1 hour
earlier so no real nasty stuff got spilled out of it.


On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:47:45 -0500, KurtG
wrote:


I removed all my mechanical filtration and bio-balls. That was a great
suggestion as my skimmer is now picking up 2-3x the debris as before.

Problem is that now the skimmer reeks bad! Putrid bad! I was emptying
it once a day, and started twice a day. Problem is that by it's very
design, it has air flowing through it and the aroma isn't the most
appealing for living room. (Of course, I've opened the windows now due
to nicer weather.)

Any ideas? I can hope that this will settle down eventually.

--Kurt



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

"KurtG" wrote in message
...

I removed all my mechanical filtration and bio-balls. That was a great
suggestion as my skimmer is now picking up 2-3x the debris as before.

Problem is that now the skimmer reeks bad! Putrid bad! I was emptying it
once a day, and started twice a day. Problem is that by it's very design,
it has air flowing through it and the aroma isn't the most appealing for
living room. (Of course, I've opened the windows now due to nicer
weather.)

Any ideas? I can hope that this will settle down eventually.

--Kurt

Put a small tad of kalk powder in their as it helps the smell. I don't know
exactly how but it does. It may have something to do with the bacteria
production or enzymes in the skimmate.I add just a small bit with a little
water and it helped mine.Just clean up the residue it leaves once in awhile
with vinegar and water mix.

Lay a carbon bag over the holes if any in the top is another method I have
heard

KurtG wrote:

I removed all my mechanical filtration and bio-balls. That was a great
suggestion as my skimmer is now picking up 2-3x the debris as before.

Problem is that now the skimmer reeks bad! Putrid bad! I was emptying
it once a day, and started twice a day. Problem is that by it's very
design, it has air flowing through it and the aroma isn't the most
appealing for living room. (Of course, I've opened the windows now due
to nicer weather.)

Any ideas? I can hope that this will settle down eventually.

--Kurt


It should settle down.

Tristan's suggestion about adjusting water level or airflow to produce
drier foam is the first thing I'd reccomend you try.

It may also clear up if given enough time. on it's own.

The skimmate that collects in my cups has sort of a mildly earthy smell
to it - if it smells like rotting seaweed, low tide, or the like,
something is wrong. The liquid that collects in the cup should be VERY
dark brownish green. It should be almost opaque. It should NOT be the
color of tea or weak coffee.

**** STINKS....
Give it time, sounds like you have a high nutrient tank.
What skimmer did you end up getting ???


"KurtG" wrote in message
...

I removed all my mechanical filtration and bio-balls. That was a great
suggestion as my skimmer is now picking up 2-3x the debris as before.

Problem is that now the skimmer reeks bad! Putrid bad! I was emptying it
once a day, and started twice a day. Problem is that by it's very design,
it has air flowing through it and the aroma isn't the most appealing for
living room. (Of course, I've opened the windows now due to nicer
weather.)

Any ideas? I can hope that this will settle down eventually.

--Kurt

TheRock wrote:
**** STINKS....
Give it time, sounds like you have a high nutrient tank.
What skimmer did you end up getting ???

ASM G4. Yeah, it does seem like I'm on the high scale of nutrients
although my nitrates have never been lower. My diatom problem has
burned itself out as well.

--Kurt

It's actually a ASM G3. My mistake.

It did settle down. I think it's just settling down again after
removing the bioballs/filter pads and adding stronger power heads. My
diatoms bloomed again over the weekend. Arg, I hope my phosphate and
nitrate reactors arrive soon.

--Kurt



KurtG wrote:
TheRock wrote:
**** STINKS....
Give it time, sounds like you have a high nutrient tank.
What skimmer did you end up getting ???

ASM G4. Yeah, it does seem like I'm on the high scale of nutrients
although my nitrates have never been lower. My diatom problem has
burned itself out as well.

--Kurt