Red Sea MAX
®
NANO
18
New Skimmers or Set-ups
Skimmers only produce foam if the
water contains the proteins that bind
to the surface of the air bubbles and
give the bubbles the structural rigidity
they need to ascend the neck of the
skimmer and settle in the collection
cup. In a new aquarium set-up the bio-
load is low and the amount of proteins
is negligible.
New skimmers sometimes need
a short break-in period of a few days before they begin to function
efficiently. Over-skimming is common while harmless chemical residues
that affect the surface tension of the water are neutralized.
Feeding and Supplementing
Skimmers are very susceptible to the effect of surface active compounds
such as foods and supplements that are added regularly to the aquarium.
Such materials can significantly affect the foam production and in some
cases cause over-skimming. Immediately before adding such materials
switch the skimmer off and leave off for 30 minutes or however long it
takes until the skimmer will return to its normal foaming action without
repositioning the Skim Adjuster.
Collection Cup
Monitor the amount of skimmate that accumulates in the collection cup
and empty the cup on a regular basis. When emptying the cup, clean the
inside of the neck by rinsing it with water, as the build-up of skimmate in
the neck will adversely affect the skimmer performance. If you wash the
cup with detergent make sure to rinse it thoroughly before returning it to
the skimmer.
13 General Aquarium
Maintenance
The long-term success and health of the inhabitants of your MAX
®
aquarium depends on you. Proper planning makes reef care easier to
manage and quicker to perform. This will leave you more time for the
real goal: enjoying your aquarium. Care of the tank should follow a
regular, logical pattern. Divide the tasks into daily, weekly and monthly
procedures, including equipment checks, feeding, water parameter
testing and adjustments.
You may find it helpful to make a systematic checklist of care activities
and keep a log of the activities performed. Your log does not need to be
complicated; you will need to track the following:
•
The tank’s parameters – pH, salinity, temperature, etc.
•
The general appearance of the tank and individual species.
•
Equipment changes – when you changed light tubes or replaced
heaters, etc.
•
Replacement of carbon or other filter media.
•
Information specific to each animal – when they were added, moved
or removed, their approximate size, any signs of stress or ill health etc.
Water levels
Check the water level in the ATO on a daily basis and add fresh water
as required to compensate for any evaporation. If the water in the
aquarium is too high check that the surface skimmer is not blocked.
Surface Skimmer
Remove and clean the surface skimmer at least once a week to allow
proper water flow and stable water level differentiation between the
aquarium and the rear sump. Periodically soak in a weak acidic solution
(vinegar, citric acid) until any calcium carbonate deposits have dissolved.
Wash thoroughly before returning to the aquarium.
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