"test" my skimmer ?

[liquidfunk]

I have my new tank all set up, and Im running the skimmer and main pump etc. My question is, right now I have 0 bioload as its nothing but sand and rock. Id like to test my skimmer a bit and generate some skimmate.

Is there something I can add to the water to generate some skimmate? Would it be nuts to dump some skimmate from my big tank in to give the bacteria something to do, and my skimmer something to skim just to be sure everything is in order?

[funstarfish]

some rock should be plenty to get things skimming.

[pmcbride]

Add some red slime remover (comes in a yellow powder) and that puppy will start to pump out foam. I treated my tank a while ago and the skimmer went crazy. I had to turn it off. Patrick

[Krux]

i do not recommend in any way soap!

you can drop in some left over lasagna if you fancy.

best of all would be skimmate from the main tank though.

[Loverotties]

Should work with the rock.

[Krux]

well, that would be assuming that it is dirty rock... did you go with that dry base rock or what?

[liquidfunk]

ya it was the rock that came with the tank...

The owners never did a water change the whole time they had the tank, they were confused when I talked about having salt. They added RO water there son brought over for top off, and that was it. As soon as I put the tank back together (I moved it with 3 inches of water and left the sand alone since its acrylic) the nitrates were over 200ppm. so the rock got nuked pretty good. All the shrooms started rotting etc, so I took all the sand out rinsed it real well, sifted it with a fish net to get the dead crap out (like bristle worms) put it back together, added fresh water and 48 hours later I have 0 'ates, and 'ites. Never did test the ammonia.

Starting to really purk up now, the zoas are open, coraline is back to purple instead of white etc.

Ill take a photo soon to show, I ordered the Bimac today, although I hear it can take a month or two before you actually get it.