CPR bak pak skimmer

[drew1092]

Hello everyone. I have a CPR bak pak skimmer running now 2 1/2 weeks on my 29 gallon build. I am planning to have reef tank with a few fish. About last week, I guess after the break in I began to see white foam. Now, 2 weeks into it, the foam is pretty much still white/yellow. Collectiion cup fills with slimy green water. Is that normal or am I not operating this at the best capacity? I am assuming the low bioload is the reason for such weak skimate but it is pretty much just green water.

Also, I had saw a mod for using an air pump with a wood stone run up into the reaction chamber. Haven't done this yet, seems like a pain fishing the air tubing up there. Do you recommend the mod? Thanks!

[bcrum51]

sounds like a working skimmer to me my friend

[Loverotties]

It sounds like it's skimmig wet if you want it dryer,you'll have to change the flow in the skimmer(a little lower in the chamber).

[drew1092]

Wasn't sure. I thought it was working but all the pics I see of skimmers the skimmate is more a gunky, bubbly mass rather than water. If this means I have it set up right then great! Thanks

[aquawolf]

If it is producing greenish/yellow water, then it is working well. If you want it to be nastier, you can raise the collection cup a little higher with the band and it will make drier skimmate.

I have to clean the collection cup on mine at least twice a week. Doing this also helps it run better as you get the slime layer off the inner tube of the collection cup and it bubbles better.

[Hop]

If you get green tea out of a bak pak your doing it right

You have to understand smaller skimmers work a little different and really can't do as much as a good water change can when done correctly. I run a bak pak on a 20 gallon I run every so often and if I can get the green tea, I know I'm skimmer right.

[drew1092]

Thanks! Just reassured me. I am always getting green tea and nasty slime layer in cup when I clean it out. As I am going along in the cycle bubbles are getting nastier too. Thanks!

[iceslinger]

My tank is a 28 gallon bow front and his been running about the same amount of time as yours. How often do you have to empty your collection cup? I am in the market for a new protien skimmer and was wondering how you like the CPR BAK. I have a seaclown. I have been told repeatedly how bad it is.

[drew1092]

Ive been emptying it about every 3 days or so. At first, wasn't getting much of anything. Now the green tea goo fills cup at about 1-2" a day. I do a partial water change every week. I think for the price its working great though if its in your display tank the words huge and ugly come to my. If you have a sump I would get the inline version. Also seems to be a little loud, then again don't have much experience with skimmers. Seems to be efficient though.

[drew1092]

Anyone try the upgrade to accela venture pump for this skimmer? I would like to get the most skimming as possible out of this unit until I have saved for an octopus. Currently I have the maxijet 1200 pump on it.

[Seaweed88]

I am using that pump to replace the rio 6 that was on it when I got it. I do like how this pump works but it is a little noisy.