Am I supposed to run protein skimmer during fishless cycle?

[FishNoob]

Hey guys,

My protein skimmer has been on since I got it and started to cycle my new tank 5 days ago, it's still making crazy amounts of microfoam and is overflowing! (It's getting better I suppose, the lid stays on somewhat now but before the foam was blowing it off).

I just realised that maybe I shouldn't turn it on during a fishless cycle because there's no protein to skim, thus why it's overflowing so badly? What are your guys thoughts?

[555combo]

The other reason it will cause mass bubbles is if it is a new skimmer it may still be breaking in (removing all the oils and other stuff from manufacture etc). Once it is broken in and dialled in it should be fine.

I don't see any issue using it during the cycle.

[fsamir]

Keep it running. If it is overflowing it is because there is something to remove or it isn't properly dialed.

[Ashlum]

If you’ve got live rock there will be bacteria die off and thus protein in the water column

[FishNoob]

Hey guys!

My protein skimmer is still overflowing. I have it set to let in the least amount of skim (dry setting) and it's still overflowing like crazy (the lid won't stay on and there's foam spray all over the inside of my sump!). There's nothing in my tank besides my fake live rock (so there's no die off), sand and sea water. It's been like this for like 1.5 weeks.

I notice that when I shake my sock filter that's holding the decaying fish food in it (that I'm using for my fishless cycle) then all the foam stops when it lets all the detritus from the fish food bag into the system. Is that normal? But before I started dosing fish food and it was just plain NSW it was overflowing too...

[Alf D]

How high is the water level in the area where the skimmer sits?...you may need to raise the skimmer.
Try turning the air valve off and then slowly let some air in.

[Jutscher]

Where is the skimmer located and how high is the water level? You could try raising the skimmer, it should help.
Also, what is this ‘fake rock’? Is it still rock? Some plastics will cause skimmers to go ballistic.

Edit: Beaten by Alf

[FishNoob]

I'm using the CaribSea Life Rock (artificial life rock). I think I sorted my skimming issue, I had the bubble plate on wrong!

Should the bubbles come right up to the collection cup like this, or should it be lower?

[Jutscher]

A bit lower. You dont want a continuous stream of bubbles running into the cup.

[FishNoob]

Today my skimmer went down and even on its highest setting the skimmer bubbles are low! What is going on?! :L