4. If the foam is too dry and doesnt reach the integrated foam
adjuster windows, first increase the air flow by opening the
valve and then start to lower the height of the foam adjuster
by rotating it clockwise. The foam will start to climb up the
neck and stabilize.
5. Make sure not to lower the adjuster more than its minimal
height. Doing so will interfere with
the foam production and will block
the foam from flowing out the
windows to the collection cup.
31
User Manual
NOTE During set up, the skimmer may over-skim for few
days or may not skim at all. This is the skimmers
break-in period. Adjusting the skimmer during this
period may take some time and requires patience.
It is advisable to do fine adjustments every few
hours until the foam settles down.
We recommend using an Aragonite-based substrate of at least
5-7cm / 2-2.7", as it helps keep the water chemistry balanced.
Aragonite dissolves slowly in water, releasing calcium ions and
carbonates that help maintain proper pH and alkalinity for good
coral growth. In an established tank, when the substrate matures,
it takes on the characteristics of live sand inhabited by millions
of micro-organisms. These creatures promote a successful
aquarium, aiding the biological filtration processes of nitrification,
de-nitrification and the consumption/ decomposition of uneaten
food. The substrate also provides a natural habitat for small
worms and crustaceans that help clean the tank from detritus
and play a major role in the delicate ecosystem's food chain.
We recommend using Red Sea Reef Base, included in the MAX
Starter Kit. With the addition of the recommended quantity of
live rock (see next section), the depth of your Reef Base substrate
should reach the recommended minimum depth of 5cm/2".
Red Sea Reef Base provides an ideal substrate for all marine fish
and invertebrate aquaria. It consists of naturally occurring reef
sand spheres mixed with aragonite coral chips, and comes pre-
washed and impurity-free. The spheres, highly porous calcareous
shells of simple protozoa (foraminefers), provide a large surface
area for bacteria colonization and offer multiple other benefits
to marine aquaria; the porosity of the spheres provides an
excellent media for both aerobic (nitrifying) and anaerobic
(denitrifying) biological filtration. The high buffering capacity of
natural aragonite, the most dissolvable form of calcium carbonate,
helps to maintain natural, stable levels of pH in the aquarium.
Preparing the substrate
You can set up your reef tank with or without a substrate
at the bottom.
Figure 40: Make sure not to block the foam adjuster windows
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