I would say not normal at higher speeds my pool completely skims in about 4 minutes at low speed about 15 minutes. In a matter of hours/days it will settle down. I have a 72G tank (Oceanic, reef ready) with about 100 lbs. The way I've broken in a new skimmer is turn the air all the way up with the cup OFF and let it overflow into the sump. I hope its not a piece of junk. If I turn it up any higher, to many micro bubbles flood the tank. My skimmer has plenty of suction for vacuuming but fails to skim anything. If the weir is coming off that could explain most of it, without the weir much of the surface velocity is lost and you are mostly filtering not skimming. The skimmer basket floats when the pump is running or not so I'm wondering if there's no suction coming from the skimmer. Hi, did you figure out what was the issue because I'm having the same I replaced my Octo 150S as it stopped skimming all of a sudden also the new skimmer Deltec 1000i still not skimming for more than a month now, however I tried it in a friends sump and was perfectly skimming. The only problem that could be is that your skimmer is not standing or its pump is not in high enough level of water. 0 0 0. also skimmers are disabled by anything in the water that changes the surface tension. I have a Seaclone 100 protein skimmer, and its not really skimming anything anymore.....I have tried all the different settings with the venturi tube, and still cannot get much to skim....could it be possible that my water parameters are … ... Skimmer Not Skimming Sign in to follow this . By jodibell, April 27, 2011 in … It can take 3 days for a new unit to start skimming optimally. its a good skimmer so there should be anther reason. It starts skimming great pushing out alot of foam, and then after a few hours or less it just starts making bubbles and thats it. of LR and a 20 gallon refugium (EcoSystem). it could be that its pulled everthing. keep playing with it and dont give up just yet. You may have to keep the main drain line partially open so the pump can stay primed. My protein skimmer works but doesn't foam? I have an Octopus NW-110 Needle-Wheel Protein Skimmer for a 20 gallon tank.