skimmer break in?

[saabtech]

so what is skimmer break in? what is actually happening?
is it a matter of breaking the surface tension of the skimmer housing and/or allowing the protiens to build on the walls of the skimmer so excess can be carried out with the bubbles?
is a matter of science in cohesiveness?
where are all the physics buffs around here?

[Europhyllia]

If I remember it right then it's actually the saltwater that gets broken in rather than the skimmer itself. That's assuming you put a new skimmer on a new tank with new saltwater. After a few weeks the saltwater ages and surface tension changes. The small water changes don't make that much of a difference.
I think I read that on one of the skimmer manufacturer websites (ASM maybe?)

[justahobby]

The oils/ contaminants from manufacturing have to be buffed out and then a bacterial film form in the body of the skimmer. I've read of people waiting 1 month to achieve any skimmate and up to 2 months for their skimmer to work optimally.