Skimmer help

[Mr_Cool]

It may not be and EMERGENCY, but I kind of need a quick answer. I'm really just checking, but....

If my skimmer is not really pulling a lot of junk out of the tank, it's probably because there's not much of a bio-load in there, right? I only have a 5-6" yellow tang, a small green chromis, and a small manderin in there, and it's about 200 gallons of total water volume. It's just a Remora skimmer, so I know it's not the best skimmer in the world (I'll be upgrading soon, I'm sure), but I have a nice size fuge, and I'm running a psuedo Hiatte method as well.

The only reason I'm asking is 'cause I had a bunch of fish die when my tank cycled again. :sick I actually moved everything from a smaller tank into the current one, but added some other sand that I apparently let die off a bit. Of course, I should've been testing the water, but I ran out. (That's another story.) I know the skimmer works. It was going CRAZY the week before the massacre, but I just figured it was because I added some of the fish.

Anyway, I'm getting a large hippo tang and a yellow eye tang tomorrow and I don't want to see them die, too. I tested my water tonight (got a new test kit ;) ) and there at 10. That's without a water change for about a month or so. Do you think I'm o'kay with this or what?

[hobogato]

what is at 10? if it is just nitrates and not ammonia or nitrite, then you should be ok. the pseudo hiatt system is probably the reason you are getting very little skimmate.

[Mr_Cool]

Oh, sorry. Nitrates are at 10.

So, Ace, should I keep the Hiatte carbon running or what? It's not ALL of the carbon that I had in the corner tank. I just figure I could use a combination of filtration methods (Fuge, Skimming, and Hiatt) and get the benefits of each.

[hobogato]

i wouldnt keep the hiatt if you are going to do any sps - there is some mis match there.

[Mr_Cool]

That's what I've heard. I'm not planning any sps right now. I'm think I'm going to keep it running for now.
Thanks!