I've never had a skimmer take longer than overnight. I usually plug it in overnight with the cup off, then in the morning put the cup on and adjust. Works right away. Glad you got it going!

Yeah, must have had a lot of these solvents still in there because it took good 3 days to start skimming at full capacity.
But now i am very happy with it.
A lot of air to water mixing ratio (700l/h), good stable foam, not sensitive to a sump water level variations (well unless i do a water change and drop it right down to a pump intake) and very very quiet, almost silent. I guess these rubber pads under the pump and under the skimmer itself is a very good idea.

2011-CP-S-150

Just an update, great skimmer running quiet, lots of air, good skimmate every two days.

I didn't ever think I would say that but now I think is time for me to admit that my tank is over skimmed!
So now I decided to have only one skimmer running (the cone obviously) and HOB Deltec is going to the vinegar bath and then storage.

Here is only two days worth of skimmate.
On top lid
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0452-1.jpg

Collection cup
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...ofIMG_0450.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0444-1.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0446-1.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0447-1.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...IMG_0443-1.jpg

Finally (in Jan 2013) upgraded my cone skimmer with new high air flow (1400 L/h) water pump Babble Blaster 3000.
Had to cut a new hole for the intake fitting as it would not fit in to the old one.
Skimmer is ridiculously powerful and very stable with this new pump.
Looking back there was no need to go with pump that big, as I had to take measures to reduce turbulence. BB2000 would have been enough.
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...psdb9a5b70.jpg
.
with new pump installed

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...psf0e4c03b.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...pscb702381.jpg
.

Two days of skimmimg with new pump.

http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps04fc9405.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...psbe2d7d4d.jpg
.
http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps47ba05b7.jpg
.
Only 30 min after cleaning
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http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps6a867189.jpg
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Only 30 min after cleaning


http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps99bf2dfe.jpg

As you can see compare to when skimmer was running on old OEM pump the skimmate now is denser and darker and also is stinks a lot more.
.

awesome MOD!

is the skimmer any louder with the new pump?

Very, very quiet. The pump has rubber feet. All i can hear is air but black cilinder (pic #4 hard to see on dark background) is my DIY silencer so quite happy with the mod.

Also the fact that this pump starts 100% of the time and in the correct direction is a big plus compare to many skimmer pumps that are just modified water pumps and not always start correctly.