Explosive EuroReef overflow

[thereefgeek]

I'm running an ER CS 8-3, and twice in as many days the cup has flowed over, filling up my 1 gallon puke jug and continuing to spill water under my stand and all over the floor (about 2-3 gallons of wet mess in all). By the time I discover it, the level in the neck is back to normal and everything appears to be back where it's supposed to be.

No other changes to the system to cause these eruptions and I'm starting to get worried to even leave the house with this thing running. I've noticed the skimmer reacting temporarily to things like changing my filter socks, and I keep the venturi tube flushed and clean with a little DI water pretty regularly. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[stevem650]

Have you used any epoxy to glue frags or added any new additives lately? How long has this skimmer been running?

 

[Maximus]

Hey Rich,
I have heard the fliter socks can do that to a skimmer, especially if they are new. I would just rinse out the socks really well. I am betting the problem lies with your sock. Btw, how ya doing Rich!

 

[thereefgeek]

Hey Sang, what's new?

As far as any glue, buffers, sticking my dirty hand in the tank, filter socks, etc., nothing; I haven't changed the slightest thing.

I understand that the new filter socks affect the surface tension, or something like that, and that can cause the skimmer to go nuts. Same with epoy stick and Red Slime Remover. It's the craziest thing and it's starting to make me crazy!

 

[Maximus]

Ahh, so the sock isnt new? How long has this been going on? Have you used epoxy?

 

[prodman]

Is it a new skimmer to you?

 

[geo]

Frozen food will create that issue, what are you feeding?

 

[manderx]

i have a big external skimmer that scares me too. been meaning to put a float switch on the 'puke jug' hooked to a relay to turn the recirc pumps off in case it overflows.

 

[thereefgeek]

I bought the skimmer used from Tim, aka: tfp. It's been running without a hitch for at least a month. I've done water changes, changed the filter socks, and feed dried nori and a mix of mysis and Cyclop-eeze on a daily basis without incident. I've also been dumping Randy's 2-part in for a couple weeks, but this thing just started freaking out on me this weekend. Glad I didn't go out of town for a 3-day holiday!!

I swapped the 1 gallon waste jug for a 6 gallon waste jug Sunday, and this morning after I got out of the shower I noticed about 3/4 gallon of very wet skimmate in the jug. Tskimmer was back to running normally, looking at me like an innocent child as if to say "What? It wasn't me." :mad2:

I like the float switch/relay idea. I may have to stop by "nerd hut" on the way home and rig one up.

 

[tfp]

rich, out of curiosity are you drawing the feed for the venturi from inside the stand? what happens is moist air tends to build up a residue/blockage inside the venturi that needs to be cleaned about once a month. i would pull the venturi tubing off and use a microscrewdriver to clear the blockage in the pump.

i started feeding my skimmers with air outside the stand and it seems to work better.

hth,
tim

 

[newnano]

or if you stick that feed tube in warm ro water and let it suck the water down the tube. that can help get things out of there.

 

[thereefgeek]

I'm feeding the venturi through the length of silicone tubing that came with it, so yup, it's drawing the air from under the stand.

I awoke this morning to yet another full 5 gallons of wet skimmer puke (in a 6 gallon jug; whew). I took the venturi off the pump and it's perfectly clean (I regularly run DI water through it). I'm going to find some vinyl tubing to extend the air intake to the outside of the stand and see if that solves the problem. My biggest concern it the lowered salinity levels from spitting out 5 gallons of SW and exchanging it with 5 gallons of DI water from my ATO unit.

/edit/ : Actually, my biggest concern is wet carpet and an angry wife!

 

[jnb]

I have a Y installed on my drain with a an overflow safty of sorts which may give you ideas - If the cup gets full to the same level as the green hose it starts overflowing into the sump

 

[tkeracer619]

I like that last one. How nuts can it go?

 

[H20ENG]

Rich,
While I cant explain your skimmer burps, I can recommend an auto shutoff waste collector, or a HOB catch cup that if it gets too full, will spill back to the sump.
Easy to add a $3 upside down toilet flapper to your bucket lid like GregTs setup...

 

[thereefgeek]

I've ran the venturi hose outside of the stand area, although I still can't figure out these unexplained skimmer floods. I'm a little concerned with putting skimmate back into the sump, but I'll also probably rig something like an emergency overflow bact to the filter socks to catch any solids. Overall I like Manderx's suggestion about the relay and float switch that will kill power to the skimmer pump (when all else fails). I'm currious if running 20' of venturi hose will affect the performance. Restriction and friction come to mind when I think of the air intake.

 

[H20ENG]

With the auto shutoff collectors, once the collector seals shut, it puts back pressure on the skimmer, all but cutting off its air intake (as long as your collection cup only vents to the collector). No electricity needed (Unless you like to tinker, silly question).

 

[jabloomf1230]

My guess is that something in your tank has recently died and since it wasn't a prized-possession, you didn't notice it. Often, a larger snail (Mexican turbos, etc.) will die somewhere in the tank and that creates an organic overload that fouls the skimmer. Sometimes the bivalves that are hitchhikers on Gulf of Mexico live rock decide to give up the ghost also, often after months or even years of happily living in semi-seclusion on the backside of a rock.