Foam

[squid row]

After acquiring parts over the last two years, I have finally set up my 72 gallon bow front.

Set up the tank with live sand and Life Rock, filled with water and the Eshopps R100 is filling with foam! The protein skimmer is a Reef Octopus 150 INT and it produces so much foam that it pours through the top cover

The filter sock is producing a ton of foam too

Is this normal?

The gate valve is about half way under water when I turn on the skimmer but I am thinking of raising it, will that help?

 

[mcgyvr]

Normal in a new tank.
Likely from the sand..

skimmers also take time to break in but I'd bet its all from the sand..
It will (should) clear up in a few days

 

[squid row]

Normal in a new tank.
Likely from the sand..

skimmers also take time to break in but I'd bet its all from the sand..
It will (should) clear up in a few days

Thank you. how do I keep it from spilling all over the sump, or do I just let it do its thing?

 

[hijinks]

Thank you. how do I keep it from spilling all over the sump, or do I just let it do its thing?

Just let it overflow for 5-7 days and see what happens if you empty it.

 

[oldhead]

My RO took about 5 days to break in. You should be running it with the valve wide open until it stops over flowing. I pulled the drain plug from the cup to keep the mess down. I run mine with the water just kissing the bottom of the return which is right around 6 1/2" I think.

 

[squid row]

Thanks again.. there is so much foam being produced that I had to take the cup off. It was spilling all over the place making a mess outside of the sump

 

[Rover88]

Remove the plug to let water run out of the skimmer.

Alternatively, turn the skimmer off if its bubbling enough to get water everywhere, and try it again in a few days. I have to turn my skimmer off anytime I use a new filter sock.

 

[squid row]

I had to turn the skimmer off. Even with the plug pulled it was making a huge mess. Going to wait until the foam stops from the sock, then try the skimmer again.

Every see someone use liquid dish detergent in a dishwasher? That is what my sump looks like with the new set up. Guess I need to stagger it a few days?

 

[Sk8r]

Good idea. Now and again mine goes berserk---anything oily like hand cream, guaranteed to make a mess.

 

[squid row]

Just to prove I am not going crazy (yet)..
Here is what the skimmer compartment looks like after about 30 seconds or running with the collection cup completely removed

 

[mcgyvr]

Now thats rather excessive though IMO...
I'd be concerned that you have some sort of soap/chemical in the water that really shouldn't be there..

Some foam is normal but to look like that really is not..

 

[on the spot]

Holy cow. I agree something is not right.

 

[squid row]

I think I found the problem.. I pulled the skimmer out and set it up in a tub. There were loose fittings and hoses.. Let's call it a dumb user error!

Going to let it run for a couple of days in a tub and then try it again in the tank. In the tub it seems to be doing a lot better.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Looks like soap got added to the system

 

[squid row]

UGH!

I made the dumbest F*in mistake possible....

I used a large green tub to make the saltwater. I thought it was a new one but nope it was one that was sealed and held clothing that was chemically treated for bed bugs back in August.

72 gallons have now been removed from the DT and the sump has been emptied as much as possible

Starting over... will get enough salt water in tonight to cover the sand and then tomorrow will do a combo of making new saltwater and buying 30 or 60 gallons from the LFS

Man.. I feel so stupid! What a freaking waste! Just glad I did not have any livestock in there.

 

[JUNBUG361]

I’d clean the system out using tap water, then dry out for almost a week. Pressure wash the rocks also let dry out almost a week. Clean sand also dry out. Your human we all mistake.

 

[Rover88]

UGH!

I made the dumbest F*in mistake possible....

I used a large green tub to make the saltwater. I thought it was a new one but nope it was one that was sealed and held clothing that was chemically treated for bed bugs back in August.

72 gallons have now been removed from the DT and the sump has been emptied as much as possible

Starting over... will get enough salt water in tonight to cover the sand and then tomorrow will do a combo of making new saltwater and buying 30 or 60 gallons from the LFS

Man.. I feel so stupid! What a freaking waste! Just glad I did not have any livestock in there.

Well damn.

Rinse off anything that was in there with RODI water as best you can.

 

[sde1500]

Yea, pull everything for a VERY good cleaning, rock and sand included. IDK I'd even consider replacing the rock and sand.

 

[Sk8r]

Run PolyFilter. Thank goodness for the skimmer fit.

 

[Daddi0]

On the bright side, you wont have an infestation of bedbugs in you reef :uhoh3: