help skimmer going crazy

[tjswan]

when i turn on my skimmer it just fills up with water from the tank and so fast that it cant be emptied, i filled up a five gallon bucket, and it would have kept going if i didnt unplug it. what is causing this, how do i fix it . the skimmer is a turbofloater 1000.
any help will be greatly appreciated.
thanks
tracey

 

[fishfeeder]

have you checked the output to make sure its flowing back out of the skimmer? I think you can adjust it with the riser tube? Not sure, as I have never used the Turbofloater. My skimmer has a gate valve and I was told to open it all the way and then slowly close it until I reach the right bubble mixture...maybe try to adjust the riser tube to try and get it to mix right.

What pump do you have running it? Do you have any pics of it running, as it might help to diagnose it.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Is your venturi pipe filled with some water? A reduced air flow will cause the strong pump to push water into the skimmer too fast. Did you also check the venturi pipe still connected to the pump?

There should be a throttle valve on top of the skimmer. By turning this, you may be able to bring the water level in the skimmer down.

Tomoko

 

[tjswan]

thanks i will try all of this and let you know how it goes. the pump running it is an aqua medic ocean runner 2500. thanks everyone
tracey

 

[dgrammer]

Is the ocean runner the needle wheel pump creating the bubbles. Just curious as this pump pumps 700GPH and is way too much to use as a feed pump. You need something around 150GPH to feed the skimmer.

 

[twkenny]

The OR2500 with a needle wheel is a good choice for that skimmer.
How deep is the water in your sump?

 

[dgrammer]

Sorry twkenny. Let me clarify my post. The OR2500 is a good needle wheel pump for the skimmer, but I was questioning whether that was being used as the pump to feed water into the skimmer.

 

[twkenny]

No worries...didn't mean to sound argumentative...sorry!

 

[tjswan]

it is a hang on the side skimmer and it is the pump that feeds the skimmer.

 

[twkenny]

Oh, it's the TF Multi than, right?

 

[tjswan]

yes that is correct i am sorry i should have stated that earlier, but couldnt remember anything except tf1000 thanks for adding to my mistake.
thanks
tracey

 

[twkenny]

Adding to your mistake? LOL.
No problem...we jusy need to get it working.

I don't have a Multi, mine is in-sump. Maybe someone alse will chime in.

 

[tjswan]

i worded that wrong didnt i sorry when you have five kids and tank problems your mind does not function...lets try again
thanks for correcting my mistake.

thanks
tracey

 

[alafish]

Additives to your tank can cause this. It happened with my old skimmer-LOTS of skimmate. When I called AquaC about it he asked about things I might be adding to my tank.

Good Luck!
Marybeth

 

[twkenny]

Tracey,
Do you have the manual? If not, Aqua-Medic can send you one in .pdf format.

Let's start from the beginning. How long have you had the skimmer running? Has it worked properly in the past?
Add anything to the tank? Anything clogged in the skimmer?

I only have 3 kids and I go nuts....FIVE?

We'll get it figured out!

 

[tjswan]

I dont have manual, i have had skimmer for it will be a year in feb. it has always worked great and i havent added anything and the skimmer is not clogged, this is just the strangest thing i have ever seen. i only run my skimmer sometimes, so something has happened since i last run it.

 

[8BALL_99]

Sounds like your airline on the skimmer is blocked some how.. If the skimmer doesnt' pull enough air it will overflow.. There might be salt creep or calcium blocking it. I've never mess with that skimmer, But if I had to guess thats the problem.. Take the entire Venturi off and rinse it really well with freshwater.. You might even want to soak it in white vinegar for a while. Then see what it does.

Will

 

[6Speed]

I hope you get those skimmer problems worked out. I had that same problem with a skimmer once, and it turned out I had the exit tube blocked with something.

I looked for the hawkfish today, but he didn't come. Did he go out yesterday?

 

[tjswan]

thanks 8-ball i will try this tonight and let you guys know if i get it working again. do most of you run your skimmers all of the time or just now and again? just curiuos i have the miracle mud sump and according to them i dont even need a skimmer but when i run it now and again i do get dark smelly thick skimmate.

 

[twkenny]

I think most folks run them 24/7. I do.