Is this normal?

[fishgate]

I just completed my sump system. I had to raise the water level a bit because the overflow wouldn't go deep enough into the water at its lowest level. So now my skimmer has 10x the bubbles it ever had. I can't put the cup any lower or it fills in 5 minutes. Not sure what to do about it accept maybe try to raise the overflow cup that the skimmer uses. Skimmer is HOB I wish I could put it in the sump but there is just not enough room under the tank! Is there any hope?

BTW: The skimate being generated is clean.

 

[fishgate]

ok I took that black sponge that everyone said to throw out and put it under the overflow hole just above the skimmer drain and the bubbles have gone down to almost none. I'm sure glad I just tossed that in my pile instead of actually throwing it away!