Protein skimmer working overtime

[TracyJean]

OK, I am still very new to this, so any help would be appreciated.

I have had my tank set up for about 2 1/2 months. 55 gallon and I have a small 4 gallon sump with protein skimmer under the tank. Things have been going fine until this afernoon I did a water change and cleaned the tank. Ever since, my protein skimmer is putting out mad liquids. I am running out of water. I usually buy RO and saltwater from a LFS, and don't have much left. I am on a well here at home.

My power was out once for a few days and once everything was up and runnng again it did this too, but quit after a few hours. I have had to add about 2-3 gallons within the last 7 hours.

Water tested fine, not sure what to do now.

TIA, Tracy

 

[bertoni]

Did you use any form of water conditioner? They often cause problems with skimmer.

 

[TracyJean]

I didn't, just water straight from the LFS. Which is what I normally do, so this is really throwing me for a loop.

 

[bertoni]

Sigh. Protein skimmers are poorly understood, IMO. You might have gotten something into the tank during the change. You could save the water from the collection cup and reuse it, though, if that's where the water is going.

As long as the parameters are okay and the inhabitants look well, I wouldn't worry too much.