Question- Why do skimmers go Crazy?

[phljess]

Why is it every once in a while when all my stuff seemingly is doing great, my skimmer goes nuts? I have been doing this for over seven years now and still cannot figure this out. I mean I did not change water or anything with parameters and all the sudden my skimmer starts to spew like crazy for no reason known to me. The only thing I did was unclog one of my returns that had coraline encrusted over a lockline, which spead up my drains. So I guess I did change the params just a bit because this lowered my sump level by almost an 1/8 of an inch and introduced some FW from the ATO device. But I doubt this would throw off my skimmer for now three days.

I think someone on this forum may be able to answer this question or at least come up with an interesting incorrect theory.

BTW, I think this is the first new thread I have started in a while and forgot how long and drawn out the writing process can be. I will probably refrain from creating new threads for the next three months so I can rest and think of something I do not know. I used to be able to write threads much more frequently in the old days when I did not know anything. Now I just am set in my ways of doing things incorrectly and will not stop until I kill a few coral and actually notice I am doing things incorrectly. Then I may look for some advice.


Thanks,

Phillip

 

[rnhrtfan]

Phil I hope someone can answer this one as mine does the same thing. It will operate fine for a while, I won't change a thing and all of the sudden I will come home from work and the thing is spewing gunk out of the top of the cup (which was empty when I left for work as I check it every morning).?.? Hope someone has the answer.

 

[coralreefer]

I'll take interesting incorrect theory for $100 Phil

The only thing I did was unclog one of my returns that had coraline encrusted over a lockline, which spead up my drains.

Did it stir up detritus in the sump? Anytime I blow off the rocks or siphon/stir up detritus my asm goes crazy.
Does it still overskim turned all the way down? If mine goes crazy I either let it dump 5-10 gallons for a "waterchange by skimmer" and/or turn it down for a day or two. I can't remember if it's taken 3 days or not. With the standpipe lowered I can keep it from overskimming. I marked the collection cup so I know how high to raise the standpipe that way it's easy to readjust when it calms down.
btw I'm assuming it's your G3 if it's the SS *shrug*

 

[phljess]

Yes its the G3 I am used to this happening with the SS I have. I have to put a blue valve over the ASM and adjust the standpipe down as far as it will go to get it to stop overflowing sometimes. Btw, I did not stir up very much detitris when I unclogged the return.