Skimmer going crazy! HELP!!

[ChunksInClemson]

My skimmer is going crazy right now. It is filling up the cup about every 2 to 3 minutes and I've already dumped 3 cups. Its never done this before. Its a berlin turbo skimmer. It usually barely takes out anything and now its going crazy. Its about 75% water, 25% bubbles. The water doesnt look that dirty either. What is going on???!!!!

Thanks!

 

[yoboyjdizz]

have you added any chemicals to the water recently?

 

[tomnmaddie]

ok Chunks


First has the level in the sump changed? The salinity?? also check your
discharge tube and adjust it to its lowest postion.. so you dont run water into the collection cup.. Also check the air tube to the venturi it could be clogged, kinked etc...

 

[ChunksInClemson]

No chemicals to the water recently. I am thinking maybe something I had on my hand when I stuck it in the tank? I always wash my hands with water before I stick them in there. I just added a fish and changed the rock around but it has never done this before!

Yeah, the level in the sump has changed b/c I have been taking out the water in the fill cup. I have turned the skimmer off for now.

Here are some videos of what its doing...



WITHOUT THE CUP...

 

[Randall_James]

It is possible something in the tank died? Any thing that changes the surface tension on the water can cause a skimmer to go bonkers or just quit working. Adding a fish could add bioload that could lead to more bubbles
Keep adding water, keep tabs on the salinity and it will probably clear up in a few hours.

I have this happen on occassion and I leave the skimmer running on the basis it is removing something I do not want in the tank, even if I do not know what it is

 

[MCary]

Sounds like stress coat or melefix. When you added the fish did you dump in the water from the bag? If so its probably stress coat.

Mike

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Randall, very true. Im not gonna be home for a while so it is gonna keep running into my sump but i will keep an eye on it later on tonight. Even if its not really removing anything, it will take care of the water change i've been needing to do!

Anyone else have any ideas???

 

[rustybucket145]

I have a berlin turbo and if the air valve for the venturi is open to far it will overflow. So close the valve all the way and let it settle for a little then re-open it. BTW this skimmer works MUCH better if you get a more sensative air flow control valve to replace the one on the skimmer.

 

[shoddyk]

I got home from work last night and went to empty my skimmer and I guess I was too late. Evidently it already overflowed and there were so many bubbles in my 60 gallon sump it looked like dish soap in there. It took about 2 hours of dumping the skimmer cup after that to clear up the mess.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Rusty, where do i pick up another air control valve? I dont think its the setting b/c I havent messed with it for like 3 weeks. It just all the sudden up and went crazy so I think its something in the tank.

Im gonna turn the sump back on tonight and I will be prepared to sit there and dump it until it clears up.

Thanks guys!

 

[goda]

how often do you CLEAN the skimmer. ( not empty ) but clean


(btw my father might be moving to clemson SC ( or boiling springs)

 

[Sk8r]

sometimes a spawning will cause that.

 

[ChunksInClemson]

no spawning possibilities, just got the juvenile clown 2 days ago. I haven't cleaned the skimmer yet. How can that cause it to go crazy? I will do that tomorrow. Im gonna keep it off for the night but I will fool with it tomorrow.

Goda, thats cool. What does he do? Where are you from? Its a great college town!!

 

[goda]

dirty skimmers do wierd things. some stop skimming some over skim. ( when you take out the cup make sure to sponge off the inside of the skimmers riser tube

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Yeah, I always clean the cup good. Im just gonna take it apart and clean it really good and then let it dry completely. I guess I'll go from there after that.

 

[MCary]

I ask again, did you pour the water from the bag with your new fish in the tank. Just a capful of stresscoat will make your skimmer practically explode. Many petstores put a capful in the bag when they bag up the fish for transport.

Mike