Skimmer not skimming

[Aqualoon]

It's a Reef Octopus Classic, noticed it acting up about two weeks ago. I took it out of the sump and just made sure everything was cleaned up and put it back into the sump and it seemed to be foaming up just fine.

If I turn it on low or 1-3 the collection cup just fills up with water, if I turn it on max or one of the higher options it will decrease the water level in the collection cup but won't foam up.

Have had a break out of hair algae and I'm guessing this is the reason why. Thoughts on what I should be doing to my skimmer to get it to start working correctly again?

Thanks

 

[BlackTracet]

Fish have trouble swimming when the skimmer is not skimming!

Sorry couldn't help it! Just trying to keep it light.

 

[Aqualoon]

Fish have trouble swimming when the skimmer is not skimming!

Sorry couldn't help it! Just trying to keep it light.

Except when I read that with a serious tone and I get all concerned until I read the 2nd line! :lolspin:

 

[Tripod1404]

What is your exact skimmer model and tank size? Is it HOB or in sump. There might be an issue with the sump water level if it is a in-sump model or the depth of the intake if it is HOB. Also what do you mean my min/max settings. Most of the time those adjust the water level inside the skimmer reaction chamber not the cup. Collection cup is the part of the skimmer where waste accumulates, are you talking about that or are you taking about the reaction chamber?

Do you have good amount of bubbles inside the reaction chamber? Did you clean the air intake tubing and the part where it attaches to the skimmer? Those places are notorious for having salt built up.

If you have hair algae and started to use some method to kill it (inducing carbon dosing), those can make a skimmer go crazy due to large amount of dead/decaying materiel in water column. But in that case skimmer should be foaming a lot.

Keep in mind, if the skimmer is over sized for the tank, it is almost impossible to run it dry. In my experience if you have a over sized skimmer, you would need to run it wet. Otherwise it will collect all the waste on to the neck of the collection cup, since there wont be enough waste to sustain foam long enough for it to reach to the top of the neck. Foam will simply collapse and stick to the sides of the neck.

We need more info about the tank and the skimmer.