Skimmer overflowing

[itz frank]

Relatively new tank. This is what it's been doing for 4 days. It's been set up since Tuesday. The tank that is.

I've tried checking the air tube. I've given it a vinegar bath. I've run it in fresh r/o. Doesn't do this in r/o.

Where do I go next? Is it a contaminant the skimmer doesn't like in the tank?

 

[ptreef]

is the red valve open all the way?
Turned counter clockwise.

Also skimmers don't really do anything in fresh or RO water

 

[ptreef]

also why is the cup not on?
Does it over flow with the cup on as well?

 

[itz frank]

It fills the cup in about a minute with water.

Valve is all the way counter clockwise.

 

[ptreef]

How deep is water it is in?
Maybe too deep

 

[ClownMan727]

Are those new filter socks? Do you wash them and rinse before putting in?

 

[itz frank]

How deep is water it is in?

Maybe too deep

5.5 inches. It's an SRO 1000int 5"

 

[itz frank]

Are those new filter socks? Do you wash them and rinse before putting in?

Filter sock just went in. Hasn't been in until today.

I put the skimmer cup in and removed the drain plug. This increased outflow and bubbles in the exit.

 

[ptreef]

filter socks make my skimmer go nuts, but usually only for 15 mins at most.
Did you add any thing to tak like bacteria or slime remover?

What did you wash socks with?

 

[Sonyardo]

try 6.5" water and see how it works

 

[itz frank]

filter socks make my skimmer go nuts, but usually only for 15 mins at most.
Did you add any thing to tak like bacteria or slime remover?

What did you wash socks with?

Bacteria was added. But ion initial set up Tuesday. BioDigest x3 vials.

 

[itz frank]

Skimmer was in 6" for a few days. I just made a stand out of eggcrate pieces stacked.

 

[wrott]

Do water changes and let skimmer run w/out cup for 2 weeks, then put cup on and empty it as soon as it fills.
Double check air intake to volute to make sure it doesn't have a Ca deposit plugging it.

 

[itz frank]

Do water changes and let skimmer run w/out cup for 2 weeks, then put cup on and empty it as soon as it fills.
Double check air intake to volute to make sure it doesn't have a Ca deposit plugging it.

I'm able to blow through the tube easily. I took the clear cap off the pump and it doesn't appear to have anything in it other than a small amount of detritus.

 

[itz frank]

Could dry sand that was not rinsed be causing this?

 

[ptreef]

I have had to take a paper towel and roll and stick into air intake and only allow it to suck a tiny amount of air until it can clear pull whatever is making tons of bubbles..
Just make sure there is a big Enid was out side tube so it can suck it in eventually.

 

[A.Astore]

Skimmers make my head hurt. Mine was running wonderfully for months and then one day it decided it didn't like me anymore and threw a fit. I feel your pain.

I had to adjust the amount of water being pulled into the skimmer as well as mess with the amount of air. It took about 2 weeks to finally get it to settle back in. If you started without the filter socks and had unrinsed sand that could have caused some of the craziness. I didn't rinse my sand but had filter socks on from the start. The socks clogged extremely quickly so I can only imagine what would have ended up getting to the skimmer had I not had the socks in place. I would make sure you change the sock out enough to not allow it to overflow and see after a few days if you can get the skimmer dialed in once some of the sand garbage is pulled out.

 

[jbfloor]

Mine had a similar issue. Ran fine for a year and then randomly started to freak out and overflow. Turns out all it needed was a good cleaning in a vinegar bath. Both the impeller section and the airtube were cleaned out. Now it's running fine again.

If you hear a 'chugging' sounds, your airtube is likely dirty. You can still blow through it with ease, but the skimmer is not getting the airflow it needs.

Also, yes, new filter socks freak out the skimmer.. Especially brand new ones. I turn it off for an hour or so when I insert a new sock.

 

[itz frank]

Mine had a similar issue. Ran fine for a year and then randomly started to freak out and overflow. Turns out all it needed was a good cleaning in a vinegar bath. Both the impeller section and the airtube were cleaned out. Now it's running fine again.

If you hear a 'chugging' sounds, your airtube is likely dirty. You can still blow through it with ease, but the skimmer is not getting the airflow it needs.

Also, yes, new filter socks freak out the skimmer.. Especially brand new ones. I turn it off for an hour or so when I insert a new sock.

Ok. I have another skimmer soaking now. Was going to try out the back up. But I'll retry the vinegar bath again.

 

[Shaummy]

Keep in mind..if you vinegar the skimmer body, it's going to need some time to break in again. I think some soft of bio-film forms on the inside of the skimmer and makes it more consistent.

So are you saying that the skimmer/tank have only been running about 4 days? It often takes skimmers a while to break-in and settle down when they are first started. It's kind of hard to tell since the inside of the skimmer body looks like it's been running a while longer.