skimmer volcano ... could really use some input

[sowellj]

I am currently running a SWC250a on 180 gallon SPS tank. About ten days ago, I switched skimmer pump as I was having some issues with the old one. The new pump went on, and all was well with the world. However, this past Saturday, the skimmer started going crazy, not a gradual transition either. It went from performing fine to eruption. It does not appear to have improved any. The skimmer itself appears to be working fine, with no obvious problems, suggesting that something was introduced into the water column. Below I have listed all the possibilities I can think of. Any help/would be greatly appreciated.

1) I run a zeovit tank and switched out the stones. This has never caused a problem before.

2) The sandbed got stirred up ... but not very much. I can see this causing the skimmer to overflow for a bit, but it seems as if it should have settled down after three days.

3) added new carbon ... never caused issues in the past

4) glued some frags ... can sometimes temporarily cause skimmer issues, but never has been issue before.

5) We painted an adjacent room on Saturday (latex). Maybe there is some offgassing that is the culprit. (this is where I am leaning at the moment).

No medications or anything other than food has been introduced to the tank. thanks in advance for the ideas.

 

[bassking16]

I feel your pain.

I feel your pain.

This has happened to me with my SWC 160 Extreme a couple times. I have recently started dosing vodka and MB7. Other then that, no changes were made to the chemistry of the tank. Still, out of the blue my skimmer would go nuts. I tried just opening the plug in the bottom of the collection cup, and just let everything circulate for a day or so, but the problem continued.

All I can think of is that the vodka may have caused some kind of die-off of something causing the skimmer to overreact. What I did in both cases was to accomplish a water change using the skimmer as the outgoing pump. I attached a hose to the collection cup drain, and let that run into a bucket. While that was working, I would pump fresh mixed water back into my sump from a seperate bucket and pump. It took approx 25 to 30 gallons each time before my skimmer would settle down. This was about two months ago, and I haven't had any other trouble since.

I hope this helps.

 

[sowellj]

Thanks for the input. I am airing the house out now. If it is fumes from painting that should help things out. If not I suppose I can go the water change route. First time this has happened in roughly nine months of operation.