SWC 160 Cone

[chatyak]

My swc 160 cone is constantly overflowing. I have the air all the way open and the outlet tube 100% open... meaning the water level should be very low inside the skimmer itself. The skimmer sits in the right amount of water... I believe it had to be about 9" if I remember from years ago...

It has been running fine for well over a year and for the past 7 weeks or so it is overflowing non stop out of the collection cup - I had to remove the plug on the collection cup to let the water fall back into the sump.

What is going on here? I have cleaned the skimmer and done massive water chances... still nothing.


I do water changes with Reef Crystals and also use Microbe-lift Special Blend.

 

[Stolireef]

Either something is clogged or you got something like soap in the task. New filter socks or media?

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[stevedola]

did you clean the impeller? did you clean the skimmer plumbing? take it completely apart?

there has to be a reason that it started to overflow...either you added something to the tank *chemical* or theres a snail/algea or sometime causing issues. could run carbon.

could have too much air being drawn in but more likely since it ran fine with it open for 1 year prolly something else.

 

[Buzz1329]

I had the same issue with mine when I used epoxy to install SPS frags. FWIW, I used the collection cup "plug" to cover the air intake when this happened and then connected the optional tubing to the collection cup until it calmed down. Also "massive water changes" may exacerbate overflow. Good luck!

 

[chatyak]

I haven't added any chemicals per say, just my treatments of Microbe Lift-Special blend once a week. The skimmer did run fine with that being added for a few weeks though so I don't think it is that - and it's not really a chemical - its' simply bacteria in a bottle.

No new filter socks etc... I simply switch out my mesh filter socks once every couple of weeks.

I did clean the skimmer, but haven't noticed anything unusual... the air is wide open and it makes the loud air-sucking noise.

I don't know what to do really... kind of infuriating at this point :angryfire:


What do you mean by "connecting" the optional tubing? Taking the tubing that you normally connect to the little air-chamber and sliding that over the end of the collection cup>?

 

[souperman]

Is the cone full of the expected foamy water or is it clear? I had my SWC 160 up for about 8 months when it started acting funny. The cone was filling with clear water and with no foam head. I found the air tube was plugged with salt creep down in the white plastic part that fits over the pump nozzle. I missed this after a few attempts at cleaning.

 

[Stolireef]

Do you wash the mesh filter socks? It really can only be three things, a clog in the air intake, plugged water outflow, or surfactants/other bubbly stuff in the water.

Or....there was a solar eclipse yesterday. I noticed that during the eclipse, my tangs were doing a happy dance.

 

[Aj Flip]

Restrict the air intake a bit, and / or turn down the flow going in the skimmer. See what happens.

 

[gldnegle76]

I found the air tube was plugged with salt creep down in the white plastic part that fits over the pump nozzle. I missed this after a few attempts at cleaning.

Pull the venturi off and look inside where the airline connects. Make sure there is no build up in there. May have to take a pick or small screwdriver to scrape it out.

 

[chatyak]

Is the cone full of the expected foamy water or is it clear? I had my SWC 160 up for about 8 months when it started acting funny. The cone was filling with clear water and with no foam head. I found the air tube was plugged with salt creep down in the white plastic part that fits over the pump nozzle. I missed this after a few attempts at cleaning.

It had lots of air in it - and was making the air-sucking noise, but I wouldn't say it was totally full of water.

 

[chatyak]

Do you wash the mesh filter socks? It really can only be three things, a clog in the air intake, plugged water outflow, or surfactants/other bubbly stuff in the water.

Or....there was a solar eclipse yesterday. I noticed that during the eclipse, my tangs were doing a happy dance.

I simply rinse them and scrub them under running tap water then let them sit dry for a week or two. I will check inside the little white plastic part on the air intake piece... or maybe connect the airline tubing from the collection cup waste portion.... and let the water overflow back down into the air tube.

 

[chatyak]

Restrict the air intake a bit, and / or turn down the flow going in the skimmer. See what happens.

I moved the air intake (the -/+ signs) so that less air was coming in.... obviously there was more water in the chamber, but it wasn't overflowing any longer.

Does affecting the air intake play a role on how well it skims? I'd like to have the air open full throttle like it used to be :fun4:

 

[Stolireef]

You can only inject so much air into the skimmer before it displaces too much water (at least on my skimmer, that's how it works). If you lower your water column, you can add more air. If the water column is as low as it goes, the only other thing you can do is reduce the air. Personally, I'd rather have a little less air but in longer contact with water but it really depends on the skimmer.

 

[chatyak]

I will hook up the airline to the waste of the collection cup, then check it later today... perhaps it needs a better cleaning? If not, I'll have to resort to adjust the air intake.