Tales of the Psycho Foamer

[wardworld]

My skimmer's been running since Saturday (1/6) - it's Sunday evening and there doesn't appear to be any change in its "behavior." It's my new 120, and as far as I can tell, there wasn't anything unusual about the water I used (all RO/DI). There was some new "old" base rock - could that cause excess foaming???
See pics below. Any ideas? Does it look set-up correctly?

Thanks,
The container on top has rocks in it so the skimmer won't "blow its stack!"

 

[cstires]

Looks fine to me, it's just breaking in. My ER did that for about 2 weeks before it settled down.

 

[Boostable]

Lower the outlet untill its about half way up the neck and give it time to settle it down... if you can.

Then adjust it a little at a time.

 

[wardworld]

Actually the outlet was as low as it could go, but TTRex on the Tampa forum reminded me to put the airvalve on the venturi tube. I knew it needed to go there, but in an email, EuroReef told me I didn't need it and could take it off. I put it back on, adjusted it (and the riser pipe) and all appears to be well....now if I can just get rid of the microbubbles!!!
Thanks guys,

 

[Boostable]

You getting microbubbles through the sump from the skimmer? That should settle down once your skimmer is workign properly. Or you getting them somewhere else?

Where is your return plumbed on the sump? Internal or external pump?

 

[wardworld]

I'm pretty sure they're coming from the skimmer (because when I shut off all the air to the venturi and it's only pumping water, the bubbles go away - however w/out air, I get no foaming).
My return pump is an internal Eheim 1260 - sitting the return section and sucking in the microbubbles - someone suggested running the overflow from the skimmer into a filter sock to kill the bubbles, but I didn't know you could "plumb" them to do that???

 

[flfirefighter13]

My euro's and ASM have a habit of letting microbubbles lose during break in times as well as sometimes at feeding time, the food we made is held in a light gel binder that makes the skimmer go nuts for a few minutes. before you go nuts and worry about filter socks and the such just let it break in and I bet itll be fine

 

[wardworld]

good advice, Brian....I'll give it a few days...I'm assuming (because no one's said anything to the contrary) that the bubbles are simply a nuisance and don't do any harm to the tank inhabitants.

 

[Boostable]

Agreed... let it break in and get nice and slimy.. lol

however you are correct, I seriously doubt you can plumb it back over without causing undo pressure on the outlet side of the skimmer.

 

[waterfaller1]

Do you have a bubble trap in your sump? {baffles}The bubbles do irritate the gills of sw fish, corals do not like it, and it can cause excess salt creep.