protein skimmer spilling tiny bubbles

[Liz]

My protein skimmer is spilling over tiny tiny bubbles into my sump, which are getting pumped into my main tank. I tried unplugging the skimmer for a few days and then plugging it in again, and it's doing it again. Why is it doing this now, I haven't had this problem before. How can I fix it?

 

[Reefscape]

Hiya Liz...easiest solution is to put some sponge on the output of the skimmer so that the water has to pass through it....thus...removing micro bubbles...

Niko

 

[Liz]

there is a sponge on the output, in the little box.

 

[Reefscape]

hmmm.....does the water pass through properly? or is some by-passing the sponge? Can you post a full front pic of your sump..so i can have a look at the layout..

Niko

 

[Subliminal]

From everything I've read, if you've been running this skimmer for a while, you just need to pull it apart and clean it. If it's a venturi, they get clogged after a while, if it's a needlewheel, they can get gummed up a bit as well.

I'd try cleaning it first and foremost.

Unless it's a brand new skimmer, then they generally have a 'break in time'.

Funny thing is, I don't even have a skimmer yet...I've just done hours of reading on the matter.

 

[5xevy]

Is it a Coralife skimmer?

 

[Liz]

yeah i believe it's a coralife.

 

[lwooters]

Mine does this from time to time, I just clean it out real well and it usually stops.

 

[5xevy]

yeah i believe it's a coralife.

This had been happening to both of the Coralife skimmers I have on two separate tanks. I started asking and searching around until I came across this link:

http://www.tylermerrick.com/content/css_notes.php

I showed my fellow hobbyist buddy who also had a Coralife doing the same thing. I didn't realize it was such a common and widespread "problem" until I searched the net. Anyway, we built the tiny mod and there was a significant improvement. I would recommend you try it. It's cheap, fast and easy.

 

[Michael Marino]

I have a feeling its a Seaclone 100 they are infamous for the spill overs.