Skimmer Problem

T

TrevDizzle

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Aug 1, 2006
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I have 55-gal tank and a Coralife Super Skimmer. I have had this skimmer since last july and about three weeks ago, I began to have problems with it. It appears to act up when I add freshwater to compensate for the evaporation loss. The skimmer starts to produce way to many bubbles and the collection cup rapidly fills up. I end up having to turn off the skimmer, in fear of it overflowing. I know that changes in water chemistry can effect the skimmer in this way, so I tested the water quality and noticed that my salinity is at 1.019, which is too low. I started doing numerous water changes and brought my salinity back up to about 1.023, but the problem still occurs. If anyone has some advice or has had something similar, please respond.

Thanks,
Trev
 
Nearly any change in water chemistry will throw the adjustments out of whack. Same thing happens as water evaporates and the salinity creeps up but it's slower so you don't notice it. When you add the FW to topoff the tank (I'm assuming that you're adding it to your sump) there's a drastic change in the salinity of the water in the sump.
 
my coralife super skimmer always would act up. it overflows numerous times whenever i was away and the water level changed. when you would put your arms in the tank, ect, ect, ect, ect, ect
it is affected by the freshwater partly because not only is it a big change in the chemistry, but you are also adding a few inches or whatever to the water level in the skimmer.
 
I know that adding solutions to the water can affect it. Also, when I switched to using RO water, the protein skimmer starting overflowing and releasing toxic water into the aquarium. I didn't think of a connection until now, it might be unrelated but it's possible.
 
I think the best thing is to watch it like a hawk! That's what I do and I usually can tell when it's about to start filling up. The muck in the bottom all of a sudden gets lighter. At this stage, even with the issues, I think the benefits far outweigh the problems. I would say that I am still extremely pleased with my skimmer!
 
I am using a Tetra AquaSafe dechlorinater. That may be a factor. I was using a diffrent water conditioner, but ran out of it recently. With these type of skimmers its very hard to get inside of the neck of the skimmer, where the bubbles are formed too clean it. By the way, my skimmer is a hang on. I do not have a sump system, therefore if it overflows, the water ends up on my floor. It seems to take about 72 hours to calm down after a water change. Thank you all for the advice. I will monitor the skimmer closely over the next few weeks. I am hoping that I will not have to replace it.

--Trev
 
i have the same skimmer and it does the same thing. nobody told me about the problem when i was asking about this skimmer before i bought it, they just said that it was the best for the money. well anyway, the water should not end up on your floor when skimmer doesn't act right. the only way out for the water, if you close the lid well, through a little hole obove the out tube. what i did was i put a small air line on it and the other end going toward the water in the tank, so when the water starts running it's going back to the tank. i'm talking about little air hose that you would use for the air stone. the way you lead it back to the tank-the best spot i liked was a little area between a tank and skimmer, so that way the line is not in the water and can't come out under water pressure. just look for the spot when you hook the air line. hope i helped.
 
Aquasafe will overactivate skimmers both in my expierience and I think the bottle says that as well. Try either letting the water sit for 24 hours to remove the chlorine, or switching to prime (a different dechlorinator wich doesn't overactivate skimers, also is easier to use IMO and is a better value).
 
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