Skimmer going nuts

[o.c.d.]

So I had a cyno outbreak and usually it is a fleeting thing but this time well it's been about a month long battle so I dosed some erethromycen (forgive spelling) and I did this a few time in my early years and don't like using. but anyway my skimmer will not stop, I plumed a drain in the cup and it has pulled out about 2gl . Ive done a 30% water change. I don't know what else to try. Anyone ever have this problem?

[pf1130]

I had a similar experience a few days ago. I really wish they had warned me of this on the box of the red slime remover. My skimmer went absolutely crazy when I added this stuff. It started bubbling so much you couldnt see much of anything in the DT from the microbubbles (the skimmer is in the sump). On the plus side I have been battling red slime for a few months now and this seems to have worked for now at least.

[DNickell]

Try putting a strong clip, like a small clamp, on the end of your air line hose for the skimmer. If you can limit the air enough you can slow the skimming down enough to get a reasonably dry foam, which will remove the "contaminant" without wasting so much salt water mix. After a few days you will have to gradually release pressure on the clamp and finally remove it altogether.

For an indication of how much air restriction you will need, screw down the normal air adjustment as much as possible (which you should have already done) and then put your thumb over the end of the airline. When all bubbles have stopped, ease your thumb off slowly until the foam is rising at the rate you want. That is how much you are going to have to restrict your air line.

[o.c.d.]

Ya. it's just a quick fix but The usage in the past never cause it to go this nuts. I'm changing out all my carbon even though it's not fully exausted. I am hesitant to do any more water change. I'm wondering if the skimmer is pulling out anything or if i'm just losing water? Should I run my skimmer into the drain until it pulls it all out?

[o.c.d.]

Thank Dnickell I'll try it makes sence

[Eklikewhoa]

Chemi-clean instructions state to turn skimmer off.

[Toddrtrex]

Make sure to keep an eye on your salinity -- since you will be mostly removed salt water from your skimmer.

[SulfurAcid]

He wont really have to look at his salinity, because the skimmer is just removing salt water, not removing water and leaving the salts behind.

[maroun.c]

He will have to look at his salinity because countrary to water top off here he is losing saltwater and replacing it with freshwater. How much significant this will be is realated to amount of water lost and tank volume

[o.c.d.]

As the skimmer is draining large amounts of saltwater my auto topoff has been shut off and the water being replaced is saltwater. and I did shut off my skimmer for 2 days after with two 15% water changes. But the problem is I can't seem to be able to turn it back on.

[DLANDINO]

I had the same problem after treating for cyano and yes you are right, they don't put that warning on the box. I didn't have a drain plumbed and had to stand over the skimmer with a turkey baster sucking out the excess water for roughly 2 hrs. I lost and replaced about 3 gallons before it was all over. I am sure you are out of the woods by now.

[maroun.c]

what do you mean by not being able to turn it back on? do you mean it will start to overskim or physically not turn on? I have a problem with one of my turbofloater Skimmers when it's turned off for longer periods of time or when the pump is taken out of the water where it fills with air and I have to disconnect it from the skimmer turn it on take it out of water then in and turn it upwards to push the air out then it will run and I have to connect it while running to the skimmer.
HTH

[Toddrtrex]

Originally posted by SulfurAcid
He wont really have to look at his salinity, because the skimmer is just removing salt water, not removing water and leaving the salts behind.

But, he is going to have to top off to replace the water removed, and if he is using fresh water to top off.....

[o.c.d.]

It will turn on, but pours bubble into the tank and I'm losing water at a rate of 1 gallon per 20min. I rigged a drain in the skimmer cup and a adjustable valve for my air. So far still going nuts and The air adj is not working it's has to be completely shut off or BUBBLES galore.
Toddrtrex thank you for the concern but having a stable salinity is not an issue, well aware of how it all works. What I don't know would be,is this ever going to stop. The LFS said another customer went for 4 days of skimmer madness. So I'm making water and gona ride it out..

[Mykel Obvious]

hmmm... can also try cleaning the skimmer after/during your next water change... could have a high "contaminant" buildup on the inside of the skimmer that is keeping it foaming at an unusually high rate... my guess is that it will only settle down when enough of the erethro is out of the system (including the inside of the skimmer)

Good Luck and let us know what you end up doing

later,

[maroun.c]

I would just do a large water change and clean the skimmer as said above if that does not stop in 2-3 days. at least your tank will benefit more from a larger water change than changing 3-4 gallons every day. If this is the 175G tank then I would not worry much about a salinity swing.

[Slakker]

Similar experience this evening, but the additive to blame was 30lbs of Aragamax oolitic...lol

I should have known, the last time I added sand to the tank (new setup) the skimmer went reacted to it (read as: it actually did something....I know they say it's not possible, but I really think my system is too clean/new for the skimmer to hold together foam...when I don't have absurd amounts of sand dust all over the place anyways.)

I turned the pumps and everything off to add the sand, but figured it might help clear the water up a bit faster if I used the skimmer to pull the sand out...The collection cup was filled to the drain in a matter of seconds and I quickly realized that it was probably going to empty my tank at that rate...

Oh well!

[o.c.d.]

And still riding it out........What the #@$%.

[abulgin]

Lots and lots of water changes. Watch your params--your biofilter has very likely been totally obliterated by the algaecide.

[o.c.d.]

I used Chemi-Clean and it apparently contains no algicides and is safe with nitrifing bacteria, macro,inverts, fish. But I take nothing for granted nor do I believe that if it says reef safe it is. So I have been testing. And still making more water,Dilution is the solution to pollution....Right

[Toddrtrex]

I haven't used any of that type of stuff in many years, but the last time I did my skimmer went nuts for at least 3 days. Carbon, water changes and time is what ended up getting it back to normal.