Protein Skimmer Help...

[PVChick12]

So, sorry...I'm not really "new to the hobby" but I haven't used my protein skimmer in about 3 years and I just set up again today and I cant get it to stop over flowing itself. Its a Coralife Super skimmer I believe, rated for a 60 gallon tank. I used to use it as a HOB skimmer because I didn't have a sump on my old tank, but now I am trying to use it in the sump for the tank I have set-up now. I know that sometimes they need to be dumped out "often" when they settle for the first few days, but no matter which way I turn the air flow control knob the thing fills up the waste cup in about a minute. Does it have anything to do with where I place the the little tube that is sucking in air? Thanks for any help, and I know this question probably comes up a lot but I'm super frustrated and can't get the search button to work...Thanks so much for any suggestions! Oh and here is a pic of the skimmer, same thing except its the older model of this so the bottom looks slightly different...

http://www.marineandreef.com/PhotoGa...tCode=RES33000

[heller792]

very much like the model I have only under different name. where are your bubbles finishing, they need to be just below were the neck of the collection cup gets wider (about 1-2 inch above the red screw cap in your pic). If you haven't used one for 3 years your gonna have a lot of collection.





hope this helps

[squealy]

Sometimes you need to restrict the inflow of air for a while. You can get a cheap screw clamp and initially clamp the air intake tube to allow very little air in. Then you can gradually release the clamp and titrate it to the effect. Eventually, after a lot of the bad stuff is out, you'll be able to remove the clamp and adjust it on the skimmer itself.

[joeychitwood]

Like the other posters, I think it is possible that your tank is so full of organics that the skimmer is going to go crazy for a while until the amount has decreased, much like the skimmer in a bucket of curing LR needs frequent dumping.

Keep a close eye on your specific gravity and remember to add some salt water in addition to top-off water to replace that lost in the skimmer cup.

[snorvich]

I am tending to agree with joeychitwood. Does your model have a way of adjusting water level in the skimmer?

[otrlynn]

In the second picture above, there is a green knob (mine's red) that I assume you have in the "closed" position...but there is also a gray knob that is in the tank, just above the pump. When vertical it is in the fully open position...have you tried turning that down also? I believe that the horizontal position is the closed position.

[peterpaul]

one of the things you can do also since you have not used the skimmer for 3 years is to do a couple of large water changes. Also do note that the Coralife skimmer is very finicky which is why I got rid of mine. at times it work great and at times it is not that good which requires a lot of adjusting

[PVChick12]

AH. right the grey knob above the pump...OF COURSE! haha thanks guys. :P

[otrlynn]

Originally posted by PVChick12
AH. right the grey knob above the pump...OF COURSE! haha thanks guys. :P

I'll take credit for the "gray knob trick" but I'm not a guy, us gals have to stick together!!! Hope you get the skimmer working better. Just FYI, it is finicky. If you do a lot of cleaning--blowing off the rocks with a turkey baster, or use reef epoxy to stick down frags, be prepared for it to "go nuts" for about 12 hours and need to be dialed down again for a bit.

[alextheromanian]

Originally posted by PVChick12
So, sorry...I'm not really "new to the hobby" but I haven't used my protein skimmer in about 3 years and I just set up again today and I cant get it to stop over flowing itself. Its a Coralife Super skimmer I believe, rated for a 60 gallon tank. I used to use it as a HOB skimmer because I didn't have a sump on my old tank, but now I am trying to use it in the sump for the tank I have set-up now. I know that sometimes they need to be dumped out "often" when they settle for the first few days, but no matter which way I turn the air flow control knob the thing fills up the waste cup in about a minute. Does it have anything to do with where I place the the little tube that is sucking in air? Thanks for any help, and I know this question probably comes up a lot but I'm super frustrated and can't get the search button to work...Thanks so much for any suggestions! Oh and here is a pic of the skimmer, same thing except its the older model of this so the bottom looks slightly different...

http://www.marineandreef.com/PhotoGa...tCode=RES33000

do you add ANY additives to your water?
many of them make the skimmer fill up with just water.

[PVChick12]

ERM. No liquid additives...Shoot me but i use the no. 23 blocks. I only take care of my tank 3 months out of the year (college..) these days and mommy dearest is a bit to dumb for additives just yet....But I did use epoxy recently. didn't know that would make them overflow? Thats why i come here though :] But I totally forgot about that grey knob, that will definitely do the trick...