Question about Too Much Wet Skimmer Foam

marc111 · 10/23/2010, 10:37 PM

OK, it has been a while since I used a skimmer. My last tank ran on an algae scrubber for 14 years.

I am helping my son set up a 75 gal salt water setup. The tank has dead rock, lava sand and saltwater in it at present. Under the tank is a 20 gal sump with a skimmer compartment, the classic 3 baffles and a pump compartment. Salinity is approx 1.023. He is moving it up to 1.025.

He has an in sump Octopus NW150 skimmer in the sump. It is in 8 inches of water.

The Problem: When the skimmer is turned on it produces lots of nice fine bubbles and they build up a head of foam. However wet foam goes all the way up the neck and spills into the skimmer cup. I have been running it with the drain plug removed because it would quickly fill the cup otherwise. Even if I lift the skimmer another 2 inches out of the water the wet foam production does not reduce very much, if at all.

1) Is this happening because of a need to break in the skimmer?

2) Could the fact that there is no life in the tank yet be the cause?

3) Some other issue?

I am baffled as I thought in sump skimmers were pretty sensitive to water level and this one seems pretty insensitive at the moment.

Any help is appreciated?

Thanks,
Mark

Runfrumu · 10/23/2010, 10:40 PM

How new is the saltwater in the tank? Skimmers will go nuts in freshly mixed water. Also have you dialed the skimmer all the way back?

celano · 10/24/2010, 12:23 AM

Did you or your son use any kind of conditioners in the tank? This could range any were from water conditioners on the initial start up of the tank to epoxy to keep the live rock glued together.
Any one of these could cause the skimmer to overflow.

James404 · 10/24/2010, 08:05 AM

Unless there are chemicals that have been added to the tank to make it overflow, I would first make sure you have the valve all the way open on the output of the skimmer during the break in, and then continue to decrease the water level until it does not overflow.

Khoad · 10/24/2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runfrumu

How new is the saltwater in the tank? Skimmers will go nuts in freshly mixed water. Also have you dialed the skimmer all the way back?

My skimmer, a MR-C4860 shuts down when I do a water change. I am currently using Royal Nature Pro.
Adding foods makes mine go nuts.

I would try dialling back the skimmer, allow the skimmate to return back to the tank for 24 hours(breakin) then start removing the skimmate.
As mentioned above, there are alot of additives/adhesives/residues that will effect your skimmer's output. It might just be doing what it is supposed to do.

Porcupinepuffer · 10/24/2010, 08:31 AM

Have the valve all the way open. Then slowly start closing it to get the skimmer bubbles to rise to the proper spot.

marc111 · 10/24/2010, 03:04 PM

Thanks for the input everyone.

Yes this is freshly mixed saltwater.

Yes the skimmer was turned on for the first time yesterday.

At present with the output set to fully open it produces very wet skimate that is completely clean.

I checked the water level and there are 8 3/4 inches of water above the baseplate.

I tried a couple of experiments. On the "2009 reef octopus needlewheel skimmer" thread it was suggested:

"The best way to set the water level it to keep the pump from injecting air in to the water (just plug the air line) this will show you where the water level is in your skimmer, you can adjust it with the wedge pipe. I have the water level in mine set just above the half way point in the cone portion of the body. A good starting point for the water level is just below (about 1/2" below) where the collection cup meets the body (with no air injection). Then just tweak it from there to your preference of wet/dry skim."

I tried this and my water level sits at best at the the base of the collection cup in the riser tube. This seems much to high. It's almost as if the pump were too powerful. No adjustment of adjusting pipe from full open to full closed gets it to drop lower than this. I also tried putting the outlet pipe more horizontal to lessen the back pressure with no real improvement.

At the moment I am letting it run and the skimate flow out the drain into the sump.

I thin i may raise it another inch and see what happens.

Still confused,
Mark

marc111 · 10/25/2010, 12:30 PM

Any further suggestions?

marc111 · 10/25/2010, 06:59 PM

I amy have it under control. But I had to raise it up so it was in only 6 inches of water. A lot lower that what everyone else has been running this model in. At least now I seem to be able to control the foam level although its really close to full open on the adjustment pipe.

Mark

Mirror Pond · 10/25/2010, 09:15 PM

Have you checked the airline and the venturi to make sure that it is not partially clogged? It seems like it drawing too much water and not enough air.

scubasteve06 · 10/25/2010, 10:44 PM

Try a shallower water level 6-7", take the air line while the skimmer is running and let it pull warm/hot water through the airline. I've found this is a great way to remove and salt/calcium build up in the venturi nipple and air line. Also set the wedge pipe to where it is all the way open to get the driest skimmate possible.

marc111 · 10/26/2010, 01:58 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. The airline and venturi do not look to be clogged. The skimmer is brand new and has only been in saltwater for a few days.

I wonder about the too much water as well. I communicated with coralview and they said they were now recommending the water level bee from 1" above the pump to just below the 90 degree outlet elbow.

It almost seems like the current pumps are more powerful.

Mark

10/23/2010, 10:37 PM	#1
marc111 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	Question about Too Much Wet Skimmer Foam OK, it has been a while since I used a skimmer. My last tank ran on an algae scrubber for 14 years. I am helping my son set up a 75 gal salt water setup. The tank has dead rock, lava sand and saltwater in it at present. Under the tank is a 20 gal sump with a skimmer compartment, the classic 3 baffles and a pump compartment. Salinity is approx 1.023. He is moving it up to 1.025. He has an in sump Octopus NW150 skimmer in the sump. It is in 8 inches of water. The Problem: When the skimmer is turned on it produces lots of nice fine bubbles and they build up a head of foam. However wet foam goes all the way up the neck and spills into the skimmer cup. I have been running it with the drain plug removed because it would quickly fill the cup otherwise. Even if I lift the skimmer another 2 inches out of the water the wet foam production does not reduce very much, if at all. 1) Is this happening because of a need to break in the skimmer? 2) Could the fact that there is no life in the tank yet be the cause? 3) Some other issue? I am baffled as I thought in sump skimmers were pretty sensitive to water level and this one seems pretty insensitive at the moment. Any help is appreciated? Thanks, Mark

10/23/2010, 10:40 PM	#2
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	How new is the saltwater in the tank? Skimmers will go nuts in freshly mixed water. Also have you dialed the skimmer all the way back? __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

10/24/2010, 08:05 AM	#4
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	Unless there are chemicals that have been added to the tank to make it overflow, I would first make sure you have the valve all the way open on the output of the skimmer during the break in, and then continue to decrease the water level until it does not overflow. __________________ 80g Deep Blue Rimless - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651295 225g Reef Savvy SPS Dominant - Retired http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945361

10/24/2010, 08:31 AM	#6
Porcupinepuffer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 299	Have the valve all the way open. Then slowly start closing it to get the skimmer bubbles to rise to the proper spot. __________________ 120g AGA~145lbs Haitian LR~DA RK2 Controler~2x 14k 250 DE MH's~2x Ovrflows~96W Actnics~Mag 12 Rturn~Modified BKing 180 Skimer~Phsban Ractr~GEO Kalk Ractr~Powerheads:MP40w/Seio 820/modified Psweep 270 Current Tank Info: 120 AGA

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10/24/2010, 12:23 AM	#3
celano Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 910	Did you or your son use any kind of conditioners in the tank? This could range any were from water conditioners on the initial start up of the tank to epoxy to keep the live rock glued together. Any one of these could cause the skimmer to overflow.

10/24/2010, 03:04 PM	#7
marc111 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	Thanks for the input everyone. Yes this is freshly mixed saltwater. Yes the skimmer was turned on for the first time yesterday. At present with the output set to fully open it produces very wet skimate that is completely clean. I checked the water level and there are 8 3/4 inches of water above the baseplate. I tried a couple of experiments. On the "2009 reef octopus needlewheel skimmer" thread it was suggested: "The best way to set the water level it to keep the pump from injecting air in to the water (just plug the air line) this will show you where the water level is in your skimmer, you can adjust it with the wedge pipe. I have the water level in mine set just above the half way point in the cone portion of the body. A good starting point for the water level is just below (about 1/2" below) where the collection cup meets the body (with no air injection). Then just tweak it from there to your preference of wet/dry skim." I tried this and my water level sits at best at the the base of the collection cup in the riser tube. This seems much to high. It's almost as if the pump were too powerful. No adjustment of adjusting pipe from full open to full closed gets it to drop lower than this. I also tried putting the outlet pipe more horizontal to lessen the back pressure with no real improvement. At the moment I am letting it run and the skimate flow out the drain into the sump. I thin i may raise it another inch and see what happens. Still confused, Mark

10/25/2010, 12:30 PM	#8
marc111 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	Any further suggestions?

10/25/2010, 06:59 PM	#9
marc111 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	I amy have it under control. But I had to raise it up so it was in only 6 inches of water. A lot lower that what everyone else has been running this model in. At least now I seem to be able to control the foam level although its really close to full open on the adjustment pipe. Mark

10/25/2010, 09:15 PM	#10
Mirror Pond Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 354	Have you checked the airline and the venturi to make sure that it is not partially clogged? It seems like it drawing too much water and not enough air.

10/25/2010, 10:44 PM	#11
scubasteve06 Jeeper Reefer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 1,171	Try a shallower water level 6-7", take the air line while the skimmer is running and let it pull warm/hot water through the airline. I've found this is a great way to remove and salt/calcium build up in the venturi nipple and air line. Also set the wedge pipe to where it is all the way open to get the driest skimmate possible.

10/26/2010, 01:58 PM	#12
marc111 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 198	Thanks for the suggestions. The airline and venturi do not look to be clogged. The skimmer is brand new and has only been in saltwater for a few days. I wonder about the too much water as well. I communicated with coralview and they said they were now recommending the water level bee from 1" above the pump to just below the 90 degree outlet elbow. It almost seems like the current pumps are more powerful. Mark