Why does skimmer go bezerk?

jt_redmist · 08/30/2006, 04:54 PM

I have an older style Euroreef CS8-2 skimmer with the big union, and every once in a while my skimmer overflows. Nothing was fed or added to the tank. Not even the night before. I normally skim wet, so the bubbles rise high. The skimmer is an in-sump, so when this happens all the skimmate that was collected a few days gets dumped back into the tank

This not the first time it has happened. Again, nothing was added to the tank at all. Just came home, and collection cup full of water. Any idea why?

JT

jgarrison · 08/30/2006, 04:59 PM

power interruption ?

jt_redmist · 08/30/2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jgarrison
power interruption ?

Good one, but it's not that. Because I know when my power fails, because some of my house clocks will lose their time and that's not the case.

JT

NoSchwag · 08/30/2006, 05:27 PM

I think you are trying to make your skimmer do something that it's not supposed to, this is why a lot of people preach about beckets for skimming wet. I don't think the needlewheel pump provides enough pressure to keep a steady head, also the reduction in the neck isn't helping much.

That is actually the exact reason I got rid of mine, and my buddy reef-daddy got rid of his. I also personally know someone who had a new external euro-reef that leaked one too many times and it forced him out of the hobby, this guy was old school BB/Wet skimming acro tank man.

jt_redmist · 08/30/2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSchwag
I think you are trying to make your skimmer do something that it's not supposed to, this is why a lot of people preach about beckets for skimming wet. I don't think the needlewheel pump provides enough pressure to keep a steady head, also the reduction in the neck isn't helping much.

That is actually the exact reason I got rid of mine, and my buddy reef-daddy got rid of his. I also personally know someone who had a new external euro-reef that leaked one too many times and it forced him out of the hobby, this guy was old school BB/Wet skimming acro tank man.

Ok, thanks for the info. At least I know I'm not the only one having this problem. I guess I'll have to skim drier and deal with it for now. A new skimmer is not in the budget for now. The good thing is that each time it dumped the skimmate back into the tank, it didn't seem to bother any animals or corals at all. Well, at least not from my observation. Makes me wonder if skimming really helps, but that's a different topic.

JT

Roland Jacques · 08/30/2006, 07:59 PM

I have also had that happen while i was testing my skimmer, it is mess. Anyway i can't answer your question. but i can tell you how im going to fix it from happening again.

A remote collection container, sealed with a vent. The vent will have a floating pingpong ball that will seal when the level rises. The air that the venturi pulls will be coming from the sealed container. When the vent closes it SHOULD cut off the air to the venturi stoping the overflow.

sodaman · 08/30/2006, 09:14 PM

Agree with skimming too wet. I had this problem on my ASM G3 skimmer. Dropped the skimmate height a little and never had problem again. Still skims a ton just not as wet as I originally had it set at. Nitrates are undetectable and I have a fairly decent bioload.

08/30/2006, 04:54 PM	#1
jt_redmist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bay area, CA Posts: 354	Why does skimmer go bezerk? I have an older style Euroreef CS8-2 skimmer with the big union, and every once in a while my skimmer overflows. Nothing was fed or added to the tank. Not even the night before. I normally skim wet, so the bubbles rise high. The skimmer is an in-sump, so when this happens all the skimmate that was collected a few days gets dumped back into the tank This not the first time it has happened. Again, nothing was added to the tank at all. Just came home, and collection cup full of water. Any idea why? JT

08/30/2006, 05:27 PM	#4
NoSchwag Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterbury, Ct. Posts: 2,530	I think you are trying to make your skimmer do something that it's not supposed to, this is why a lot of people preach about beckets for skimming wet. I don't think the needlewheel pump provides enough pressure to keep a steady head, also the reduction in the neck isn't helping much. That is actually the exact reason I got rid of mine, and my buddy reef-daddy got rid of his. I also personally know someone who had a new external euro-reef that leaked one too many times and it forced him out of the hobby, this guy was old school BB/Wet skimming acro tank man. __________________ Keeping low levels of po4 without chemicals since 2005. Current Tank Info: Beckett skimmed, penductor flowed, luminarc lighted, UV sterilized, litermeter dosed, Aquacontroller controlled, SPS dominated, 120 BB tank.

08/30/2006, 07:59 PM	#6
Roland Jacques Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 2,848	I have also had that happen while i was testing my skimmer, it is mess. Anyway i can't answer your question. but i can tell you how im going to fix it from happening again. A remote collection container, sealed with a vent. The vent will have a floating pingpong ball that will seal when the level rises. The air that the venturi pulls will be coming from the sealed container. When the vent closes it SHOULD cut off the air to the venturi stoping the overflow. __________________ Roland

08/30/2006, 04:59 PM	#2
jgarrison Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany NY Posts: 231	power interruption ?

08/30/2006, 09:14 PM	#7
sodaman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 113	Agree with skimming too wet. I had this problem on my ASM G3 skimmer. Dropped the skimmate height a little and never had problem again. Still skims a ton just not as wet as I originally had it set at. Nitrates are undetectable and I have a fairly decent bioload.