SWC 160 Cone Skimmer foam issues

LitiGATOR · 08/18/2012, 10:42 AM

I'm sure related issues have been discussed ad nauseum on here, and I've read many of the threads but feel my issue is slightly unique, if it's even an issue at all.

I've got a 60-gallon reef tank with 20-gallon sump, filled up a little more than halfway. About two weeks ago I got an SWC 160 Cone Skimmer and placed it in the sump; it immediately started producing "good" foam and even skimmate within a few hours. I know that a new skimmer must undergo a "breaking in" which can take up to a week, if not longer, so I was pretty happy at seeing results that quick.

About a week passed and the skimmer appears to have broken-in and was making good foam, I even had to dial-down the water flow. Two days ago I did a 5-gallon water change and did some normal cleaning/maintenance to the display tank and sump. Once I turned everything back on, the skimmer started acting funny. Even if I dialed-the flow down as much as possible, it would instantly overflow the collection cup. So I lowered the skimmer a little so that it's sitting in about 7.5-8" of water in the sump. I got the flow to dial-down at this height and it stabilized.

I waited a few hours and while it's making tons of bubbles, I'm not getting any "foam" like it was before. I have plenty of fish in there to make enough waste that the skimmer should be making foam, if not skimmate. Now it's two days later and same thing. It's just not making that frothy foam at all, even though everything appears the same.

Any help?

LitiGATOR · 08/18/2012, 10:58 AM

I should add that I've only cleaned the skimmer collection cup, and did that with fresh tap water and towel papers, nothing else.

LitiGATOR · 08/18/2012, 01:08 PM

Anyone? Still no foam head

bskiba · 08/18/2012, 04:13 PM

Mine is really finicky. it skims well but not as stable as I would like. when I stick you hands in the tank I lose the foam head. If I do any maintenance I lose the foam head? have you checked the entire skimmer? I would say it is breaking in again and give it another couple days.

LitiGATOR · 08/18/2012, 04:51 PM

Everything appears to be working fine, other than the foam head/skimmate. It's making tons of bubbles, just like it was before, no clogs in the air line. I'll give it another couple days and see what happens. From now on I'm not turning it off during water changes.

cakemanPA · 08/18/2012, 05:09 PM

Mine has a great foam head. I just started using it today. I need to raise mine up a few inches so I can control it bettter

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

LitiGATOR · 08/18/2012, 07:47 PM

Mine was too, literally minutes after I put it in. Now it's not. The only thing I can conclude is that my maintenance/water change messed with the water enough to throw-off the skimmer, and/or the water just isn't very dirty yet since the skimmer initially pulled-out a bunch of gunk.

Danny_B · 08/19/2012, 01:16 AM

First what is your bio-load, you said you have fish, but how many and which fish. If there arent a lot of organics to be skimmed from coral slime, fish, feeding etc, you will have an unstable foam head.

Are you using ro/di? if so and if not, do you use any water conditioner(declor, stress coat, etc)? Any of those additives will make a skimmer go crazy.

Are you using filter socks? maybe changing them at water change time? They will make a skimmer go crazy, even if they are old, new, washed in vinegar, bleach, or plain water. They will make a skimmer go crazy.

Oils from your hands will kill skimmer head. Even worse from lotions etc.

Pictures of the setup never hurt, sometimes someone looking in can spot something out of wack that we stare at everyday and dont think about.

LitiGATOR · 08/19/2012, 09:59 AM

Great questions. I'll be home tonight and will take pics and respond to the queries.

Casey8 · 08/19/2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny_B

Oils from your hands will kill skimmer head. Even worse from lotions etc.

+1 I agree.

LitiGATOR · 08/19/2012, 07:28 PM

I just got home, about a day after I started this thread. There appears to be a decent head of foam now, so whatever I did while cleaning the tank/water change, certainly ****ed off the skimmer. But it's good to know that the skimmer itself is working properly. I think I'm going to leave it running during the next water change to avoid the issue again. Took about three days to get the foam head back.

LitiGATOR · 08/19/2012, 09:40 PM

Yea, it's working again, so I'm very happy. It's crazy how such a small change in the chemistry of the water can have such a drastic effect on the skimmer.

bskiba · 08/19/2012, 10:49 PM

these skimmers are touchy. good to hear though

hocabien · 09/09/2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LitiGATOR

Yea, it's working again, so I'm very happy. It's crazy how such a small change in the chemistry of the water can have such a drastic effect on the skimmer.

I have the same problem what you have. When I first put it in it gave a good skimming and foam after water change I don't have any skimming and foam. I see a lot of bubble at the water level you set but no skimming and foam. So what you did you leave it there for couple days and you see them skimming back. Please help

Thanks

08/18/2012, 10:42 AM	#1
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	SWC 160 Cone Skimmer foam issues I'm sure related issues have been discussed ad nauseum on here, and I've read many of the threads but feel my issue is slightly unique, if it's even an issue at all. I've got a 60-gallon reef tank with 20-gallon sump, filled up a little more than halfway. About two weeks ago I got an SWC 160 Cone Skimmer and placed it in the sump; it immediately started producing "good" foam and even skimmate within a few hours. I know that a new skimmer must undergo a "breaking in" which can take up to a week, if not longer, so I was pretty happy at seeing results that quick. About a week passed and the skimmer appears to have broken-in and was making good foam, I even had to dial-down the water flow. Two days ago I did a 5-gallon water change and did some normal cleaning/maintenance to the display tank and sump. Once I turned everything back on, the skimmer started acting funny. Even if I dialed-the flow down as much as possible, it would instantly overflow the collection cup. So I lowered the skimmer a little so that it's sitting in about 7.5-8" of water in the sump. I got the flow to dial-down at this height and it stabilized. I waited a few hours and while it's making tons of bubbles, I'm not getting any "foam" like it was before. I have plenty of fish in there to make enough waste that the skimmer should be making foam, if not skimmate. Now it's two days later and same thing. It's just not making that frothy foam at all, even though everything appears the same. Any help?

08/18/2012, 04:13 PM	#4
bskiba Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: La Mesa Posts: 794	Mine is really finicky. it skims well but not as stable as I would like. when I stick you hands in the tank I lose the foam head. If I do any maintenance I lose the foam head? have you checked the entire skimmer? I would say it is breaking in again and give it another couple days. __________________ AKA: BRADREEF Current Tank Info: Started new cube 05-2012

08/19/2012, 01:16 AM	#8
Danny_B Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North Phoenix Posts: 399	First what is your bio-load, you said you have fish, but how many and which fish. If there arent a lot of organics to be skimmed from coral slime, fish, feeding etc, you will have an unstable foam head. Are you using ro/di? if so and if not, do you use any water conditioner(declor, stress coat, etc)? Any of those additives will make a skimmer go crazy. Are you using filter socks? maybe changing them at water change time? They will make a skimmer go crazy, even if they are old, new, washed in vinegar, bleach, or plain water. They will make a skimmer go crazy. Oils from your hands will kill skimmer head. Even worse from lotions etc. Pictures of the setup never hurt, sometimes someone looking in can spot something out of wack that we stare at everyday and dont think about. __________________ 29g Mixed Reef, 10g Sump/Refugium, SCA-301 Cone Skimmer, 32x3w LEDs 12RB/8WW/4CB/4UV/2DR/2TQ 60°/80° optics, 35lbs Live rock, MP10es Last edited by Danny_B; 08/19/2012 at 01:19 AM. Reason: adding to an explaination

08/19/2012, 10:49 PM	#13
bskiba Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: La Mesa Posts: 794	these skimmers are touchy. good to hear though __________________ AKA: BRADREEF Current Tank Info: Started new cube 05-2012

08/18/2012, 10:58 AM	#2
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	I should add that I've only cleaned the skimmer collection cup, and did that with fresh tap water and towel papers, nothing else.

08/18/2012, 01:08 PM	#3
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	Anyone? Still no foam head

08/18/2012, 04:51 PM	#5
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	Everything appears to be working fine, other than the foam head/skimmate. It's making tons of bubbles, just like it was before, no clogs in the air line. I'll give it another couple days and see what happens. From now on I'm not turning it off during water changes.

08/18/2012, 05:09 PM	#6
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	Mine has a great foam head. I just started using it today. I need to raise mine up a few inches so I can control it bettter Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/18/2012, 07:47 PM	#7
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	Mine was too, literally minutes after I put it in. Now it's not. The only thing I can conclude is that my maintenance/water change messed with the water enough to throw-off the skimmer, and/or the water just isn't very dirty yet since the skimmer initially pulled-out a bunch of gunk.

08/19/2012, 09:59 AM	#9
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	Great questions. I'll be home tonight and will take pics and respond to the queries.

08/19/2012, 07:28 PM	#11
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	I just got home, about a day after I started this thread. There appears to be a decent head of foam now, so whatever I did while cleaning the tank/water change, certainly ****ed off the skimmer. But it's good to know that the skimmer itself is working properly. I think I'm going to leave it running during the next water change to avoid the issue again. Took about three days to get the foam head back.

08/19/2012, 09:40 PM	#12
LitiGATOR Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 138	Yea, it's working again, so I'm very happy. It's crazy how such a small change in the chemistry of the water can have such a drastic effect on the skimmer.