Skimmer problems after water change?

KaZeR.UK · 10/03/2016, 03:16 PM

Hopefully someone can shed some light....

Every time I do a water change, my skimmers bubble level changes every time? Water levels the same, air flows the same, everything is the same but the bubble level drops every time and doesn't come back up? Maybe I'm doing something wrong here? Or maybe it's normal after a change in water?

Very frustrating as I have to reset and configure it every time.

alcimedes · 10/03/2016, 03:33 PM

Are you checking the salinity in your water change water vs. the salinity in the tank? How big of a % of the total water are you doing in each change?

What's the make/model of your skimmer? I've read about some which are much harder to dial in effectively than others.

If I had to guess, I'd guess the water you're adding is a lower salinity than the water in your tank. That slight salinity difference is enough to throw off your skimmer.

Betaktical · 10/03/2016, 04:04 PM

I've had the same problem before... The wc before my last one my skimmer did that and didn't start making skimmate till the next water change. Just hang in there. Are u using coralife skimmer?

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mpyers · 10/03/2016, 04:23 PM

Salinity makes a big difference. I overflowed my skimmer when trying to bring my salinity up.

KaZeR.UK · 10/04/2016, 02:26 PM

I'm using a fluval ps1 as I have a nano tank. I'm going to add a sump soon and upgrade the skimmer. My salinity seems to be pretty stable but it would make sense that it could be affecting the skim after a WC. The skimmer is also only a few weeks old so this might also be adding to the problem; It seemed to me that it was fully broken in though. I will keep an eye on my salinity and see what happens.
I read on another thread also that cleaning the cup can affect the bubble level for a few days and I had been cleaning every time I emptied. I will leave the cleaning until it properly needs it and see if that helps.

Thanks for the help people

A sea K · 10/05/2016, 05:11 AM

I'm using a RO 110 classic on my 30 gal and it always reacts to a W/C. Pretty normal IMO.

Betaktical · 10/05/2016, 08:15 AM

Yeah don't clean the overflow neck unless it's like caked on. I did that one time and didn't get skimmate till it made the brown coat again.

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inurmind · 10/09/2016, 02:23 PM

I've had the same thing happen several times and still can't seem to id it. My best suggestion is to just shut off your skimmer for the wc and give it an hour or so before turning it back on. Doesn't seem to affect anything except the skimmer so I've been fine doing that for years now

10/03/2016, 03:16 PM	#1
KaZeR.UK Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Southport, UK Posts: 34	Skimmer problems after water change? Hopefully someone can shed some light.... Every time I do a water change, my skimmers bubble level changes every time? Water levels the same, air flows the same, everything is the same but the bubble level drops every time and doesn't come back up? Maybe I'm doing something wrong here? Or maybe it's normal after a change in water? Very frustrating as I have to reset and configure it every time.

10/05/2016, 05:11 AM	#6
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	I'm using a RO 110 classic on my 30 gal and it always reacts to a W/C. Pretty normal IMO. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/03/2016, 03:33 PM	#2
alcimedes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 174	Are you checking the salinity in your water change water vs. the salinity in the tank? How big of a % of the total water are you doing in each change? What's the make/model of your skimmer? I've read about some which are much harder to dial in effectively than others. If I had to guess, I'd guess the water you're adding is a lower salinity than the water in your tank. That slight salinity difference is enough to throw off your skimmer.

10/03/2016, 04:04 PM	#3
Betaktical Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 363	I've had the same problem before... The wc before my last one my skimmer did that and didn't start making skimmate till the next water change. Just hang in there. Are u using coralife skimmer? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/03/2016, 04:23 PM	#4
mpyers Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Cambridge, OH Posts: 311	Salinity makes a big difference. I overflowed my skimmer when trying to bring my salinity up.

10/04/2016, 02:26 PM	#5
KaZeR.UK Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Southport, UK Posts: 34	I'm using a fluval ps1 as I have a nano tank. I'm going to add a sump soon and upgrade the skimmer. My salinity seems to be pretty stable but it would make sense that it could be affecting the skim after a WC. The skimmer is also only a few weeks old so this might also be adding to the problem; It seemed to me that it was fully broken in though. I will keep an eye on my salinity and see what happens. I read on another thread also that cleaning the cup can affect the bubble level for a few days and I had been cleaning every time I emptied. I will leave the cleaning until it properly needs it and see if that helps. Thanks for the help people

10/05/2016, 08:15 AM	#7
Betaktical Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 363	Yeah don't clean the overflow neck unless it's like caked on. I did that one time and didn't get skimmate till it made the brown coat again. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/09/2016, 02:23 PM	#8
inurmind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	I've had the same thing happen several times and still can't seem to id it. My best suggestion is to just shut off your skimmer for the wc and give it an hour or so before turning it back on. Doesn't seem to affect anything except the skimmer so I've been fine doing that for years now