Help with water

[RyanMcLaughlin]

I just added water conditioner to my salt tank and now all of a sudden my protein skimmer is overflowing into the cup even though I have it dialed so it shouldnt be close and it is overflowing with white foamy microbubbles. Is it just the conditioner? Do you think it will go away?

[bertoni]

That's normal for the water conditions. The bubbling will stop over time. I wouldn't dose that product anymore, though.

[demonsp]

Why did you add this?
Skimmer tend to actup whene things like epoxy,checmicals , your hand, and ect.. are added to the tank. If this is a new setup and your adding then your doing it wrong.In case you want to know.

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Because I had to use tap to fill my tank and the product removes chlorine and stuff. If I didnt it would probably kill my fish. So should I just run the skimmer until it goes away?

[bertoni]

Running the skimmer is fine if it doesn't overflow and cause a mess. Remember that the water that it collects is saltwater, so you'll need to add saltwater back to the system when the cup is emptied. Just watch the SG and the system should be okay.

[bertoni]

A product like Amquel should be fine for conditioning tapwater, and I don't think it causes skimmer problems.

[dileggi]

I have not had any problems while using Amquel as far as my skimmer goes.

If you're going to use water conditioner because of tap water, you may have better luck adding the conditioner to the water before you add it to the tank.

But, as everyone said, since you added the conditioner, it's normal for your skimmer to do that....but I would just get some Amqeul as this should lessen your problem.

[RyanMcLaughlin]

do i need to add amquel to my tank even though I already conditioned it. After this I am using premixed RO water from the store.

[bertoni]

The only purpose of Amquel is to neutralize any chlorine or chloramine in the water. I suspect the conditioner you're using will do that, but it also has slime coat additives or something else that's causing the protein problem.

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Well the skimmer has been running for over a day now and still doing the same thing. Right now it isnt skimming at all just collecting foam and spraying it out. Am I going to have to refill the tank? Any advice would be appreciated.

[demonsp]

Give it 48 to 72 hours it will calm down,You should be able to adjust the level,no.
And it will act up whene you add your hand in the tank or new equipment or epoxy.epoxy may need more time to calm down.This is one of the main resonse for a fuge or sump.It helps alot with micro bubbles.You can turn off for a few days with no effect to the tank ,but the micro bubble in the tank wont do any harm and all your doing is wet skimming.
Never replace more then 33% of the total tank volume as this could cause a mini cycle.
Just read some comics and let it ride out you will be fine.

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Ok. Well Im getting a sump soon so hopefully that will help. And as for adjusting I have it dialed so that nothing should be happening and it is still overflowing with foam. IM gonna hope for the best and when I add a sump I hope it will help.
Ryan

[demonsp]

Whats your salinity level?

[RyanMcLaughlin]

1.024

[demonsp]

Mine also.You shoud be fine. Sounds like a typical skimmer problem.I would try and keep from adding any additive unless you see your readings rise and think about an RO/DI unit as this is one of the best ways you can have total water quality control.Anything Worth Doing (and spending endless amounts of money) Is Worth Doing Right.GL

[RyanMcLaughlin]

Thanks for the advice. I will let it run and hope for the best. I am trying to get an RO unit but they are expensive and since I am only 15 people wont hire me so money is hard to come by.

[demonsp]

<---------------self employed.Only way to go.

[RyanMcLaughlin]

I would love to be self employed but I need money to make money. I am working on breeding snakes which can make a nice chunk of change but one day maybe.

[demonsp]

Its just like reefing. 1 step at a time and controlled you will do just fine. "Carefull what you wish for" Is a very true statment.Little to dangerous for me though.You work with all types of snakes and do you have a nickname like the croc hunter RIP...

[RyanMcLaughlin]

No nickname. I work mainly with Pythons. I have a Green Tree Python, two Ball Pythons and also a pair of western hognoses. The GTP is where the big business is though. Just need another 800 for a partner. In due time though. I would love to own my own Fish/Reptile store. Anyways thanks for the advice.

[demonsp]

I would think its in the milking for anti venom .Your the snake man. just dont kill yourself.LOL