Skimmer Help Flood Again

Ed Kazz · 12/09/2008, 02:00 AM

Hi,

I am just about ready to give up! For some unknown reason my skimmer(corallife 220 super skimmer...I know its not the best) goes crazy (slim-mate cup overflows)and floods my basement,and changes my saltwater tank to fresh water (have ATO system). The level in the sump does not change and the skimmer hangs on the side.This happened twice and when I am not home! The first time I thought it was a fluke? My salinity level went from 1.025 to 1.024. I hope everything makes it? I will use salt water for make up over the next few days.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this in the future?I thought I had seen a mod for some type of ping pong ball?

Thanks
Ed

boxfishpooalot · 12/09/2008, 04:35 AM

I would suggest, putting the air intake hose into the collection cup, so if it begins to overflow at a certain height it will suck in water rather than air lowering the water level. At the same time removing water so as to not overflow. It may require some drilling in the lid.

sjm817 · 12/09/2008, 07:06 AM

Can you run it in sump so that when it overflows, it just goes back into the sump?

Guygettnby · 12/09/2008, 08:12 AM

they are decent skimmers for the money but very touchy.

+1 on drilling the cup and putting the air line in the cup
+1 on putting it into the sump

1 other thing i noticed when i had my SS was i had to trun the skimmer off when i dosed the tank or fed the tank.

has the skimmer been doing this just out of the blue or has it happened after feeding or putting chemicals in the tank?

SnowManSnow · 12/09/2008, 11:02 AM

I think your pets will be fine with only a .01 change in salinity.
b

Ed Kazz · 12/09/2008, 11:13 AM

Thanks very much for the suggestions.
I don't have room for the skimmer in the sump but like the air line tip. The skimmer runs fine for weeks. The only thing I can think of is I had injected a aiptasia in the middle of a zoe colony with aiptasia-x before work?

Ed

Guygettnby · 12/09/2008, 11:59 AM

any kind of additive of chemical you put in the tank will make that skimmer go nuts. so that could have been your problem. they are overly touchy. they do a decent job but that is one of the reasons alot of people say they are junk.

Ed Kazz · 12/09/2008, 01:09 PM

Thanks Again

It just seem that the water does not want to stay in the tank.
Thanksgiving day and no one home air bleed line valve comes off and drains sump dry. I guess the valve I had used was for rigid tubing not 1/4" flexible silicone.

Ed

nikon187 · 12/09/2008, 01:12 PM

EVERY single one i have seen ran hang on eventually flooded something. It's only a matter of time. There is no way i would trust it as a hang on

boviac · 12/09/2008, 01:17 PM

Drill a hole in your skimmer cup. Tap it and attach tubing to a disposable water bottle that you attach or suspend by the side of your sump.

Drill some holes in the top of the water bottle towards the top to allow for an overflow event in this bottle will flow back into your sump.

This allows your skimmer to still skim as normal. Wet skim will go in the cup to the point where the hole is. Then it overflows into the water bottle in your sump. If the skimmer goes nuts and fills your cup and water bottle it just ends up going back into your sump. But in normal mode, your cup and water bottle can be easily removed for cleaning.

This keeps the overskimmed water in your system and your ATO fresh water more or less in check.

Hope that helps.

Ed Kazz · 12/09/2008, 01:19 PM

That sound great and will work.

Thanks
Ed

boviac · 12/09/2008, 01:57 PM

be careful drilling plastics especially round types. DIY be warned.

stugray · 12/09/2008, 02:56 PM

So youre saying that the skimmer neck/riser-tube is taller than the cup?

That's the only way that I can imagine the cup overflowing.

With my DIY sklimmer, if it runs amok, it fills up the collection cup to the top of the riser tube, then begins dumping back into the skimmer.

It is impossible for mine to overflow the collection cup.

Sounds like a bad design.

Stu

stugray · 12/09/2008, 06:44 PM

^

Ed Kazz · 12/09/2008, 11:37 PM

Stugray,here is what the skimmer looks like.

http://www.tylermerrick.com/content/css_notes.php

Thanks
Ed

12/09/2008, 02:00 AM	#1
Ed Kazz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 288	Skimmer Help Flood Again Hi, I am just about ready to give up! For some unknown reason my skimmer(corallife 220 super skimmer...I know its not the best) goes crazy (slim-mate cup overflows)and floods my basement,and changes my saltwater tank to fresh water (have ATO system). The level in the sump does not change and the skimmer hangs on the side.This happened twice and when I am not home! The first time I thought it was a fluke? My salinity level went from 1.025 to 1.024. I hope everything makes it? I will use salt water for make up over the next few days. Is there anything I can do to prevent this in the future?I thought I had seen a mod for some type of ping pong ball? Thanks Ed

12/09/2008, 04:35 AM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	I would suggest, putting the air intake hose into the collection cup, so if it begins to overflow at a certain height it will suck in water rather than air lowering the water level. At the same time removing water so as to not overflow. It may require some drilling in the lid. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/09/2008, 07:06 AM	#3
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Can you run it in sump so that when it overflows, it just goes back into the sump? __________________ - Scott

12/09/2008, 11:02 AM	#5
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	I think your pets will be fine with only a .01 change in salinity. b __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

12/09/2008, 01:12 PM	#9
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	EVERY single one i have seen ran hang on eventually flooded something. It's only a matter of time. There is no way i would trust it as a hang on __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

12/09/2008, 08:12 AM	#4
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	they are decent skimmers for the money but very touchy. +1 on drilling the cup and putting the air line in the cup +1 on putting it into the sump 1 other thing i noticed when i had my SS was i had to trun the skimmer off when i dosed the tank or fed the tank. has the skimmer been doing this just out of the blue or has it happened after feeding or putting chemicals in the tank?

12/09/2008, 11:13 AM	#6
Ed Kazz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 288	Thanks very much for the suggestions. I don't have room for the skimmer in the sump but like the air line tip. The skimmer runs fine for weeks. The only thing I can think of is I had injected a aiptasia in the middle of a zoe colony with aiptasia-x before work? Ed

12/09/2008, 11:59 AM	#7
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	any kind of additive of chemical you put in the tank will make that skimmer go nuts. so that could have been your problem. they are overly touchy. they do a decent job but that is one of the reasons alot of people say they are junk.

12/09/2008, 01:09 PM	#8
Ed Kazz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 288	Thanks Again It just seem that the water does not want to stay in the tank. Thanksgiving day and no one home air bleed line valve comes off and drains sump dry. I guess the valve I had used was for rigid tubing not 1/4" flexible silicone. Ed

12/09/2008, 01:17 PM	#10
boviac Loves Tank Builds Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 1,584	Drill a hole in your skimmer cup. Tap it and attach tubing to a disposable water bottle that you attach or suspend by the side of your sump. Drill some holes in the top of the water bottle towards the top to allow for an overflow event in this bottle will flow back into your sump. This allows your skimmer to still skim as normal. Wet skim will go in the cup to the point where the hole is. Then it overflows into the water bottle in your sump. If the skimmer goes nuts and fills your cup and water bottle it just ends up going back into your sump. But in normal mode, your cup and water bottle can be easily removed for cleaning. This keeps the overskimmed water in your system and your ATO fresh water more or less in check. Hope that helps. __________________ No more tank.... ;-) Current Tank Info: No tank anymore - Hobby shift to Light Sport Aircraft

12/09/2008, 01:19 PM	#11
Ed Kazz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 288	That sound great and will work. Thanks Ed

12/09/2008, 01:57 PM	#12
boviac Loves Tank Builds Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 1,584	be careful drilling plastics especially round types. DIY be warned. __________________ No more tank.... ;-) Current Tank Info: No tank anymore - Hobby shift to Light Sport Aircraft

12/09/2008, 02:56 PM	#13
stugray Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 4,566	So youre saying that the skimmer neck/riser-tube is taller than the cup? That's the only way that I can imagine the cup overflowing. With my DIY sklimmer, if it runs amok, it fills up the collection cup to the top of the riser tube, then begins dumping back into the skimmer. It is impossible for mine to overflow the collection cup. Sounds like a bad design. Stu __________________ Some people think that I have Attention Deficit Disorder. They just dont understand that........ Hey! Look a chicken! Well, We KNOW GOD exists, but for US to exist without a GOD is preposterous….Umm wait a minute…. Sounds a bit circular to me… Current Tank Info: 125 Gal. display w/80 gal mud/caulerpa sump. Basement sump w/ LED Grow Light,Gravity fed Reeflo200 skimmer w/ ORCA Recirc, DIY calc reactor & kalk stirrer. Inline plumbed 75 Gal frag/settling tank.

12/09/2008, 06:44 PM	#14
stugray Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 4,566	^ __________________ Some people think that I have Attention Deficit Disorder. They just dont understand that........ Hey! Look a chicken! Well, We KNOW GOD exists, but for US to exist without a GOD is preposterous….Umm wait a minute…. Sounds a bit circular to me… Current Tank Info: 125 Gal. display w/80 gal mud/caulerpa sump. Basement sump w/ LED Grow Light,Gravity fed Reeflo200 skimmer w/ ORCA Recirc, DIY calc reactor & kalk stirrer. Inline plumbed 75 Gal frag/settling tank.

12/09/2008, 11:37 PM	#15
Ed Kazz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern PA Posts: 288	Stugray,here is what the skimmer looks like. http://www.tylermerrick.com/content/css_notes.php Thanks Ed