What's up with my skimmer?

Kakabub · 06/10/2009, 05:35 AM

Coralife 125, it's been running for about 3 weeks now while I cycle the new tank. Everything is great until yesterday the foam level has been in the middle of the neck, and now it is fluctuating about 1-2 inches every 5-6 seconds. It hovers in the middle and then will drop a couple of inches and then a few seconds later it bounces back up... I have checked the skimmer pump placement/obstructions, no problem there. Checked the aerator line, no changes there either. Tried turning the thing all the way up and then down and readjusting it with no change. Is this just the way it runs or do I have a problem?

patsfan1130 · 06/10/2009, 05:46 AM

Sounds like the water level in the sump might be fluctuating

Kakabub · 06/10/2009, 06:01 AM

double checked that, doesn't seem to be the problem. I did notice that the ouput of the skimmer fills the 'anti bubble' thingy but it doesn't seem to be related to the level of the skimmer. The level of the sump shouldn't really affect the skimmer since it has it's own submersible pump anyways right?

der_wille_zur_macht · 06/10/2009, 06:39 AM

Water level in the sump can influence skimmer performance, for sure. Think of it this way - the skimmer's pump is working against a certain head pressure. That head pressure is mostly due to the difference in height between the water level in the sump, and the water level in the skimmer's body. So, if you change the depth of water in the sump, the head pressure on the pump changes. And, a small change in head pressure (inches) on a skimmer pump can really change the amount of air sucked in, for systems that rely on the main pump for aeration (virtually every style of skimmer except airstone-driven models.)

That said, unless you've had wild changes in sump depth, I'm not sure that is the problem here. I know you said you checked for obstructions, but that would be one of my main thoughts.

I'm not intimately familiar with coralife skimmers, can you explain this anti bubble thingy?

der_wille_zur_macht · 06/10/2009, 06:41 AM

Also, has anything in your tank changed? Additives, water changes, anything else? Sometimes, skimmers can be affected by seemingly meaningless things - like using certain additives, such as "slime coat enhancers" and other such stuff. Though, these things usually make the skimmer overflow like mad, not fluctuate as you're describing.

saganeer · 06/10/2009, 09:19 AM

+1 on the fluctuation on the sump, had the same problem a month ago, a little move on the waterÂ´s depth change alot the performance of your skimmer

vyerous · 06/10/2009, 09:46 AM

If its making a sucking noise every now and again when it drops, its formed a siphon, I had this problem with my skimmer but it was fixed by airline tubing in the output line.

However I am not familiar with this skimmer but water level can definitely mess with the skimmer performance.

abulgin · 06/10/2009, 09:53 AM

Your first problem is that you bought/obtained a total piece of crap skimmer. I know you don't want to hear that, but it's a sad truth. These skimmers are really sh*tty. They are just WAY too hard to adjust and they are WAY too sensitive to water level fluctuations. Moreover, they are prone to flood because the air intake is prone to clog with calcium/mineral deposits. It's like a heart attack. You notice the performance going down, so you play with the dial. A piece of the mineral deposit breaks off allowing more air in, and all the sudden the skimmer is going crazy. The former is what caused me to ditch my SS and spend the money on a decent skimmer.

terryagi · 06/10/2009, 11:45 AM

I have a coralife 65 skimmer. I don't think it is the best skimmer out there, but I haven't had any serious issues with it. I did have to remove the air intake hose recently (after 3 years running) to remove some calcium deposits.

How is the bubble production in the chamber? Are there a LOT of bubbles or no? Are there less now than say a week or two ago?

ibefishy · 06/10/2009, 12:51 PM

I have the same skimmer, and mine does the same thing. The water in the sump doesnt flucuate enough to cause this issue. I ended up modifying my skimmer and it does a little better but overall I am not too impressed. I have a really low bioload though. 3 small fish and a dozen snails is about it. One day I will invest in a better skimmer when I feel like adding more livestock. I wanted more corals than fish so a really nice skimmer didnt seem to be needed.

Kakabub · 06/10/2009, 06:08 PM

the anti bubble thing is a small open top container with foam and slotted drain in the bottom. It attaches to the side of the sump and is supposed to reduce bubbles from the return of the skimmer. Doesn't appear to be the problem as I removed it and the fluctuation still happens. The thing has only been running for 3 weeks so I highly doubt it's obstructed but I'm gonna tear it down and take a look anyway. No changes in tank additives and bubble production appears to be about the same. Ibefishy what mod did you do to yours?

06/10/2009, 05:35 AM	#1
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	What's up with my skimmer? Coralife 125, it's been running for about 3 weeks now while I cycle the new tank. Everything is great until yesterday the foam level has been in the middle of the neck, and now it is fluctuating about 1-2 inches every 5-6 seconds. It hovers in the middle and then will drop a couple of inches and then a few seconds later it bounces back up... I have checked the skimmer pump placement/obstructions, no problem there. Checked the aerator line, no changes there either. Tried turning the thing all the way up and then down and readjusting it with no change. Is this just the way it runs or do I have a problem?

06/10/2009, 05:46 AM	#2
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	Sounds like the water level in the sump might be fluctuating __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

06/10/2009, 06:39 AM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Water level in the sump can influence skimmer performance, for sure. Think of it this way - the skimmer's pump is working against a certain head pressure. That head pressure is mostly due to the difference in height between the water level in the sump, and the water level in the skimmer's body. So, if you change the depth of water in the sump, the head pressure on the pump changes. And, a small change in head pressure (inches) on a skimmer pump can really change the amount of air sucked in, for systems that rely on the main pump for aeration (virtually every style of skimmer except airstone-driven models.) That said, unless you've had wild changes in sump depth, I'm not sure that is the problem here. I know you said you checked for obstructions, but that would be one of my main thoughts. I'm not intimately familiar with coralife skimmers, can you explain this anti bubble thingy? __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

06/10/2009, 06:41 AM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Also, has anything in your tank changed? Additives, water changes, anything else? Sometimes, skimmers can be affected by seemingly meaningless things - like using certain additives, such as "slime coat enhancers" and other such stuff. Though, these things usually make the skimmer overflow like mad, not fluctuate as you're describing. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

06/10/2009, 09:19 AM	#6
saganeer Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Monterrey, Mexico Posts: 13	+1 on the fluctuation on the sump, had the same problem a month ago, a little move on the waterÂ´s depth change alot the performance of your skimmer __________________ i dreamed that you wanted to pay my beer!!! Current Tank Info: 460 gal SW

06/10/2009, 06:01 AM	#3
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	double checked that, doesn't seem to be the problem. I did notice that the ouput of the skimmer fills the 'anti bubble' thingy but it doesn't seem to be related to the level of the skimmer. The level of the sump shouldn't really affect the skimmer since it has it's own submersible pump anyways right?

06/10/2009, 09:46 AM	#7
vyerous Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NoVA Posts: 344	If its making a sucking noise every now and again when it drops, its formed a siphon, I had this problem with my skimmer but it was fixed by airline tubing in the output line. However I am not familiar with this skimmer but water level can definitely mess with the skimmer performance.

06/10/2009, 09:53 AM	#8
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Your first problem is that you bought/obtained a total piece of crap skimmer. I know you don't want to hear that, but it's a sad truth. These skimmers are really sh*tty. They are just WAY too hard to adjust and they are WAY too sensitive to water level fluctuations. Moreover, they are prone to flood because the air intake is prone to clog with calcium/mineral deposits. It's like a heart attack. You notice the performance going down, so you play with the dial. A piece of the mineral deposit breaks off allowing more air in, and all the sudden the skimmer is going crazy. The former is what caused me to ditch my SS and spend the money on a decent skimmer.

06/10/2009, 11:45 AM	#9
terryagi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 143	I have a coralife 65 skimmer. I don't think it is the best skimmer out there, but I haven't had any serious issues with it. I did have to remove the air intake hose recently (after 3 years running) to remove some calcium deposits. How is the bubble production in the chamber? Are there a LOT of bubbles or no? Are there less now than say a week or two ago?

06/10/2009, 12:51 PM	#10
ibefishy Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Grover Beach, California Posts: 307	I have the same skimmer, and mine does the same thing. The water in the sump doesnt flucuate enough to cause this issue. I ended up modifying my skimmer and it does a little better but overall I am not too impressed. I have a really low bioload though. 3 small fish and a dozen snails is about it. One day I will invest in a better skimmer when I feel like adding more livestock. I wanted more corals than fish so a really nice skimmer didnt seem to be needed.

06/10/2009, 06:08 PM	#11
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	the anti bubble thing is a small open top container with foam and slotted drain in the bottom. It attaches to the side of the sump and is supposed to reduce bubbles from the return of the skimmer. Doesn't appear to be the problem as I removed it and the fluctuation still happens. The thing has only been running for 3 weeks so I highly doubt it's obstructed but I'm gonna tear it down and take a look anyway. No changes in tank additives and bubble production appears to be about the same. Ibefishy what mod did you do to yours?