Frustrating protein skimmer

[bishop777]

This is a new set-up, I have a reef octopus nwb-250, and it keep overflowing regardless which way I turn the value. I know I have to wait to break it in but there has to be away to stop it.

[Ostara]

Do you have a picture of it in your sump?

[jon99]

Do you have it at the right depth? Sounds like you may have it too low in the water. Any medication or additives in the water that could be creating more foam?

[shonc182]

Right, wrong or otherwise (and assuming the skimmer is at the right depth - 8 or 9" on that unit, I think). I set mine up originally - and after cleaning - by starting out w/ the gate valve almost all the way open and then gradually close it over a few days to get it set properly.

[Arnoldtatts]

Same problem I have a super reef octo 2000. New set up I did put flatworm exit. Doing water change and adding carbon tomorrow,so we shall see if that's the problem. Following along

[Ostara]

With the Octopus skimmers it is generally the water level. The output of Octopus skimmers has to be completely above the surface of the water to prevent them from overflowing. I have one that has to be in less than 6" of water to keep it from overflowing.

[worm5406]

Lets see some pics... ALSO.. where and how is the return setup?

OK turn the valve (for now) all the way counter clock wise (to the left)

Check inside those pipes (after turning it off) to make sure nothing is blocking it.

I wanted to change the piping to fit wha tI had then I realized why the piping was the size it was and just left it cut the way it was on mine.



Also about being above the water??? huh??

[bishop777]

I originally had the depth of the skimmer at required height 9in but I was having bubbles in my tank so I fill up my sump with so more water to fix the bubble, which cause my skimmer to overflow. But I still have the bubbles, which sucks. Any suggestion on that will be greatly appreciated.

[hillscp]

My skimmer is an older model (Extreme 250) but very similar. It is a very good skimmer too

Mine is raised up so the end of the outflow pipe is half in and half out of the water. The elbow is turned horizontal (I'll put up a picture in a minute)

There is a plate inside the skimmer between where the outflow pipe comes in (on the bottom) and where the pump goes in (Higher up). Are there bubbles under the plate?

Mine has zero bubbles coming out (clear water)

You state that you raised the water level in your sump. Does your sump have an interior baffle to maintain the water level for the skimmer? If not you are going to have a hard time getting the skimmer to run correctly. As water evaporates your sump level will drop and your skimmer will stop making skimmate.

Edit

Trying to show how the plate separates the bubbles coming in from the ones going out.

http://youtu.be/zIno4jTrJho

Output hight and clear water

http://youtu.be/jO6tH0jxwvE

[solitude]

Did you add anything to the tank recently?

[Reeferz412]

^ +1 to that, have you added anything to the tank chemical wise?

[Ostara]

Originally Posted by bishop777

I originally had the depth of the skimmer at required height 9in but I was having bubbles in my tank so I fill up my sump with so more water to fix the bubble, which cause my skimmer to overflow. But I still have the bubbles, which sucks. Any suggestion on that will be greatly appreciated.

Been there, done that with a SRO skimmer. If you added water and it started overflowing, the water level is the problem. Build a skimmer stand out of eggcrate and zip ties. 9" may be the recommended depth but it is probably too deep for it to properly function. I think the "recommended" depth for the one I have is 6-8", and like I said it has to be less than six just to keep it from overflowing. If I put it at their recommended minimum height it will bubble over constantly.

[bishop777]

Attached is video of my set up of my skimmer and the bubble in my tank issue. If you see any issue or anything please let me know.

http://youtu.be/A0qJeolpSCs

[bishop777]

I did not add any chemical to the system.

[jon99]

It's hard to see in the vid, but is the outflow pipe from the skimmer below the water line in the sump?

[Ostara]

Originally Posted by jon99

It's hard to see in the vid, but is the outflow pipe from the skimmer below the water line in the sump?

I was trying to figure this out too. It almost looks as if the output from the skimmer is connected to a PVC pipe? If this is the case, the pipe needs to be sloped downward for the water to run properly. I've seen one of the guys from Coralvue/Reef Octopus (Jeremy, perhaps) mention this before. I can see how high your water level is on the body of your skimmer, and it is definitely deep enough to be a problem. As mentioned, elevate the skimmer so that you can both have the higher water level you want in your sump and have a functioning skimmer.

As for the bubbles from your return, which pump are you using? It may be powerful enough to create a vortex and suck air down from the surface; I've had a Water Blaster HY7000 do that in water that was too shallow. If you have the skimmer outlet plumbed into something else, maybe going directly to the return chamber, then that's likely causing a problem. A picture or a clearer video of that would help. Make sure you hold the phone in the landscape (horizontal) position and not portrait (upright or vertical).

[bishop777]

Originally Posted by Ostara

I was trying to figure this out too. It almost looks as if the output from the skimmer is connected to a PVC pipe? If this is the case, the pipe needs to be sloped downward for the water to run properly. I've seen one of the guys from Coralvue/Reef Octopus (Jeremy, perhaps) mention this before. I can see how high your water level is on the body of your skimmer, and it is definitely deep enough to be a problem. As mentioned, elevate the skimmer so that you can both have the higher water level you want in your sump and have a functioning skimmer.

As for the bubbles from your return, which pump are you using? It may be powerful enough to create a vortex and suck air down from the surface; I've had a Water Blaster HY7000 do that in water that was too shallow. If you have the skimmer outlet plumbed into something else, maybe going directly to the return chamber, then that's likely causing a problem. A picture or a clearer video of that would help. Make sure you hold the phone in the landscape (horizontal) position and not portrait (upright or vertical).

I do have a create underneath protein skimmer which the skimmer is at exactly 9in which is the recommended height. Yes I have a PVC pipe connected to the output. Basically what I did was mimic the output value they sell for this skimmer. The pump i have is a reeflo snapper hybrid, which was recommend to me by well know aquarium shop. Also I don't have the skimmer plumb nowhere else. I will do another video later on today.




http://coralvue.com/protein-skimmer-output-vent/

[hillscp]

So you modified the skimmer?

[jon99]

If the skimmer is overflowing and it's not a medication or additive that's increasing the foaming of the water then the problem is that there is too much flow going into the skimmer body and not enough exiting. Based on what you've described so far, it's possibly due to the modifications you have made to the ouput pipe and/or pump. Start by opening the output all the way. If it still overflows you need to decrease the amount of flow going into the skimmer. You can do this by using a smaller pump or an easier and cheaper alternative is to raise the skimmer higher our of the water which will increase the back pressure on the pump reducing the flow into the skimmer body. 9" may be the "ideal" height, but if it's not working for your skimmer (again likely due to the modifications). There is nothing wrong with raising it an inch or so at a time until you find the sweet spot where it stops overflowing.

[bishop777]

Regarding the skimmer, yes & no on the modification, I just made a carbin copy of the value output. That's all. I'm note sure if that will cause the issue cuz they sell the exact one on line.

[Mike O'Brien]

IMO you need another baffle before the return outlet. One that the water has to flow under. Bubbles are being created from the water flowing over your last baffle.

[Diver86]

dumb question but are the filter socks new? I've had that be the cause before


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