Need help with skimmer

saltaddict89 · 05/20/2014, 05:02 PM

I just added 2.5 gallons if salt water to my tank through my skimmer section and it won't stop foaming like crazy. I tried turning it up and down, shut it off then back on, and then dumped it completely. It continues to fill up my cup in less then 30 seconds. The water also was cold and contained salt and alien water conditioner. Any thoughts of what it could be. Until I'm letting it over flow back into the sump. I also cleaned out the air intake and still nothing. Please help. Skimmer has been functioning normally for 3 months till now

saltaddict89 · 05/20/2014, 05:28 PM

Fixed it by adding vegetable oil

risin · 05/21/2014, 08:10 AM

Vegetable oil? How are the inhabitants liking that?

Hard to say what's wrong without knowing more about the setup. I would suspect the water conditioner or something bad being in your fresh salt water. The oil just breaks the surface tension in the skimmer temporarily and I would not recommend continuing to do this.

Did you change the water level where your skimmer sits? If you did it will drastically change how the skimmer performs. For best results the skimmer needs a constant water level.

05/20/2014, 05:02 PM	#1
saltaddict89 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 361	Need help with skimmer I just added 2.5 gallons if salt water to my tank through my skimmer section and it won't stop foaming like crazy. I tried turning it up and down, shut it off then back on, and then dumped it completely. It continues to fill up my cup in less then 30 seconds. The water also was cold and contained salt and alien water conditioner. Any thoughts of what it could be. Until I'm letting it over flow back into the sump. I also cleaned out the air intake and still nothing. Please help. Skimmer has been functioning normally for 3 months till now

05/20/2014, 05:28 PM	#2
saltaddict89 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 361	Fixed it by adding vegetable oil

05/21/2014, 08:10 AM	#3
risin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 715	Vegetable oil? How are the inhabitants liking that? Hard to say what's wrong without knowing more about the setup. I would suspect the water conditioner or something bad being in your fresh salt water. The oil just breaks the surface tension in the skimmer temporarily and I would not recommend continuing to do this. Did you change the water level where your skimmer sits? If you did it will drastically change how the skimmer performs. For best results the skimmer needs a constant water level.