Skimmer extra foamy

ReefsandGeeks · 04/20/2015, 07:52 AM

Anyone have any ideas what might be making my skimmer foam so thick? it's to the point where the foam will clog up the vent hols in the skimmer lid, and will lift the lid and vent from the crack. Will clog a few minutes after clearing the holes. Skims well, but seems like it might have started out of nowhere. I've been dosing hydrogen peroxide for dinos for the last 2 weeks. Might that be it? doesn't seem to do anything more right after dosing or before. it foams the same throughout the day.

nmotz · 04/20/2015, 09:37 AM

It's probably the hydrogen peroxide if I had to guess. Skimmers go nuts sometimes when people dose things.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/20/2015, 11:17 AM

It could be. Wasn't a sudden thing, kinda started getting foamier and foamier over maybe the last week or so. Anything else that I've ever put in that made the skimmer go nuts would make it go nuts and overflow dramaticaly for maybe an hour, then stop. This is different from what i'm used ot in that it's always foamy, right after dosing peroxide, or 24 hours later before I dose again. The peroxide has a short life in the tank so I found that odd. still possible though. I'm no expert.
Anyone have any sugestions to aliviate the problem? if it's the peroxide I'll just deal with it till I'm done with treatment. I thought of widening the holes on the lid, but I don't want the foam spilling out. I also tried putting a couple mls of vodka in the cup because alcohal pops bubbles, but the releif is short lived.

eddiereefs · 04/20/2015, 12:22 PM

if the vodka got into the tank you had a bacteria bloom and it showed in the skimmer, maybe the h202 has the same effect as carbon dosing idk. u should be proud of that nog. psk75h kicks the crap out of crapy aquamaxxs lmao

ReefsandGeeks · 04/20/2015, 01:02 PM

It hasn't overflowed with the vodka after I put it in. I do carbon dose already, and the amount of vodka put in the cup was purposfuly small in case of overflow. Haven't had foam like this from my normal dosing. I'm just worried about it making a mess or pushing the lid off. I can see the lid lifting because the foam blocks the air vent hols on top.
I do realy like the skimmer. I can't imagine anything doing better for my tank.

eddiereefs · 04/20/2015, 01:14 PM

This is just the aftermath of carbon dosing, it comes slow then bam. If ur worried put somthing heavy on top and break the bubbles with your finger, just stick it in the foam and they will break because of the oils in ur hand

04/20/2015, 09:37 AM	#2
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	It's probably the hydrogen peroxide if I had to guess. Skimmers go nuts sometimes when people dose things. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

04/20/2015, 11:17 AM	#3
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	It could be. Wasn't a sudden thing, kinda started getting foamier and foamier over maybe the last week or so. Anything else that I've ever put in that made the skimmer go nuts would make it go nuts and overflow dramaticaly for maybe an hour, then stop. This is different from what i'm used ot in that it's always foamy, right after dosing peroxide, or 24 hours later before I dose again. The peroxide has a short life in the tank so I found that odd. still possible though. I'm no expert. Anyone have any sugestions to aliviate the problem? if it's the peroxide I'll just deal with it till I'm done with treatment. I thought of widening the holes on the lid, but I don't want the foam spilling out. I also tried putting a couple mls of vodka in the cup because alcohal pops bubbles, but the releif is short lived.

04/20/2015, 12:22 PM	#4
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	if the vodka got into the tank you had a bacteria bloom and it showed in the skimmer, maybe the h202 has the same effect as carbon dosing idk. u should be proud of that nog. psk75h kicks the crap out of crapy aquamaxxs lmao

04/20/2015, 01:02 PM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	It hasn't overflowed with the vodka after I put it in. I do carbon dose already, and the amount of vodka put in the cup was purposfuly small in case of overflow. Haven't had foam like this from my normal dosing. I'm just worried about it making a mess or pushing the lid off. I can see the lid lifting because the foam blocks the air vent hols on top. I do realy like the skimmer. I can't imagine anything doing better for my tank.

04/20/2015, 01:14 PM	#6
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	This is just the aftermath of carbon dosing, it comes slow then bam. If ur worried put somthing heavy on top and break the bubbles with your finger, just stick it in the foam and they will break because of the oils in ur hand