Protein Skimmer Help

mattyg18 · 08/20/2016, 06:52 PM

I've got an AquaC Urchin In Sump Skimmer which is a few years old. I've only had it running a few months in my new tank and overall its treated me well. In the past i'd empty it every 2-3 days filled with dirty water. A few weeks ago I decided to add some Chaeto to my sump. Apparently I didn't do it properly, or my sump isn't capable of holding it as its a fairly small sump. So after noticing that my pump had little pressure I took the pump apart and it was filled with Chaeto. Also noticed that my skimmer hadn't been producing any skimate and after taking that apart that was filled with Chaeto also. I cleaned both the pump and skimmer out. On the skimmer I removed the small white plastic screw, vacuumed out whatever was in there, and replaced the screw as close to where it was. Its a tricky skimmer to clean out as there is only one moving part. I happened to have a newer maxi jet 1200 sitting around and since the one on the skimmer was older I swapped it out with the newer one. Hooked everything back up. The pump is now humming like new, and the skimmer took a day or so to start making bubbles and eventually did. I should mention that in the midst of all of this I had a small red cyano issue most likely due to the filter/skimmer issues I created, and did a one time treatment of the Blue Life Red Cyano Rx which knocked out the the 2 small areas that had it. I did my 25% water change after and all was good. I also added a UV to the system last week. The problem i'm having now is that my skimmer is making bubbles and seems to be working however the collection cup is filling up with pretty clear water. In the past the collection cup has been filling up with kinda "iced tea" looking water. Now its all clear.

So i'm wondering if theres anything wrong now? I know there are several factors going on here so its tricky to pinpoint. The water in the tank is crystal clear. Its been clear and since the UV addition its really clear now. The parameters are great. The tank is only about 5 months old now. I've got a bunch of corals (SPS and LPS) which are doing great and only two clowns which are doing well also. Could it be possible that the tank is that clean that theres nothing to skim? Or did the Red Cyano Rx kill off the bad stuff? I know since I did the treatment there are a lot less pods now. I used to have them all over the glass and rocks and now I hardly see any. Not sure if the skimmer needs more time to break in again (been bout 2 weeks now). Could it be the new pump I put on the skimmer? I have no clue.

I know its a lot going on but if anyone has any idea whats going on here please let me know. I'm just hoping I don't need a new skimmer now.

Thanks again!!

getindavan · 08/20/2016, 07:51 PM

If your skimmer is free of chaeto and running as it normally would, the Cyano rx might affect the consistency of the foam, causing your skimmer to skim too wet. If you can, try raising your skimmer cup higher by placing the Oring around the skimmer cup lower. Then adjust it again when the skimmer is producing like it normally does.

mattyg18 · 08/20/2016, 08:14 PM

Good idea and I just did it. I'm hoping that does the trick. Is there any other reason the collection cup could be filling up with clear water?

tazdvl · 08/20/2016, 08:26 PM

Just did a quick web lookup on that skimmer...and leaves me kinda puzzled as it claims to need no adjustment and works on a "spray induction technology" so not sure as to how to advise you to adjust a skimmer that claims to need no adjustment.

If you have the coin to do so you might want to consider a more mainline skimmer that you can adjust for a more wet or dry skim-mate. There are tons of options in the $150-$250 range that you can adjust

mattyg18 · 08/20/2016, 08:35 PM

The only adjustment is the o-ring on the collection cup. There is a small white plastic screw which gets removed for cleaning but thats it. I can go for another skimmer however i need something with a very small footprint. This skimmer has a 6" x 3" footprint and I really don't have much more room than that. I already looked into another skimmer and can't find anything with such a small footprint. I was thinking about getting a new one (the same) but if theres nothing wrong with this one than why? They also make a pro-version (no idea the difference) and its a little larger think 8" x 3" which I can prob fit.

mattyg18 · 08/27/2016, 07:54 PM

The skimmer seems to be getting back to normal finally after almost 3 weeks. Thankfully I don't have to invest in another one right now. Thanks again for everyones help!!

08/20/2016, 06:52 PM	#1
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	Protein Skimmer Help I've got an AquaC Urchin In Sump Skimmer which is a few years old. I've only had it running a few months in my new tank and overall its treated me well. In the past i'd empty it every 2-3 days filled with dirty water. A few weeks ago I decided to add some Chaeto to my sump. Apparently I didn't do it properly, or my sump isn't capable of holding it as its a fairly small sump. So after noticing that my pump had little pressure I took the pump apart and it was filled with Chaeto. Also noticed that my skimmer hadn't been producing any skimate and after taking that apart that was filled with Chaeto also. I cleaned both the pump and skimmer out. On the skimmer I removed the small white plastic screw, vacuumed out whatever was in there, and replaced the screw as close to where it was. Its a tricky skimmer to clean out as there is only one moving part. I happened to have a newer maxi jet 1200 sitting around and since the one on the skimmer was older I swapped it out with the newer one. Hooked everything back up. The pump is now humming like new, and the skimmer took a day or so to start making bubbles and eventually did. I should mention that in the midst of all of this I had a small red cyano issue most likely due to the filter/skimmer issues I created, and did a one time treatment of the Blue Life Red Cyano Rx which knocked out the the 2 small areas that had it. I did my 25% water change after and all was good. I also added a UV to the system last week. The problem i'm having now is that my skimmer is making bubbles and seems to be working however the collection cup is filling up with pretty clear water. In the past the collection cup has been filling up with kinda "iced tea" looking water. Now its all clear. So i'm wondering if theres anything wrong now? I know there are several factors going on here so its tricky to pinpoint. The water in the tank is crystal clear. Its been clear and since the UV addition its really clear now. The parameters are great. The tank is only about 5 months old now. I've got a bunch of corals (SPS and LPS) which are doing great and only two clowns which are doing well also. Could it be possible that the tank is that clean that theres nothing to skim? Or did the Red Cyano Rx kill off the bad stuff? I know since I did the treatment there are a lot less pods now. I used to have them all over the glass and rocks and now I hardly see any. Not sure if the skimmer needs more time to break in again (been bout 2 weeks now). Could it be the new pump I put on the skimmer? I have no clue. I know its a lot going on but if anyone has any idea whats going on here please let me know. I'm just hoping I don't need a new skimmer now. Thanks again!!

08/20/2016, 07:51 PM	#2
getindavan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 75	If your skimmer is free of chaeto and running as it normally would, the Cyano rx might affect the consistency of the foam, causing your skimmer to skim too wet. If you can, try raising your skimmer cup higher by placing the Oring around the skimmer cup lower. Then adjust it again when the skimmer is producing like it normally does.

08/20/2016, 08:14 PM	#3
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	Good idea and I just did it. I'm hoping that does the trick. Is there any other reason the collection cup could be filling up with clear water?

08/20/2016, 08:26 PM	#4
tazdvl Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 127	Just did a quick web lookup on that skimmer...and leaves me kinda puzzled as it claims to need no adjustment and works on a "spray induction technology" so not sure as to how to advise you to adjust a skimmer that claims to need no adjustment. If you have the coin to do so you might want to consider a more mainline skimmer that you can adjust for a more wet or dry skim-mate. There are tons of options in the $150-$250 range that you can adjust

08/20/2016, 08:35 PM	#5
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	The only adjustment is the o-ring on the collection cup. There is a small white plastic screw which gets removed for cleaning but thats it. I can go for another skimmer however i need something with a very small footprint. This skimmer has a 6" x 3" footprint and I really don't have much more room than that. I already looked into another skimmer and can't find anything with such a small footprint. I was thinking about getting a new one (the same) but if theres nothing wrong with this one than why? They also make a pro-version (no idea the difference) and its a little larger think 8" x 3" which I can prob fit.

08/27/2016, 07:54 PM	#6
mattyg18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Commack, NY Posts: 284	The skimmer seems to be getting back to normal finally after almost 3 weeks. Thankfully I don't have to invest in another one right now. Thanks again for everyones help!!