over active skimmer

northerncal · 07/16/2006, 09:23 PM

i got a skimmer that came with a pre made sump that i ordered online. i hooked it up, and it seems to be really creating a ton of bubbles and foam. The problem is, its creating TOO MUCH foam. its just spilling over at a ridiculously high rate and it seems to be all clean water that is being spilled into the cup. should i get a slower pump or what should i do to slow this thing down?

maddyfish · 07/16/2006, 09:27 PM

Is there any way to raise the cup? If possible raise the cup to a higher level, for a drier foam. That is assuming that there are no contaminants in the water that make it go nuts.

northerncal · 07/16/2006, 10:08 PM

naw, not that i can see, there is a valve that changes the rate of speed of the thing that turns and causes bubbles. but i have taht at the lowest possible setting. oh by the way, only had it up for a day, i probably should just be patient and wait for it to calm down i guess????

mraafat · 07/17/2006, 01:12 AM

I had that exact same problem with my euroreef when I first got it. What I had to do was close the air valve so that no air enters the skimmer, and after 15 minutes open it up just a tiny bit so that very little air was allowed in. After many hours I would open it up a little bit more, and so on and so forth. Eventually you will stabilize and you will be able to use it normally. Also, whenever I used to remove the cup I would have to restart the process from scratch. Now it works fine with np, but why exactly did it use to do that...is a mystery. I didn't have anything in my water to cause it to go berserk.

wilsonh · 07/17/2006, 03:47 AM

Very common with a new skimmer. Just put it on the lowest possible setting & let it run. Over probably a few days it will take out whatever is in the water making it go nuts, after which it will slow down.
When this has happened to me I have actually had to stay near the skimmer to keep emptying it, but after maybe 20 empties it does start to slow down.

ricks · 07/17/2006, 07:48 AM

Try a ball valve between your pump and skimmer. that way you can adjust your flow....

newreefbishop · 07/17/2006, 08:37 AM

adjust water flow from pump to skimmer, keep it at about 50% for two to three days, My skimmer did that first day I had it, lets just say Im glad I had ground fault protectors...BTW what brand skinner is it?

northerncal · 07/17/2006, 05:01 PM

thanks for all the ideas.....its a CA (generic) skimmer that uses the venturi style.

07/16/2006, 09:23 PM	#1
northerncal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: napa county, ca Posts: 182	over active skimmer i got a skimmer that came with a pre made sump that i ordered online. i hooked it up, and it seems to be really creating a ton of bubbles and foam. The problem is, its creating TOO MUCH foam. its just spilling over at a ridiculously high rate and it seems to be all clean water that is being spilled into the cup. should i get a slower pump or what should i do to slow this thing down?

07/16/2006, 09:27 PM	#2
maddyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 330	Is there any way to raise the cup? If possible raise the cup to a higher level, for a drier foam. That is assuming that there are no contaminants in the water that make it go nuts. __________________ If an expert says it cannot be done, get another expert- David Ben-Gurion Current Tank Info: 75 mixed simple tank 2.5 pico and 20 gallon QUARANTINE

07/17/2006, 08:37 AM	#7
newreefbishop Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,787	adjust water flow from pump to skimmer, keep it at about 50% for two to three days, My skimmer did that first day I had it, lets just say Im glad I had ground fault protectors...BTW what brand skinner is it? __________________ Its not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle!!!! The 65 is gone the 110 is in, click the red house for the 110. *Updated Current Tank Info: 110 gal R/R AGA with 40 gallon DIY fuge/sump, 2 AI Sol Blue LED modules, RKL system, Vortech Powerheads, Softies, LPS and SPS. Fox Face, Coral Beauty, Goby, a mated pair of Midnight Black Photon Clowns, BTA, Sebae and small critters everywhere

07/16/2006, 10:08 PM	#3
northerncal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: napa county, ca Posts: 182	naw, not that i can see, there is a valve that changes the rate of speed of the thing that turns and causes bubbles. but i have taht at the lowest possible setting. oh by the way, only had it up for a day, i probably should just be patient and wait for it to calm down i guess????

07/17/2006, 01:12 AM	#4
mraafat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: California Posts: 228	I had that exact same problem with my euroreef when I first got it. What I had to do was close the air valve so that no air enters the skimmer, and after 15 minutes open it up just a tiny bit so that very little air was allowed in. After many hours I would open it up a little bit more, and so on and so forth. Eventually you will stabilize and you will be able to use it normally. Also, whenever I used to remove the cup I would have to restart the process from scratch. Now it works fine with np, but why exactly did it use to do that...is a mystery. I didn't have anything in my water to cause it to go berserk.

07/17/2006, 03:47 AM	#5
wilsonh Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 345	Very common with a new skimmer. Just put it on the lowest possible setting & let it run. Over probably a few days it will take out whatever is in the water making it go nuts, after which it will slow down. When this has happened to me I have actually had to stay near the skimmer to keep emptying it, but after maybe 20 empties it does start to slow down.

07/17/2006, 07:48 AM	#6
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Try a ball valve between your pump and skimmer. that way you can adjust your flow....

07/17/2006, 05:01 PM	#8
northerncal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: napa county, ca Posts: 182	thanks for all the ideas.....its a CA (generic) skimmer that uses the venturi style.