My filter socks are causing my skimmer to go nuts!! HELP!

John Hartford · 08/14/2006, 01:42 PM

After cleaning my sump I decided that I should put on some filter socks over the the two tubes that drains into my sump from the tank, that way any debris will be caught in those socks and wont rest in the sump. After I put the socks on, the skimmer just began to bubble like crazy...almost instantly, does anyone have any ideas as to what might becuasing this? Or has anyone else had some experience with this issue?

rigleautomotive · 08/14/2006, 01:46 PM

i have seen this happen if you have a strong skimmer.it should stop in 10 or 20 minutes.i turn the skimmer down for a while.

John Hartford · 08/14/2006, 01:54 PM

The skimmer is a Bubble King 250 internal and has been running for about a day now. I have lowered the tube which is suppose to lower the water inside the skimmer which in turn would lower the bubbles for they don't go spurting through the top, but after those measures were taken, it is still bubbling out of the top.

rigleautomotive · 08/14/2006, 01:55 PM

how long have the socks been in

RichConley · 08/14/2006, 01:56 PM

Were they new filter socks? Sounds like they had something skimmable on them.

John Hartford · 08/14/2006, 02:01 PM

The socks are brand new and have been on since Saturday evening

brians_224 · 08/14/2006, 02:01 PM

skimmer socks - new or old - do this. Every time I change mine out, I have to tune my skimmer(asm g2) way down for 8 hours or so.

rigleautomotive · 08/14/2006, 02:20 PM

i wash the bags in washer with a quater cup of clorox.then again with nothing but water.then reuse,they should only make skimmer go crazy for a short while.since saturday seems long.must have been something on them.

Jonathan76 · 08/14/2006, 02:25 PM

Go to Joanne Fabrics or Hobby Lobby and get white "acrylic felt." They also have clear thread that looks like fine fishing line; nylon I think. Make your own filter socks any size you like. It will not mess with your skimmer, and I imagine it will filter to about 50 microns or so. To wash them, just run small, warm cycle in the washing machine with about 1/4 cup of bleach. Do a second rinse cycle and allow to dry for 24 hours. This is cheap, easy, and the material is inert. You will be impressed with the results.

rigleautomotive · 08/14/2006, 02:30 PM

nice idea jonathon76.i buy mine from A E tech.but i will try your idea,i try to diy everything anymore

08/14/2006, 01:42 PM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	My filter socks are causing my skimmer to go nuts!! HELP! After cleaning my sump I decided that I should put on some filter socks over the the two tubes that drains into my sump from the tank, that way any debris will be caught in those socks and wont rest in the sump. After I put the socks on, the skimmer just began to bubble like crazy...almost instantly, does anyone have any ideas as to what might becuasing this? Or has anyone else had some experience with this issue?

08/14/2006, 01:46 PM	#2
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	i have seen this happen if you have a strong skimmer.it should stop in 10 or 20 minutes.i turn the skimmer down for a while. __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

08/14/2006, 01:55 PM	#4
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	how long have the socks been in __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

08/14/2006, 01:56 PM	#5
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Were they new filter socks? Sounds like they had something skimmable on them. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

08/14/2006, 02:20 PM	#8
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	i wash the bags in washer with a quater cup of clorox.then again with nothing but water.then reuse,they should only make skimmer go crazy for a short while.since saturday seems long.must have been something on them. __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992

08/14/2006, 01:54 PM	#3
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	The skimmer is a Bubble King 250 internal and has been running for about a day now. I have lowered the tube which is suppose to lower the water inside the skimmer which in turn would lower the bubbles for they don't go spurting through the top, but after those measures were taken, it is still bubbling out of the top.

08/14/2006, 02:01 PM	#6
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	The socks are brand new and have been on since Saturday evening

08/14/2006, 02:01 PM	#7
brians_224 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brookfield, WI Posts: 1,172	skimmer socks - new or old - do this. Every time I change mine out, I have to tune my skimmer(asm g2) way down for 8 hours or so.

08/14/2006, 02:25 PM	#9
Jonathan76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 134	Go to Joanne Fabrics or Hobby Lobby and get white "acrylic felt." They also have clear thread that looks like fine fishing line; nylon I think. Make your own filter socks any size you like. It will not mess with your skimmer, and I imagine it will filter to about 50 microns or so. To wash them, just run small, warm cycle in the washing machine with about 1/4 cup of bleach. Do a second rinse cycle and allow to dry for 24 hours. This is cheap, easy, and the material is inert. You will be impressed with the results. __________________ 75 with 1 Radion Pro, Bean Animal overflow, SWC 160

08/14/2006, 02:30 PM	#10
rigleautomotive Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,705	nice idea jonathon76.i buy mine from A E tech.but i will try your idea,i try to diy everything anymore __________________ Dan Rigle President, * Reef Conservation Society TOTM December 2010 Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012 Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992