crazy skimmer

saxerphoner · 10/16/2006, 06:46 PM

This may be a rookie question but why does my skimmer go crazy when I put my hand in the tank?? It starts throwing out mad water in the collection cup and seemingly producing more bubbles.

Thanks!

PatrickJ · 10/16/2006, 07:21 PM

Strange. Most skimmers do the opposite. What kind is it?

Misled · 10/16/2006, 08:24 PM

Keep an eye on the water level in the throat of your skimmer when you put your hand in the tank. You may be displacing some of the water with your arm causing the water level in your skimmer to rise.

WinkeyWoneye · 10/16/2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PatrickJ
Strange. Most skimmers do the opposite. What kind is it?

My skimmer does the opposite as PatrickJ said. Its a cheap venturi style skimmer that came built into my hang on tank refugium. When I feed or stick my hand in the tank it will stop foaming up for a while. It has to do with the oils on your skin and in your fish foods.
When oils are in the tank water it makes the bubbles unstable causing them to pop faster, thus not creating any foam. It doesnt really make all that much sense that yours would bubble more. If your skimmer cup height is adjustable try raising it up giving more room to create foam. I really am not sure why it would do that. Other possible thoughts.... too much water, not enough air coming into the skimmer?? I dunno.

saxerphoner · 10/16/2006, 08:43 PM

I have a super skimmer 65 on a 20 gallon high. The bubbles and water definitely increase after I put my hand in the tank and it actually stays that way until I turn the adustable knob WAY down or unplug it.

Thought it was going to be an easy question to answer... hmmm...

I've decided that I'm just going to unplug it or turn it down when I plan on doing something in there.

Thanks for the help and any other suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

PatrickJ · 10/16/2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WinkeyWoneye
My skimmer does the opposite as PatrickJ said. Its a cheap venturi style skimmer that came built into my hang on tank refugium. When I feed or stick my hand in the tank it will stop foaming up for a while. It has to do with the oils on your skin and in your fish foods.
When oils are in the tank water it makes the bubbles unstable causing them to pop faster, thus not creating any foam. It doesnt really make all that much sense that yours would bubble more. If your skimmer cup height is adjustable try raising it up giving more room to create foam. I really am not sure why it would do that. Other possible thoughts.... too much water, not enough air coming into the skimmer?? I dunno.

You hit it on the head.

Tang Salad · 10/16/2006, 08:56 PM

Putting your arm in the tank displaces water. The displaced water affects the level of water in the skimmer chamber, causing it to overflow.

This problem can be minimized by mounting the skimmer in a sump, where displacement in main tank will affect it less.

saxerphoner · 10/17/2006, 05:43 AM

Why does it keep doing it after I take my arm out?

Tang Salad · 10/17/2006, 06:32 AM

Because it may take a while for the level in the skimmer to return to its equilibrium.

10/16/2006, 06:46 PM	#1
saxerphoner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: farmville, VA Posts: 129	crazy skimmer This may be a rookie question but why does my skimmer go crazy when I put my hand in the tank?? It starts throwing out mad water in the collection cup and seemingly producing more bubbles. Thanks!

10/16/2006, 07:21 PM	#2
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	Strange. Most skimmers do the opposite. What kind is it? __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster

10/16/2006, 08:24 PM	#3
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Keep an eye on the water level in the throat of your skimmer when you put your hand in the tank. You may be displacing some of the water with your arm causing the water level in your skimmer to rise. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

10/16/2006, 08:43 PM	#5
saxerphoner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: farmville, VA Posts: 129	I have a super skimmer 65 on a 20 gallon high. The bubbles and water definitely increase after I put my hand in the tank and it actually stays that way until I turn the adustable knob WAY down or unplug it. Thought it was going to be an easy question to answer... hmmm... I've decided that I'm just going to unplug it or turn it down when I plan on doing something in there. Thanks for the help and any other suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! __________________ blue & striped damsels, atlantic anem., sun polyp, button polyps, neon green star polyps, blue shroom,hammer coral branch, 3 sm. stars, cleaning crew Current Tank Info: 20 gallon high w/ SS65, hob filter, mj 1200 w/ wavemaker, t5 10000k, t5 actinic 03, t6 actinic 03, LR, Live Crushed Coral

10/16/2006, 08:56 PM	#7
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Putting your arm in the tank displaces water. The displaced water affects the level of water in the skimmer chamber, causing it to overflow. This problem can be minimized by mounting the skimmer in a sump, where displacement in main tank will affect it less. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

10/17/2006, 05:43 AM	#8
saxerphoner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: farmville, VA Posts: 129	Why does it keep doing it after I take my arm out? __________________ blue & striped damsels, atlantic anem., sun polyp, button polyps, neon green star polyps, blue shroom,hammer coral branch, 3 sm. stars, cleaning crew Current Tank Info: 20 gallon high w/ SS65, hob filter, mj 1200 w/ wavemaker, t5 10000k, t5 actinic 03, t6 actinic 03, LR, Live Crushed Coral

10/17/2006, 06:32 AM	#9
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Because it may take a while for the level in the skimmer to return to its equilibrium. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS