Does selcon screw up a skimmer?

ser_renely · 08/14/2008, 12:23 PM

I think this might be one of a couple of issues I have going on? How should I go about cleaning it after?

skippy2 · 08/14/2008, 12:27 PM

How much selcon are you using? You should only be adding a few drops to the food which shouldn't make a difference with the skimmer performance. Selcon if used inncorrectly, can add phosphates to your tank.

Phyxius · 08/14/2008, 12:31 PM

I`ve been using selcon for 3 yrs with no issues with my skimmers and like skippy2 mentioned its only a few drops at a time. I usually will add it to Nori or frozen food when feeding but not always
How much at a time are you using??

ser_renely · 08/14/2008, 12:32 PM

I put in about .5ml as it says on the bottle. I think I did that a week ago, and then some was added with a food mix the other night. maybe .25 ml.

I have been haivng skimmer issues and came acorss someone mentioning Selcon screwing up skimming, but they said it was only for a few hours. Mine has been going on for over a week. I initially thought it was from adding a Phosban reactor, but am not sure now.

thanks,
Ser

ser_renely · 08/14/2008, 12:35 PM

I am puttin in a lot more the a few drops, .5ml is probably 40 drops or so?

skippy2 · 08/14/2008, 12:42 PM

I only use 4 drops when I feed my fish and corals cyclopeeze with brine. I do that twice a week. Then twice a week I feed the tank coral frenzey. I have no nitrate issues at all. You are using way too much selcon so maybe that is part of your skimmer troubles. You should definately check your phos. and nitrate numbers. I'll bet they're off the charts.

ser_renely · 08/14/2008, 12:44 PM

I will check tonight. A few nights ago, my tank had 0 nitrates. I will check when I get home.

Should I clean my skimmer with anything? water change

thanks for help

skippy2 · 08/14/2008, 12:58 PM

What's your skimmer doing? Are you emptying the cup? What skimmer are you using? How long have you had the skimmer on your tank?

Phyxius · 08/14/2008, 01:00 PM

Wow that's a bunch of drops. I imagine your skimmer does go nuts with that much. I use 3-4 like skippy2 does on the times I do use it.

GCC LLC · 08/14/2008, 01:18 PM

I use Zeocon which is similar to Selcon (Omega 3's) and it collapses the foam head pretty quick. Using MSX-200, mesh mod, recirced. Skimmer is only 3 weeks old though. Nitrates and Phos at 0.

Its the same when people stick their hands in the tank...it can collapse the foam due to oils on your skin.

I can't imagine how long it would take to reform after 40 drops though. Probably never it you keep dosing that way

ser_renely · 08/14/2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skippy2
What's your skimmer doing? Are you emptying the cup? What skimmer are you using? How long have you had the skimmer on your tank?

It is barely even foaming. it comes no where near making it to the cup. I am getting no skimate, so no need to empty the cup

I have an aqua C Urchin with mag 3. Have had the skimmer for over a month, was working fine til a week ago.

ser_renely · 08/15/2008, 09:03 AM

bump in the hope of learning

johnnyblaze313 · 08/15/2008, 09:15 AM

Selcon makes my foam head collapse like nothing else. Its done this to every skimmer Ive owned.

ser_renely · 08/15/2008, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the info.

I wrote AquaC and they responded very quickly with helpful information. They said obviously the selcon oils and potentially the reactor oils have really infected the skimmer and should clean them a few times with hot water.

08/14/2008, 12:23 PM	#1
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	Does selcon screw up a skimmer? I think this might be one of a couple of issues I have going on? How should I go about cleaning it after?

08/14/2008, 12:27 PM	#2
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	How much selcon are you using? You should only be adding a few drops to the food which shouldn't make a difference with the skimmer performance. Selcon if used inncorrectly, can add phosphates to your tank. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

08/14/2008, 12:31 PM	#3
Phyxius Moving About Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: RTP NC Posts: 2,405	I`ve been using selcon for 3 yrs with no issues with my skimmers and like skippy2 mentioned its only a few drops at a time. I usually will add it to Nori or frozen food when feeding but not always How much at a time are you using?? __________________ -Mike I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. W. C. Fields Current Tank Info: JUST SOLD AND TOOK DOWN ALL 11/10---210g AGA, 80g sump, Tunze Streams. Tunze ATO,RK Elite Controller, RKII,Dart, GEO Calcium& Nielsen Kalk Reactors,GEO media reactor, Kaleini Rock, 3-250 watt 14k EVC , VHO..... 34g Solana and 60g cube

08/14/2008, 12:32 PM	#4
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	I put in about .5ml as it says on the bottle. I think I did that a week ago, and then some was added with a food mix the other night. maybe .25 ml. I have been haivng skimmer issues and came acorss someone mentioning Selcon screwing up skimming, but they said it was only for a few hours. Mine has been going on for over a week. I initially thought it was from adding a Phosban reactor, but am not sure now. thanks, Ser __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

08/14/2008, 12:35 PM	#5
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	I am puttin in a lot more the a few drops, .5ml is probably 40 drops or so? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

08/14/2008, 12:42 PM	#6
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	I only use 4 drops when I feed my fish and corals cyclopeeze with brine. I do that twice a week. Then twice a week I feed the tank coral frenzey. I have no nitrate issues at all. You are using way too much selcon so maybe that is part of your skimmer troubles. You should definately check your phos. and nitrate numbers. I'll bet they're off the charts. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

08/14/2008, 12:44 PM	#7
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	I will check tonight. A few nights ago, my tank had 0 nitrates. I will check when I get home. Should I clean my skimmer with anything? water change thanks for help __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

08/14/2008, 12:58 PM	#8
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	What's your skimmer doing? Are you emptying the cup? What skimmer are you using? How long have you had the skimmer on your tank? __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

08/14/2008, 01:00 PM	#9
Phyxius Moving About Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: RTP NC Posts: 2,405	Wow that's a bunch of drops. I imagine your skimmer does go nuts with that much. I use 3-4 like skippy2 does on the times I do use it. __________________ -Mike I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. W. C. Fields Current Tank Info: JUST SOLD AND TOOK DOWN ALL 11/10---210g AGA, 80g sump, Tunze Streams. Tunze ATO,RK Elite Controller, RKII,Dart, GEO Calcium& Nielsen Kalk Reactors,GEO media reactor, Kaleini Rock, 3-250 watt 14k EVC , VHO..... 34g Solana and 60g cube

08/14/2008, 01:18 PM	#10
GCC LLC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 35	I use Zeocon which is similar to Selcon (Omega 3's) and it collapses the foam head pretty quick. Using MSX-200, mesh mod, recirced. Skimmer is only 3 weeks old though. Nitrates and Phos at 0. Its the same when people stick their hands in the tank...it can collapse the foam due to oils on your skin. I can't imagine how long it would take to reform after 40 drops though. Probably never it you keep dosing that way Last edited by GCC LLC; 08/14/2008 at 01:23 PM.

08/15/2008, 09:03 AM	#12
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	bump in the hope of learning __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

08/15/2008, 09:15 AM	#13
johnnyblaze313 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 420	Selcon makes my foam head collapse like nothing else. Its done this to every skimmer Ive owned.

08/15/2008, 10:37 AM	#14
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	Thanks for the info. I wrote AquaC and they responded very quickly with helpful information. They said obviously the selcon oils and potentially the reactor oils have really infected the skimmer and should clean them a few times with hot water. __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!