Sump drain skimming

toddmau5 · 01/19/2015, 07:45 PM

So I have noticed that my filter socks turn into mini skimmers and even with the filter socks removed a get a lot of foam building up on the drain side of my sump. I've tried shorter pipes, longer pipes. Should I worry about getting this to stop? It does seem to make a bit of a mess in the sump, just from the foam building up and sticking.

FirstContact · 01/19/2015, 08:21 PM

Where are the socks? OOps, you mentioned you took them out. I have a self built box with overflow baffles for my socks and never had this issue. Looks agonizing, good luck!

What's the pump for in the same chamber or is that another drain line?

toddmau5 · 01/19/2015, 08:23 PM

I took them out before I took this picture to see if it was the socks clogging and constricting space. But it seems to foam up with or without the socks. Seems to be intermittent as well

reelredfish · 01/19/2015, 08:32 PM

I had one of my tanks do that for a week or two but then it went away. Never figured out what caused it.

FirstContact · 01/19/2015, 08:33 PM

First time I have seen that. But more than one person has had it.

ireef86 · 01/20/2015, 08:16 AM

If they were new filter socks and you didn't rinse them, this is what happens. They have some form of conditioner or something in the fabric. I had this happen twice, socks felt almost slimed.

Otherwise, I would water change, add carbon, and tune my skimmer because it appears it's not pulling out enough at the moment.

toddmau5 · 01/20/2015, 07:11 PM

Nope filter socks are not new. It happens with or without the socks randomly

Kenmx10 · 01/20/2015, 08:12 PM

Looks like overflow could possibly be taking on air, mixing it up on the way down, and foaming out in the sump. My guess is there might not be a true siphon.

01/19/2015, 07:45 PM	#1
toddmau5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Lutz, Fl Posts: 1,088	Sump drain skimming So I have noticed that my filter socks turn into mini skimmers and even with the filter socks removed a get a lot of foam building up on the drain side of my sump. I've tried shorter pipes, longer pipes. Should I worry about getting this to stop? It does seem to make a bit of a mess in the sump, just from the foam building up and sticking. __________________ http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/titanuranus/4 265G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 265G

01/19/2015, 08:21 PM	#2
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Where are the socks? OOps, you mentioned you took them out. I have a self built box with overflow baffles for my socks and never had this issue. Looks agonizing, good luck! What's the pump for in the same chamber or is that another drain line? __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock Last edited by FirstContact; 01/19/2015 at 08:26 PM.

01/19/2015, 08:23 PM	#3
toddmau5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Lutz, Fl Posts: 1,088	I took them out before I took this picture to see if it was the socks clogging and constricting space. But it seems to foam up with or without the socks. Seems to be intermittent as well __________________ http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/titanuranus/4 265G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 265G

01/19/2015, 08:33 PM	#5
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	First time I have seen that. But more than one person has had it. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

01/20/2015, 07:11 PM	#7
toddmau5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Lutz, Fl Posts: 1,088	Nope filter socks are not new. It happens with or without the socks randomly __________________ http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/titanuranus/4 265G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 265G

01/19/2015, 08:32 PM	#4
reelredfish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: DFW,Area Posts: 798	I had one of my tanks do that for a week or two but then it went away. Never figured out what caused it.

01/20/2015, 08:16 AM	#6
ireef86 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 28	If they were new filter socks and you didn't rinse them, this is what happens. They have some form of conditioner or something in the fabric. I had this happen twice, socks felt almost slimed. Otherwise, I would water change, add carbon, and tune my skimmer because it appears it's not pulling out enough at the moment.

01/20/2015, 08:12 PM	#8
Kenmx10 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston S.C. Posts: 771	Looks like overflow could possibly be taking on air, mixing it up on the way down, and foaming out in the sump. My guess is there might not be a true siphon.