Protein Skimmer Bubbling But Not Foaming

HighestOlive · 08/31/2016, 08:54 AM

So I have recently been having a fair bit of trouble with my protein skimmer. I am running a bubble magus NAC6 that up until recently was foaming well but then one day just decided it was going to bubble away but not produce any foam. I have been scratching my head trying to figure out what is going on and just a few minutes ago a light bulb went on. I recently added a 3d background to my tank that I got from Universal rocks (https://www.universalrocks.com/aquar.../various-sizes). I am wondering if there were some hydrophobic oils on the background that a now in the tank that are affecting the ability to produce skimmate. This wasn’t my first though as when I first introduced this to the tank the skimmer was working fine, but I am beginning to wondering if this was a result of the massive amounts of organic debris that I caused to move around the tank when I moved all my rock work and disturbed the sand bed.

I just wanted to float this idea out there and see if anyone had any thoughts on it. I also wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations other that just wait for the oils (if they are present to break down) that I might be able to use to kick start my skimmer again. I am thinking a series of water changes would probably help if it truly is some oil or something, but I am wondering if there are some other ideas out there.

windlasher · 08/31/2016, 09:09 AM

How is your salinity?

HighestOlive · 08/31/2016, 09:11 AM

My salinity is at 1.026.

Opus123 · 08/31/2016, 11:11 AM

I would take the pump off the skimmer, take it apart and give it a good cleaning. All that debris you kicked up could have gotten into the pump and maybe it isn't making the bubbles fine enough to work correctly. I would also try running some carbon or some other chemical absorbing material. I'm partial to poly-filter. I use it any time I think there is an issue in the tank.

Greg 45 · 08/31/2016, 11:19 AM

oil from hands or a solution on your back round will make big bubbles / not letting it create small bubbles to foam . keep hands out

HighestOlive · 08/31/2016, 11:34 AM

thanks guys. I am going to be adding some carbon and try to keep my head out of the tank. IF my sails and crabs would just stop knocking over my frags I would be in good shape.

Opus123 · 08/31/2016, 12:17 PM

I put my hands in all the time. My protein skimmer seems to skim better afterwards.

Opus123 · 08/31/2016, 12:19 PM

Also make sure the air hose is clean, especially where it attaches to the pump. Mine gets clogged at that after a few months. Also make sure the air silencer is clean. Mine got full of debris and lowered my bubble production.

mcgyvr · 08/31/2016, 12:20 PM

Yes.. anytime you add anything to the tank the skimmer can/will be effected..
It will start working again given time and sometimes a good cleaning may be in order and may help speed up the process but if the chemical is still in the water it will just stay that way until its not..
Its effecting surface tension,etc...

New filter socks.. Glue..Chemical treatments,etc.. can all cause skimmer reduced or overflow issues..

And yes if you know for sure nothing has been added to the tank but give the skimmer a complete tear down/cleaning..

gribsrule · 08/31/2016, 09:44 PM

If the pump is running well and producing bubbles, I would error on the side of just giving the pump a hot water/vinegar bath for a couple hours. However I highly doubt a dirty pump is the culprit. If bubbles are being produced, it should skim.

The only time I have experienced a complete shutdown of a skimmer is if there was some sort of oil introduced. If you want to know if oil from the background truly is the culprit, you could take some water out into a tub and let the skimmer run in there. The oil should eventually breakdown and you should see the skimmer beginning to produce skimmate. Other option is mix up some fresh salt water in a clean tub and throw in some food and it should start producing in a couple days.

08/31/2016, 08:54 AM	#1
HighestOlive Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Springfield, PA Posts: 232	Protein Skimmer Bubbling But Not Foaming So I have recently been having a fair bit of trouble with my protein skimmer. I am running a bubble magus NAC6 that up until recently was foaming well but then one day just decided it was going to bubble away but not produce any foam. I have been scratching my head trying to figure out what is going on and just a few minutes ago a light bulb went on. I recently added a 3d background to my tank that I got from Universal rocks (https://www.universalrocks.com/aquar.../various-sizes). I am wondering if there were some hydrophobic oils on the background that a now in the tank that are affecting the ability to produce skimmate. This wasn’t my first though as when I first introduced this to the tank the skimmer was working fine, but I am beginning to wondering if this was a result of the massive amounts of organic debris that I caused to move around the tank when I moved all my rock work and disturbed the sand bed. I just wanted to float this idea out there and see if anyone had any thoughts on it. I also wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations other that just wait for the oils (if they are present to break down) that I might be able to use to kick start my skimmer again. I am thinking a series of water changes would probably help if it truly is some oil or something, but I am wondering if there are some other ideas out there.

08/31/2016, 09:09 AM	#2
windlasher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 504	How is your salinity? __________________ --- PLEASE HELP SAVE THE DOLPHINS In case we run out of chicken. ---

08/31/2016, 12:20 PM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yes.. anytime you add anything to the tank the skimmer can/will be effected.. It will start working again given time and sometimes a good cleaning may be in order and may help speed up the process but if the chemical is still in the water it will just stay that way until its not.. Its effecting surface tension,etc... New filter socks.. Glue..Chemical treatments,etc.. can all cause skimmer reduced or overflow issues.. And yes if you know for sure nothing has been added to the tank but give the skimmer a complete tear down/cleaning.. __________________ Who me?

08/31/2016, 09:11 AM	#3
HighestOlive Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Springfield, PA Posts: 232	My salinity is at 1.026.

08/31/2016, 11:11 AM	#4
Opus123 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 605	I would take the pump off the skimmer, take it apart and give it a good cleaning. All that debris you kicked up could have gotten into the pump and maybe it isn't making the bubbles fine enough to work correctly. I would also try running some carbon or some other chemical absorbing material. I'm partial to poly-filter. I use it any time I think there is an issue in the tank.

08/31/2016, 11:19 AM	#5
Greg 45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bayonne,N.J. Posts: 1,159	oil from hands or a solution on your back round will make big bubbles / not letting it create small bubbles to foam . keep hands out

08/31/2016, 11:34 AM	#6
HighestOlive Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Springfield, PA Posts: 232	thanks guys. I am going to be adding some carbon and try to keep my head out of the tank. IF my sails and crabs would just stop knocking over my frags I would be in good shape.

08/31/2016, 12:17 PM	#7
Opus123 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 605	I put my hands in all the time. My protein skimmer seems to skim better afterwards.

08/31/2016, 12:19 PM	#8
Opus123 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 605	Also make sure the air hose is clean, especially where it attaches to the pump. Mine gets clogged at that after a few months. Also make sure the air silencer is clean. Mine got full of debris and lowered my bubble production.

08/31/2016, 09:44 PM	#10
gribsrule Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 27	If the pump is running well and producing bubbles, I would error on the side of just giving the pump a hot water/vinegar bath for a couple hours. However I highly doubt a dirty pump is the culprit. If bubbles are being produced, it should skim. The only time I have experienced a complete shutdown of a skimmer is if there was some sort of oil introduced. If you want to know if oil from the background truly is the culprit, you could take some water out into a tub and let the skimmer run in there. The oil should eventually breakdown and you should see the skimmer beginning to produce skimmate. Other option is mix up some fresh salt water in a clean tub and throw in some food and it should start producing in a couple days.