Cyno outbreak complete - Skimmer issue

It's the eshopps 75 I think. The knob is turned to be all the way open so I can't adjust any more. I noticed the bubbles have been gathering when they flow over the baffle, which makes me believe the water is much thicker.

 

The problem here is that your skimmer has not broken in yet. Some times it takes a week or even two.

Some of the steps that speed up the break in process are a vinegar bath: 50% water (tap is fine) + 50% vinegar. Wash the skimmer inside and out with this solution and it is said it cuts the break in period in half.

Your skimmer collection cup will fill up very quickly at first!! Here's what to do:
Start your skimmer in the lower amount of water possible. Meaning, let the collection cup fill up with bubbles, and when the bubbles become water, turn the skimmer off, take the collection cup to the sink (or a bucket near you) and dump that water. Repeat this many times, 5 or 6 times, until the bubbles get more stable. It will take more and more time to overflow, each time you empty this collected water.

DO NOT EMPTY THE COLLECTION CUP BACK IN THE SUMP OR TANK !!!!!!! This is extremely important !!! If you dump the water back in the sump or tank, the process will repeat itself and you will end up frustrated. It is a very, VERY wise thing to do, to have an extra bucket of salt water to top the tank off as you fill the collection cup with bubbles and dump it in the sink.

Here are 2 threads where this issue was resolved:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/my-collection-cup-overfloweth-85153.html

And...

http://www.3reef.com/forums/eshopps-inc/psk-200-cant-control-air-bubbles-collection-cup-fills-water-seconds-85109.html#post852355

Good luck!

 

Good idea I will try this. The problem is when the skimmer was brand new it never acted this way. I put the valve all the way open and still overflows and it's because of the crappy Chemiclean I used (which I now regret!). Hopefully I can get back to skimming soon; it's been a month and algae is starting to win the battle in my DT.

 

Oh, I just caught on the chemiclean use. This happens to my skimmer as well when I was using purple up or if you dose phyto-plex. Almost anything will freak a skimmer out. But basically, you need to remove this. If the algae is gone and you think you've dealt with it, let the skimmer fill up and dump it. I think you have good chances of removing the chemical this way.

So, if I understand better now, your skimmer is not a new skimmer, correct?
If so, adjust the knob or regulator so the bubbles are at the very base of the collection cup's neck and let the bubbles fill the cup. Dump it in the sink, and repeat. I think this will save you money on water change as well. It should eventually stop foaming up so much.

Read the chemiclean bottle to see if they suggest turning off your skimmer when applying the product and if so, for how long?

- Mag.

 

The skimmer is not new no. The knob is turned so the bubbles are at its lowest setting. I guess I will just keep dumping when I get some time to monitor it.

The chemiclean directions didn't say anything about a skimmer and this being my first (and last) time using this chemical, it boiled over right away but I didn't catch it right away. I guess we'll see what happens. Thanks for the help!

 

The chemiclean I have says when you dose to not run a skimmer for 24 or 48 hours. Then do a 20% water change before running the skimmer...I think... I know you aren't supposed to run the skimmer for a day or two immediately after dosing it.

 

True, the box I had might have been old. The weird thing is I dosed correctly and didn't run the skimmer for about a week after my dose. On top of that I did about 3 25% water changes since the skimmer. Maybe I got a potent batch?

 

Finally got my skimmer back up and running. It was a mixture of carbon and emptying the cup probably about 15 times until the bubbles were manageable. After not skimming for a month, there is some serious dark skimmate coming out. Yay!

 

there is no way to correct it you have to wait it out its because of the chemi clean. When I use it , it is a good 2 to 3 weeks before I can use the skimmer again. this is normal as it states in the directions.

opps didn't see your last post. Glad everything worked out. lol

 

Yea the directions might have been outdated or something because I borrowed the chemical from a friend that had it for a while. Either way, I was glad dumping out cups and cups until it finally started working was the trick. The blackest skimmate is now coming out and it smells horrible and it's gross - I'm excited