noisy skimmer

hi,

i used to have a seclone 100 skimmer, but i got ridd of it as soon as i could.

Now i have an Urchin. I like it. It skimms well, and it requires low maintenance.

I do have one problem though. there are 2 or three chambers, water comes in one, spills in a second, and foam forms. where water comes in, it does not stay at a level above the disposal tube. So there is a little noise, kinda like a faucet.

Does anyone know if that is just the noise an urchin makes?

and one more thing

I do the maintenance to keep the skimmer clean, but when i am around it for half an hour or more, i start to get a cough like sensation. I know its from it, granted that this is not a medical site, i was just wondering if the protein/bacteria cause these reactions in everybody, and besides cleaning there is nothing to do, or could there be something else.

thank you for interest, and don't make too much fun of me.

 

I'll be one of the last to make fun of you. Good questions, both of them. Let's tackle the last question first: the cough-like tickle in your throat. What are you using to clean the skimmer? I just use running water. I don't think it's likely that it is a reaction to the "skimmate". The skimmate is damp, and so is unlikely to be airborn. Your problem may be in your head (or nose). The look or smell of the skimmer may be giving you a hint of a gag reflex, and that's the cough-like feeling you have.

First question: the faucet-like noise. Does the noise change if you change the inflow volume? If so, it may be a large bubble trapped somewhere that makes a sound as the water flows around it. This sometimes happens with the inflow tube of both my skimmer and my hang-on-back filter.

 

I wont make fun of you. Cleaning the skimmer is the worst part of reefkeeping IMO. I have thrown up twice. No joke, that stuff just flat-out smells nasty.
+1 on it probably just being gag reflex

 

thank you, for th knowledge and the compassion.