protein skimmer goes crazy for no reason

hey everyone i got a problem. every couple of days my protein skimmer goes crazy for no reason and flushes everything it collection cup back in the tank. i have a Reef Octopus Extreme XS200 Protein Skimmer. when i say it over flows. I mean as it would the when i feed my fish anyone have any idea or do i need to buy a other one ?? please help

Here is pic of the tank and yes i know there are alot of tangs in the tank. What can i say i love my tangs lol

http://s1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/jesse94954/

 

I don't think you need to buy another one, just small changes in your water chemistry can cause the skimmer to act up, I am sure making adjustment with air flow will take care of it, I check my adjustment everyday to set it where it works best.

 

Do you have an ATO? and take a picture of your sump.

 

I have a coralife 125 thats been doing the same thing... every other day it overflows.

 

How long have you had the skimmer. Most skimmers have a break in period. My reef octopus took about 2 or 3 weeks to even out. The other reason could be because of added nutrients. Keep an eye on your skimmer when feeding the tank, especially liquid coral foods. Also when adding chemicals the protein skimmer can "go crazy". Often its easier to unplug the protein skimmer a when doing this stuff and just plugging it in after 2 or 3 hours. Good luck

 

How big is your tank? What fish? How often do you feed? A lot of people buy a skimmer that is big for their tank. Then what happens, is if there isn't enough gunk in the water, it doesn't skim, as the density of organics in the water needs to be at a certain level to allow a foam head to build. So, then what happens is you overadjust the skimmer, to try to pull out more gunk, however, it doesn't but over time, the organics in the water accumulate and when they get to the threshold, to allow a foam head to build, the skimmer is set to skim too "wet" and it overflows.

Other possibilities are food, for a number of reasons. Food has oils, that prevent skimmers from working. So, again, the oils prevent the foam head, but then after the oils disipate, if the skimmer is set too skim too "wet", the skimmer tries to remove all the broken down food at once and overflows. So, again, this is a setting issue. Also, certain foods, such as frozen foods contain gel binders, which tend to react with the skimmer and make them overflow. So,think about the overflowing and if it is relation to any addition to food, i.e. right after addition, or after a consistent delay.

Also, epoxies and other materials, when added can make a skimmer go crazy. So, think about the overflowing, in relation to any other additions.

Putting your hands in the tank, can cause a skimmer to stop working, as the oils in your hands interfear. So, again, think about any adjustments your making. Are you adjusting the skimmer after putting your hands in the water?

Also, GAC and synthetic GAC, such as purigen, can compete with a skimmer. So, if this is the case, once the GAC or purigen is exhausted, it no longer is removing organics, and now the skimmer is bearing the brunt of the load. So, the skimmer may start going crazy. I sometimes use this as an indicator to change my GAC actually, if I get behind and don't change it weekly, as I normally do.

 

thank you

From here on out i will make sure i check it each and everyday. I usally dont check it till its to late lol

 

I do have a ATO and i will send you pic when i get home today thank you for taking the time to write please check back later tonight

 

I have had the skimmer more then 3 month up and running
thank you

 

The tank is 150 gallon and 55 gallong sump which is half way full of water. I have total of five tangs in the tank. Yellow tang, Powder brown tang, archilles tang, naso tang and scorepies tang i think thats how you spell it 5 little chromis and marron clown. i feed my tangs twice a day green and purple seaweed and once a week i feed meaty food to all of the fish.

I dont adjust the skimmer after putting my hand in the tank but from here on out i will check the skimmer after putting my hand in the tank .

Thank you very much for your response here is a link to pic of the tank
Pictures by jesse94954 - Photobucket