skimmer acting odd

Earlier today, I turned my system off for a couple minutes to adjust something. When I turned it back on, my protein skimmer started just filling the cup with water via bubbles. The bubbles weren't the normal foam from protein skimming, the cup was just filling with these bubbles that quickly popped into clean tankwater. I tried lowering the water level, but this was happening even on the lowest level. I don't want to go without a skimmer for very long, so I would deeply appreciate quick help.

 

what did you adjust? did you add anything to your tank

 

for farther reference that is what we call wet skimming, if it is a ""ventury skimmer try lowering the water flow""" now if it is a ""air stone skimmer turn down the air flow some"" till you get it straigthen out.

 

What kind of skimmer are you using? The other day I added some polyfiber filter pad from Aqutraders (I know, I know but I thought what harm could a cheap filter pad do?) and my skimmer went nuts!!!!! It ran the same way your talking about. I removed the filter pad and let the skimmer overflow (draining the cup each time it filled). It took about 6 collection cups worth before skimmer calmed down. I discarded the overflow water so I don't know if the skimmer was actually pulling anything out or just went crazy. The water was clear but I just wanted to be safe.

 

Either cut the water feed down a bit or cut the air down if you where messing in the sump and disturbed it then the skimmer is just reacting to the excess stirred up stuff that had settled out in the sump.. After the skimmer settles down then just adjust it back up to where it had been.

 

I got it fixed. Turns out the water level was too low in my sump. Thanks for the help

 

I have this happen on my asm skimmer when I change out my filter bag, so now I unplug the skimmer first then change the bag and let the water circulate for a few min before pluging back in, now no more overflowing.