Skimmer Issues, please help

Hey guys, I'm having trouble with my skimmer.

It keeps overflowing VERY fast. All the bubbles just rise to the top and I can't seem to be able to adjust it.

Usually all I have to do is just lower the lever and the bubbles go down to just the right spot. However, this time no matter how low I place the lever, the bubbles reach the top and overflow very fast. (within 30 seconds).

If I raise the lever, it literally just fills the cup in 10 seconds.


My skimmer was turned off for like a month, but left in the sump. I just turned it on today. Not sure what to do?

 

This is a Reef octopus BTW

 

Anyone? I tried everything but can't seem to get it to work properly..

 

wow no takers? LOL i really need some help. I think I've tried everything and nothing works.

I left it running the whole night to see if something might happen, but I woke up to my sump full of foam!!
Ill post a picture in a second, maybe that will help?

 

What have you added to the tank recently in terms of chemicals/ water changes/ livestock?

Is there any chance the water level changed?

 

water level in terms of what?

but no I haven't added anything to the tank, other than putting a phosphate reactor. However the skimmer was working properly beforehand as well. It just started doing this after it's been off for a month.

 

This is how my skimmer is.. This is the lowest I have been able to get it. :/




This is the lever.. Its all the way down. If i lift it any, the cup fills in seconds.

 

Have you pulled it out of the sump and taken it apart to see if you have a small snail or something in the intake
Often with a ump off for a little bit the intake gets clean of algea and detritus . Then when turned on again, resumes being at full strength . Perhapts prior to shutting down the skimmer the pump was impeaded over time and now it is just back to full strength . You may not have noticed a the pump could have slowed over time

 

I did take it out.(twice) I tried looking for something stuck in there but I couldn't find anything. Unless it is stuck very far into the tubing where I can't see anything.

 

does that black thing belong there?