Skimmer overflowed !!!! why???

Brilliant, Roger!

That explains those rare times my skimmer has overflowed when I otherwise didn't/couldn't find an reason. My skimmer compartment is dictated by a baffle, so water level never changes. I wouldn't say I never overfeed, but it's rare enough that if that were the culprit, I'd have figured it out.

I've been baffled in the past, and your explanation makes very good sense.

Thank you!!!

 

If I'm not mistaken, the collection of sludge in the neck of skimmers causes a drastic slowdown in skimmate production; rather than making it easier for the bubbles to climb the the walls. Bubbles climb up the sides much more easily when it's clean.

This is why skimmate production is so rapid immediately after cleaning the collection cup/neck, and slows down after a day or two if the cup is not cleaned. This has been my experience. Your mileage may vary.

 

I should probably rephrase... I read my post after hitting submit and knew it would be confusing I was talking about the slime coating on the walls, not so much the sludge. I'm basing that off my past experience of not getting any skimmate on a new skimmer, however after the walls get coated for a few days, the bubbles rise right on up

 

ok thanks so thats how a skimmer breaks in it gets sludge on the wall so bubbles rise faster

 

when i emptied my skimmer cup it had brown particles in the water and the water was yellow brown and some dark brown stuff was stuck to the bottom of the inside of the cup so i was very pleased especially after 1 day

 

it overflowed again this morning again it was filled up with nasty green water i guess ill raise it again