why does my skimmer go nuts

[El Camaron]

when i use putty to place frags? it sucks, i have to turn it off for a day and even then its still pretty bad. Is there anything that can help? or is there any thing else i could use when that would work the same with out the same effects to the water chemistry?

 

thanks

[Boret]

What skimmer do you use?

[Jon Lazar]

What putty do you use?

[El Camaron]

I use a modified stock solana and the putty i was using is the marineland holdfast epoxy but it acts up when using the other kind which comes in coraline algae color.

[Jon Lazar]

I use a commercial plumber's epoxy from HD or Lowes; I think the manufacturer is Otay. And I have a DAS BX-2 skimmer.

 

Sometimes the skimmer produces more foam than usual, but it's an in-sump skimmer so it doesn't matter much so long as I empty the skimmer cup before messing with epoxy. Otherwise all that old skimmate might get washed back into the tank, and that causes my skimmer to go beserk for days.

 

After I mix a chunck of epoxy, I rinse it in tap water for a few seconds before sticking it in the tank. Don't know if that helps or not, but it makes me feel better.

 

BTW, when my skimmer is overflowing for whatever reason, I unscrew the skimmer cup and neck from the main mixing chamber, and just set it loosely in place. This lets a lot of extra air escape, and lowers the height of the bubbles in the skimmer. I could also change the water level, but I find this leaves everything intact for when I'm ready to resume normal skimming.

 

Jon

[El Camaron]

Thanks Jon.