delayed reaction in skimmer?

[YHSublime]

So my skimmer overflowed today, after about a week of really nice dry skimming, awesome, right?

 

Everything looks good, but the question is why? I added epoxy to the tank probably 3 days ago and everything was fine, is it possible that this was a delayed reaction? This is my guess, as I have taken the skimmer out, cleaned it, inspected the pumps and airline tubes, and all is good. No matter how I adjust, it overflows.

 

Anybody ever have this happen, a delayed reaction to epoxy?

[sachabballi reef]

what is it with you and epoxy? How do you manage to use so much of it LOL 

[YHSublime]

what is it with you and epoxy? How do you manage to use so much of it LOL 

 

I probably use way more than I should, but I HATE gluing frags to something and having them get knocked off later. I also hate having my skimmer not running, knowing that all that nasty is just sticking in the water.

 

Is it weird it took it 48+ hours to work out around into the skimmer?

[surf&turf]

I don't think it would take that long, what else did you do, feed, stick your arm in the tank, these have made my skimmer go nuts. Even doing a water change will affect mine.

[sachabballi reef]

i agree....i doubt it was a delayed reaction...tank turns over is too fast for that....

[YHSublime]

So I actually have that video on my build of my skimmer last night. This afternoon while I was at work I get a video text from the lady with my skimmer overflowing, asking what she should do. So I shut it off till I got home.

 

The only changes I've made have been adding a mantis. And epoxy a few days ago. I have stuck my hand in the tank. When I left for work this morning, no problems, skimmer was fine. I just asked if she touched the tank while I was gone, and she said she turned around from the desk because she heard it overflowing, no touching (which I believe)

[gmerek2]

Any chance a water fluctuation occurred in sump? Or partial air intake blockage?

[wildcrazyjoker81]

Mine did that for two day's when I had an algae die off, but probably nothing like your case. It does seem weird.

Edited December 5, 2013 by wildcrazyjoker81

[zygote2k]

maybe the mantis stirred up the substrate and caused the skimmer to go crazy?

[YHSublime]

Any chance a water fluctuation occurred in sump? Or partial air intake blockage?

 

It's recirculating, so the fluctuation should not matter. No blockage upon inspection.

 

Mine did that for two day's when I had an algae die off, but probably nothing like your case. It does seem weird.

 

No die off noticeable, have not fed recently.

 

maybe the mantis stirred up the substrate and caused the skimmer to go crazy?

 

I actually vacuumed the sump out before I brought it home, in preparation for that.

 

I have been doing something new I forgot to mention, but not for the past 24-48 hours. It's been about 4 days now, I've been adding Pohl's K-Balance, which is essentially potassium.

 

It appears that my maxijet is supplying too much water, the gate valve on the effluent pipe is wide open, and the two PSKs push it to overflow. However, this is obviously not the case, as it was dialed in correctly before. When I removed the skimmer to clean, I did tighten up one of the plastic nuts a little tighter, but this should not have mattered, unless previously mentioned theory of too much water from the MJ is correct.

[Hubbard42]

Very odd if you didn't have any changes, mine will go crazy with any filter pad change, I shut it off or let it over flow the wet skim for 3-4 days and it's back on line. Did you change gfo or carbon?

[YHSublime]

Very odd if you didn't have any changes, mine will go crazy with any filter pad change, I shut it off or let it over flow the wet skim for 3-4 days and it's back on line. Did you change gfo or carbon?

 

I don't run either one.

[YHSublime]

So the Avast website suggests:

 

Use the gate valve to adjust the water level inside the skimmer. We suggest keeping the water level at the

base of the neck union to start, and adjusting from there based on your bioload and skimmer performance

 

I run my water level about 8 inches below the union neck, because anything higher causes it to overflow. I've read around, and most recirc skimmers suggest running the feed pump to fill up just below the base of the collection cup.

 

[wade]

The only thing I could say is that putting hand/arm in the tank introduces oils (just like feeding meaty foods, esp copepods or mysis).  Those oils repress skimming severely.  Once they are gone, the skimmer leaps back into action.  But the epoxy (obviously) makes it go nuts.  So maybe you had a good amount of oils in there that slowed things down for a while.  

 

Nothing was interfering with water flow into the skimmer I assume?

[YHSublime]

The only thing I could say is that putting hand/arm in the tank introduces oils (just like feeding meaty foods, esp copepods or mysis). Those oils repress skimming severely. Once they are gone, the skimmer leaps back into action. But the epoxy (obviously) makes it go nuts. So maybe you had a good amount of oils in there that slowed things down for a while.

 

Nothing was interfering with water flow into the skimmer I assume?

Tank has been fallow, and feeding minimum. Nothing blocking water flow.

[sachabballi reef]

i think we need to add epoxy to the list of things you aren't allowed to have anymore.

[YHSublime]

i think we need to add epoxy to the list of things you aren't allowed to have anymore.

 

After this stint there is not a lot of room left, I probably won't need it.

 

Ran the PSKs without the feed pump last night and this morning it was pushing bubbles up into the collection cup. I didn't have time to look this morning. Will probably shut it off in an hour or so, and see if I can get it dialed in tonight. I'm vexed.

[Der ABT]

how long has the skimmer been running again? sometimes teh glues from putting it together will cause it to go nuts for a while, i remember someone on here had this happen for close to 3 weeks after he built his cs1 (musta used alotta glue)

 

the other thing to check is your air intakes, if the silencers are clogged on one or both of the pumps they may be pushing in more water and increasing the level.

 

or you need to just give me the skimmer...

[YHSublime]

how long has the skimmer been running again? sometimes teh glues from putting it together will cause it to go nuts for a while, i remember someone on here had this happen for close to 3 weeks after he built his cs1 (musta used alotta glue)

 

the other thing to check is your air intakes, if the silencers are clogged on one or both of the pumps they may be pushing in more water and increasing the level.

 

or you need to just give me the skimmer...

 

It's been a couple months now. I think it was Scott who ended up having that happen. I checked the air intakes, cleared them (nothing) and pulled the silencer off while I tested them as well to make sure they were pulling right.

 

Skimmer will be staying right where it is

[ctenophore]

Do you have a Kill a watt?  Might be worth plugging in the pumps and seeing how much power they're pulling.  It's a useful tool to have around a tank anyway; I think you can get one at big box stores (or amazon prime) for about $25.  Skimmer explosions are almost always due to a change in water chemistry or general meddling hands-in-tank, but if you think you can rule that out, it's worth checking the pumps.

[YHSublime]

Do you have a Kill a watt?  Might be worth plugging in the pumps and seeing how much power they're pulling.  It's a useful tool to have around a tank anyway; I think you can get one at big box stores (or amazon prime) for about $25.  Skimmer explosions are almost always due to a change in water chemistry or general meddling hands-in-tank, but if you think you can rule that out, it's worth checking the pumps.

 

I don't have a Kill a watt. Maybe in the future. Here are my thoughts:

 

although I vacuumed out the sump, I shuffled a bit of live rock around. In doing that, i had my hands all in the sump, it's probably just playing catch up with everything I did, and all the oils.

 

I'll do a big water change this Saturday if it hasn't worked itselft out.

[zygote2k]

loosen the 4 base screws that hold the cone to the base plate and allow the skimmer to "leak". This is the fine tuning trick that I use on many of these skimmers when such issues happen.

[HgrReefs]

loosen the 4 base screws that hold the cone to the base plate and allow the skimmer to "leak". This is the fine tuning trick that I use on many of these skimmers when such issues happen.

Yep, nice little trick I have worked out too.

 

I've had issues with new felt filter socks before. It got me a couple of times before I realized it. I now run them through the washer prior to putting them in use. Not that this would be your issue, but it's one of those things that seems inconsequential, but could come up.

[sachabballi reef]

I give you boys credit...the last thing I would think to do is loosen cone screws...lol...but glad you figured out a solution...love this hobby and how creative people are...

loosen the 4 base screws that hold the cone to the base plate and allow the skimmer to "leak". This is the fine tuning trick that I use on many of these skimmers when such issues happen.

 

 

Yep, nice little trick I have worked out too.

I've had issues with new felt filter socks before. It got me a couple of times before I realized it. I now run them through the washer prior to putting them in use. Not that this would be your issue, but it's one of those things that seems inconsequential, but could come up.

[HgrReefs]

I give you boys credit...the last thing I would think to do is loosen cone screws...lol...but glad you figured out a solution...love this hobby and how creative people are...

Not going to lie, mine was a happy accident about a year ago. One of the nylon screws had a head break off and I was just too lazy at the time to replace it. That little bit worked wonders on my skimmer though! I am in no way crafty enough for that to have crossed my mind...