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kitch40

Protein skimmer problems

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I just cleaned out my circ pump intake, and changed the filter socks, emptied my skimmer basket (rinsed the gunk out as usual and the skimmer started overflowing almost immediately, and now I cant get it to go slow enough not to overflow unless I lift the skimmer up by an inch. Any ideas what is happening? all parameters seem good except the nightrate seems a little high at 20-40 ppm. the skimmer seems to have been working properly for months. cleaning the intake on the circ pump really increased the flow. Thanks Marc(Kitch40)

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Questions - Need some input , ‎ Equipment

Comments

  1. cyano's Avatar
    Well over time as the tank ages and the skimmer gets well broken in the height on the skimmer may need to be raised to accommodate the way your biological filter has established itself. With that said though I would check your Venturi as well as making sure that your lid is on tight. A trick to helping reduce the height the water rises to is if you have holes in the top of your lid on the skimmer collection cup you can put electrical tape over the holes and then pock some holes in the tape gradually increasing the size of the hole with a thumbtack or needle until you get your desired water level (I had to do this with my current skimmer until it's break in period water over to keep water off of my floor.) good luck!
  2. kitch40's Avatar
    Thanks Cyano, It is most confusing because it seemed to be working perfectly before I started... now I had to raise it 1 1/2 inches.
  3. cyano's Avatar
    man I am going to have to start proof-reading my posts after I type them up so they don't make me seem like i talk funny, lol. how well are bubbles forming and how much skim-mate is being produced in comparison to the way it was before you cleaned it all up? How long has it been since you cleaned the skimmer this thoroughly? If it has been a while then I would say that the problem may be that you were so far over do that you are having to do a mini-break in on your skimmer just like you had when it was first purchased. You should try to make time to clean your skimmer at least once a month to maintain it's current production and current adjustment to your tanks parameters.good luck and I hope to hear good things as well as see some pictures in the near future
  4. melev's Avatar
    I would put something waterproof under the skimmer to raise it up 1" for now. It may be sitting in too much water, and your water may simply have more DOCs to remove now that it is working at peak efficiency again. Also, weather changes can affect skimmers as the barometric pressure varies.
  5. DJ in WV's Avatar
    Yea I will second Marc on the barometric pressure. When the pressure drop mine skims more. It had me scratching my head. Also when I start mine back up I have to turn it back till it settles down or it over skims
  6. kitch40's Avatar
    Thanks to all! when I cleaned it I only cleaned the skimmer cup itself... I took the skimmer apart and only took off the part to clean
    the impeller wheel and didn't clean inside at all .
    Then I raised it up by 1 1/2 inches and it seems to be working well!
    about 1 " of skim ate overnight .