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09-23-2007, 10:05 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 10
Karma: 28
 |  protein skimmer major problems!
Hi everyone,
You will have to excuse my lack of correct terminology as my bf is away and he usually takes care of the filter type stuff for our tank! 
Yesterday i noticed that the bubble section of the protein skimmer at the top keeps overflowing... right now i have the bubble bit turned off but the other part ( is it the return part) still turned on... as soon as i turn it on the water rises and then the bubbles start to rise rapidly and starts to overflow... 
Its done it before but we never really worked out why it does it?? Could it be faulty? Its a reef octopus one.
Any suggestions? I have to keep getting up every 1/2 hr or so to make sure it' s not overflowing and that the bottle the crap stuff goes into isnt about to overflow too. And tomorrow i have a full day of work so wont be home!
Appreciate any suggestions, Cheers  | 
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09-23-2007, 10:29 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,788
  
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It sounds to me like the skimmer outflow line/pipe is restricted. Open valve if one is on it and adjust so skimmer bubbling is at base of main chamber.
May also be that you are adding to much water in sump and covering outflow. 
Not much can go with skimmers. _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott")
Last edited by omard; 09-24-2007 at 01:02 AM.
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09-24-2007, 06:52 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator |
I would suspect it is the height of the water in the sump or the riser tube is too high. If I were you I would turn the skimmer off while your at work
J | |
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09-24-2007, 07:08 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,512
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Hi lulu, they are right, the tube where the water exits from the skimmer might be to high(some are adjustable) just lower the tube a little and it should be fine. It may be also the water level in the sump is too high as stated. Has this always happened or just recently? _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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09-24-2007, 07:26 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,788
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Another issue I had with my AquaC, was that I have an elbow at end of outflow pipe (directing water down back into sump)...
Was having similar problems getting good flow thru skimmer. Drilling hole in top of elbow solved problem.
FWIW | |
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09-24-2007, 08:20 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 38
Posts: 7,479
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In my experience it was usually the venturi air-intake getting clogged with salt creep that would cause this. | |
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09-25-2007, 05:35 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 10
Karma: 28
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Thanks for that advice guys - i going to investigate it further today.. I woke up this morning to a dead sailfin and dead bio colour angel, yesterday a clown died but after a water check, change and all ok i thought he musthave been beaten up, prob by the bi colour angel as he is pretty skitish and aggressive  Water tests were perfect albeit slightly high on nitrates but not enough to cause death... now this morning all the fish appear to have very torn looking fins - like they have been beaten up or ripped... Im thinking there is a parasite in the water and it wasnt the angel being a bully.... I'd been putting melafix in the water since i saw the clown, that wouldnt be it would it??????? Whatever it was moved bloody fast to wipe them out, they were totally fine late last night. Going to have to start all over again.. | |
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09-25-2007, 05:38 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,512
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sorry for your loss lulu. try taking some pics and posting them. that might help id the problem. | |
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09-25-2007, 06:01 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 38
Posts: 7,479
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That blows. Sorry for your loss lulu. karma to ya.
What were your test results exactly? | |
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09-25-2007, 06:28 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Louisville, GA Age: 45
Posts: 3,304
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wow! I'm so sorry!!!! wow...karma.... | |
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