plz help with my seaclone150

wigger · 11-12-2005, 05:42 PM

hi i have a seaclone150 on my 55gal tank. i have a cyanobacteria problem and read that i need to get a protien skimmer and it was working great(right out of the box). skimmed good dark sludge /w little bubbles into tank. But i had to move and brought everything over every last drop. I had it for about 10 months. Now that I moved i plugged every thing in and had my skimmer(seaclone150 /w maxijet1200) running with air valve closed for about 4 days then i realized this and turn it on but now it foams up so mush its insane. i only open air valve a bit and still so much bubbles that the collection cup fill with clear liquid in like 30-45 min. What is wrong? What did i do? How do i fix? plz help me

telman2010 · 11-12-2005, 06:38 PM

I run a Seaclone 100 and if it gets a little to foamy (is that a word?) I just cut down on the amount of air into the skimmer and its always taken care of the problem for me.

Dustin75 · 11-12-2005, 09:59 PM

I have both sizes of Sea-clone. The only time have have that problem is when I treat my tank with Stress coat or the red slime remover. Did you use either one lately?

wigger · 11-13-2005, 09:28 AM

No i never used that but the last 2 water changes I used TetraAqua water conditioner. Could that be it?? What can i use?

Dustin75 · 11-13-2005, 09:49 AM

I'm not familiar with TetraAqua water conditioner, what does it claim to do? If you what to remove chlorine I would try Instant DeChlor. I would say that the water conditioner is the culprit though, IMO.

Scuba · 11-13-2005, 08:50 PM

I agree with Dustin75, if I add a treatment to the tank or cleaned the Seaclone 150, it would go nuts for about 2 days and then settle down,

SAW39 · 11-13-2005, 09:02 PM

Wigger, my SeaClone 100 has the opposite problem. I have very little foam if a) I clean the collection cup and collar, or b) I've had my hands in the tank. So, you could try cleaning the collection cup and see if this cuts down on the foam. If that doesn't work, I suggest just running the skimmer with the air valve closed for a couple of days more, then try only opening the valve 1/2 to 3/4 turn.

giopimentel · 11-14-2005, 06:52 AM

I was told with the sea-clone's that if the water level flucuates a lot you will have problems with foam, along with certain additives.

mirosh · 11-14-2005, 07:21 AM

I had major problems getting my seaclone 100 to have constant output. With my water level fluctuating and the air intake valve getting all crudded up with salt and whatnot, it was very difficult to get any good, consistent skimmate.

I would suggest using a needlewheel skimmer, as a lot of people have had good results with them, or the Remora skimmers (which I personally love). Both, from what I hear and observe, give very good, and consistent skimmate.

telman2010 · 11-14-2005, 02:34 PM

The water fluctuation thing is true but I remedied that problem by installing a piece of plexiglass in front of the skimmer in the sump. My overflow goes into the side of the sump with the skimmer, thus causing the water to stay at a constant level.