skimmer overflowing, help!!!!-Protein Skimmers-3reef Forums

Jenniphuzz · 01-07-2008, 08:32 PM

My protein skimmer, a fission power skimmer, has overflown a few times and i cant figure out why. At first it seemed to correspond with the water level i the tank getting low, but this has not been the case lately. Now, the collection cup fills very fast with nothing but clear water; not the usual dark black sludge that is supposed to be in there. I've adjusted the blue knob both ways and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Is there anyone who has had that problem or that can think of anything i might be doing wrong?

dbyrd · 01-07-2008, 08:56 PM

my seaclone did the same thing when i added a dechlorinator to my top off water. i had to just turn it off for about a day and then everything was fine. really made one heck of a mess when i finally discovered it was overflowing

Nemo 22 · 01-07-2008, 09:34 PM

if you are dosing then its gonna occur.like he said turn it off for a day or too if you do then turn it back on.

SAW39 · 01-07-2008, 09:52 PM

If you are not dosing your tank or top-off water, it may just be a normal cycle and you have to keep tweaking your flow rate. My hang-on-tank skimmer sometimes fills halfway up, but only at night.

Jenniphuzz · 01-08-2008, 05:08 PM

not sure what you mean by dosing....i add calcium and trace elements and top-off the tank with R/O water when it gets low. can that cause my skimmer to work improperly???

SAW39 · 01-12-2008, 05:07 PM

Some substances -- de-chlorinator comes to mind -- will have a drastic effect on a skimmer. Since you say that you are using RO water, dechlorinator is not your specific problem.
However, one or more of your trace element additions may be the culprit. Stop adding your calcium and trace elements for a few treatment cycles and see if that helps.