Skimmer Help!

I have a Reef Octopus 160 protein skimmer. It is just not working correctly. It worked perfectly when I first turned it on, but after being off for about a week while treating a clown with Melafix, it is no longer working right. I thought it was because there was a tiny bit of Melafix left in the water, but I did a 25% water change and it's still acting weird.

So, it bubbles up like crazy and the collection cup is constantly overflowing. When I remove the collection cup to dump it out it's just water. As soon as I put the cup back on it's overflowing again in a matter of minutes. I checked the air take and everything and it's fine.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be going on? It's very irritating!

Thank you!

 

Oh! I forgot you where using melafix. I tend after the water change to start the skimmer up on low and then get it going over the next few days if I use that stuff.

Not sure if the octos have a low or high setting?

 

I don't think so...I'm not sure. Does the Melafix dissolve in the water, or does it stick around until you change the water so many times that you take it all out?

 

It's the Melefix. When I used it once, I did my water change and turned on my skimmer....took about 4 days for it to stop overflowing. I changed out about 5 gallons of salt water just to keep up. Have fun.

 

Sticks around I believe. Normally after I get my skimmer running at full again it normally pulls most of it out I do believe.

 

It's the Melafix. It will continue to overflow until the melafix is out of the system. Continue to do water changes and it will get better eventually.

 

Ugggh. Okay. I did two 25% water changes while I was using it. So I thought that would be enough.

I'll do a fairly big water change in the next couple days then.

alright. it's probably the Melafix then.

 

Okay, thanks. I thought it might be the Melafix, but I was hoping it would be diluted enough by now to stop the bubbling.

I'll do a change soon.

 

I had the same issue when I had my achilles and had to use quite a bit of melafix daily. One thing I found that works for me, was doing small water changes a few times a day, like 5 gallons in the morning and 5 in the evening and trying back up the old skimmer.

(Just smaller changes to not induce a ton of stress on the fish)

 

Yeah, I know what you're saying. I have to make some RO water, so I'll try to get the water changed by Friday. I'll do like 15% or something, and then do another 15% in several days.