ATB overflowing

[Mark I]

I just came home and my ATB med. internal is violently overflowing. Its been set up for two weeks and running good until now. I cant stop it. I drain the cup turn it on and the cup fills up in less than 10 seconds. Whats causing all this foam?

[Mark I]

I just thought of something. I painted the kitchen today. Could the paint fumes be causing this?

[uhuru]

could anything be blocking the air inlet?

[Mark I]

No I checked it, everything seems to be clear. If I close off the air 100% I can stop the overflowing. I would think if anything paint fumes would knock the foam down

[GSMguy]

So is the wedge pipe all the way open? Have you been adjusting it during break in?

[Mark I]

Yeah I have adjusted it some during break in, but no matter where I put it now I can't run it. I even tried running with the wedge pipe removed so their would be less back pressure. I just put my Aquac back on line until morning and that seems to run alright.

[victor90]

Mark
I think You are correct when they painted my kitchen my skimmer overflowed constantly too. It was a pain I had to do about 200 gallons of water in 2 weeks to get this right

[mavgi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13841389#post13841389 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark I
I just thought of something. I painted the kitchen today. Could the paint fumes be causing this?

Yes it's because of the paint .

[Mark I]

The AquaC ran fine all night. I fired up the ATB this morning and it seems to be running ok. I have more painting to do so I'm going to leave both skimmers online and monitor. I ll leave the window cracked open and the door closed in the sump/frag tank room so fresh air is going into skimmer and see what happens.

[Project Reef]

It's the paint. I painted the floors at my shop and the skimmers went INSANE for 2 days straight. I had to run the ATB without the collection cup on. After a couple days however, things finally returned to normal. The really sensitive skimmers are the best skimmers though. :)

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13849422#post13849422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Project Reef
It's the paint. I painted the floors at my shop and the skimmers went INSANE for 2 days straight. I had to run the ATB without the collection cup on. After a couple days however, things finally returned to normal. The really sensitive skimmers are the best skimmers though. :)

It makes you wonder what else the skimmers that don't react to paint are missing.

[chippy70]

WOW ATB's are kick *** skimmers

How good is that, it will even skim what is in the air as well.

Glad I got one, Just wont fart near one or it will send it into hyperdrive :D

[Mark I]

Still having problems with skimmer overflowing, still painting also. I have found the skimmer will work with the air silencer removed, as soon as you attach it the skimmer starts overflowing. The silencer seems clear. Do you guys think a vinegar bath might clean any residue from the silencer?

[victor90]

Mark,

You can try a vinegar bath but there is nothing inside the silencer. As soon as you finish painting do a water change and you will be fine

[Mark I]

By looking at the silencer it appears to have no added resistance on air line. But when I connect it the skimmer the level rises very quickly and overflows into the cup. I was thinking some sort of film or residue may have formed inside the silencer.

[wmilas]

Its the VoC's in the paint. They bond to the other organics in the water and cause a mess. Eventually the VoC will work their way out.

Look for low VoC paint to minimize the effect if it matters to you :)

[Mark I]

I found a solution. Lighting a candle and open 5 gallon bucket of water seems to absorb bad stuff. Painted Thursday and Friday and no skimmer overflow at all. Oh yeah and I put peppermint abstract in the paint also. :o

[wmilas]

The candle produces lots of carbon that the VoC's can bind to. I don't think the 5 gallon bucket of water would do much though...