Skimmer Problem

[Bnortz]

I'm having issues with my Reef Octopus Hang on the Back 1000 OCT BH1000. It worked perfectly fine without any issues for 5 or so months until recently over the past couple of weeks I've been having issues. The collection cup will either overflow at the top with foam and sometimes water or the water won't go up through the chamber and skim into the collection cup. I've tried multiple attempts to fix it by emptying it to clean it and refilling it. Any help would be much appreciated as I need to get this skimmer back up and running ASAP.

[Jeremy@CoralVue]

Please make sure the venturi is completely obstruction free as well as making sure nothing is stuck in the pinwheel causing excess water draw into the skimmer. Have you used any frag putty, coral glue, red slime remover, stress coat, dechlorinator, medications, bacteria additives, carbon dosing, etc? I would also add some activated carbon to the system just in case there is a chemical that is reacting to the air the skimmer is producing.

[Bnortz]

I did have an issue once with some glue, which may be my problem. Would I need to take the pump out and clean it or what? and can I put carbon in a filter bag in the third chamber of the skimmer?

[Jeremy@CoralVue]

Yes you can place a small bag of carbon in the last chamber as long as it doesn't restrict flow too much. I wouldn't clean anything and just do a few water changes and allow the carbon to do its job.

[Bnortz]

Well I haven't been running my skimmer because it's either not skimming or overflowing, so what can I do without having to run it to fix it?

[Jeremy@CoralVue]

A few 20-30% water changes without any conditioners and time. If you have or can obtain a canister filter and place the fresh activated carbon within that will also speed things up.