skimmer help?

tatorswife · 06/17/2012, 03:12 PM

super reef octopus 3000int in a pro flex model 4 last chamber..Skimmer is sitting in about 8-9 inches of water. My question is when we turn the skimmer on it blows lots of microbubbles into the tank and wants to overflow out of the skimmer and we have no idea what we should do to make it skim normally or even where there water level should be at because according to the side of the skimmer we dont even have the water level high enough but our sump would overflow if filled it that high. Anyone have any idea what we can do to help it and should the bubbles be all the way at the top of the skimmer cup becuase it doesnt bubble barely to the neck of the skimmer..thanks

Reefmedic79 · 06/17/2012, 03:24 PM

Deeper sump, if the skimmer needs 10-12 in. of water to operate then that is where you should start on fixing your problem.

The bubbles should rise in the skimmer chamber up to the beginning of the narrowist part of the chamber from there it will start to create foam after the skimmer is fully broken in, it could take a couple of weeks for it to break in completely.

tatorswife · 06/17/2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefmedic79

Deeper sump, if the skimmer needs 10-12 in. of water to operate then that is where you should start on fixing your problem.

The bubbles should rise in the skimmer chamber up to the beginning of the narrowist part of the chamber from there it will start to create foam after the skimmer is fully broken in, it could take a couple of weeks for it to break in completely.

The instructions with the skimmer say 6"-10" inches of water so i think we have it in enough water according to the instructions. Maybe we just need to keep it running fully open and see what happens. This hobby is so stressful to me.

ajcanale · 06/17/2012, 03:46 PM

Give it some time to break in and get some slime buildup. I use a SWC in the exact same sump. After breaking in and adjusting ATO my skimmer no longer produces microbubbles or overflows. With the sump at it's highest water level (after top off), I adjusted the gate valve (water level) on the skimmer so that the water is slightly overflowing when the cup is removed, which has yielded slightly heavier skimmate, no overflowing, and little to no microbubbles.

06/17/2012, 03:12 PM	#1
tatorswife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 128	skimmer help? super reef octopus 3000int in a pro flex model 4 last chamber..Skimmer is sitting in about 8-9 inches of water. My question is when we turn the skimmer on it blows lots of microbubbles into the tank and wants to overflow out of the skimmer and we have no idea what we should do to make it skim normally or even where there water level should be at because according to the side of the skimmer we dont even have the water level high enough but our sump would overflow if filled it that high. Anyone have any idea what we can do to help it and should the bubbles be all the way at the top of the skimmer cup becuase it doesnt bubble barely to the neck of the skimmer..thanks

06/17/2012, 03:24 PM	#2
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	Deeper sump, if the skimmer needs 10-12 in. of water to operate then that is where you should start on fixing your problem. The bubbles should rise in the skimmer chamber up to the beginning of the narrowist part of the chamber from there it will start to create foam after the skimmer is fully broken in, it could take a couple of weeks for it to break in completely. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

06/17/2012, 03:46 PM	#4
ajcanale Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Memphis 10 Posts: 1,098	Give it some time to break in and get some slime buildup. I use a SWC in the exact same sump. After breaking in and adjusting ATO my skimmer no longer produces microbubbles or overflows. With the sump at it's highest water level (after top off), I adjusted the gate valve (water level) on the skimmer so that the water is slightly overflowing when the cup is removed, which has yielded slightly heavier skimmate, no overflowing, and little to no microbubbles. __________________ If the spirit moves ya, let me groove ya Current Tank Info: 150g Starphire Pensinula SPS Last edited by ajcanale; 06/17/2012 at 03:53 PM.