Skimmer Problem

[John Kh]

Hello everyone,

This is my first LogIn here and I hope I can find the help I need. If I could always LogIn before they block the acces here at work?! Hopefully. Well I just have a quick question here and I hope someone could help me. Well I have a 75G tank and a moderate skimmer. I am upgrading into a new one which will be done one month later. It will be a 300G. I should get the specifications later on maybe I could use some help as well about it. Anyway to make a long story short, everytime I do a water change or fill the tank to replace the evaporated water, the skimmer goes like crazy and the waste cup is filled within an hour or a couple of hours. Is that normal? I mean I change the water or fill the tank with new water, mix the trace element, Iodine, Iron... Turn the skimmer off for a couple of hours or overnight and after turn on the skimmer to find it working like crazy and filling the waste cup with a short time!! Noting that when functionning normally it doesn't fill the cup that fast. Any idea? Thank you in advance!!

J,

 

[Anonymous]

First of all, which brand of skimmer do you have? Is it hanging on the tank or in a sump?
Second, yes, it's normal. Everytime you change the water level, the skimmer will react. Try to do your topping up more frequently. Don't let it evaporate as much, this will also help keep your salinity a bit more stable. Your skimmer is just doing what it's supposed to, working hard. Some skimmers are harder to adjust than others.. How often are you doing waterchanges? Also, if you could, list some tank parameters, SG, pH, ALK, CA, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, etc.

 

[John Kh]

First of all, which brand of skimmer do you have? Is it hanging on the tank or in a sump?

It is a Hang On Skimmer. I do not recall the brend name but It is written on it 'Whipro' Or something I think and the number '2013'

How often are you doing waterchanges? Also, if you could, list some tank parameters, SG, pH, ALK, CA, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, etc.

Every one week I am changing a small part of the water and making for the evaporated one as well. I do not know the quantity exactly but it is alsmot like a Gallon or 2G of new water is added and mixed with what I mentioned previously.

Concerning water parameters, I haven't done the test for a couple of week. But as far as I recall:
PH was like 8.2 or so The color was bright.
Nitrate and Nitrite were 0 I guess sice the test gave me no color at all.
Alk is between 1.023 and 1.024.
No signs of Amonia and I am adding Calcium solution every week. I have no test kit for the CA so far.

 

[Len]

It sounds like there's something in your freshwater that's effecting suffocants, making your skimmer foam like crazy. What water are you using? Tapwater might have some properties that make this occur. It can also be the container that your using to mix saltwater or carry freshwater. Stuff like oil residue will make skimmers go nuts.

 

[Anonymous]

Surfactants?

 

[Anonymous]

Are you using tap water purifying solution(Stress Coat or the like)? That makes the skimmers go nuts.

 

[Anonymous]

...Stuff like oil residue will make skimmers go nuts.

Hand lotion will do that...trust me on this one

 

[MartinE]

My skimmer will get going good after I blow the detritus accumulation off the rocks, maybe your water change just stirs up some accumulated waste and the skimmer is pulling it out?

 

[John Kh]

Yes, I am using tap water a little purified using a water cheap water filter/cleaner. Plus I am adding some Tetra Cleaning Product to clean all residue from the water (Tetra, Aqua Safe).

J,

 

[Anonymous]

It is probably the Aquasafe. Water conditioners will make skimmers do that.

 

[John Kh]

I am getting and RO/ DI Device anyway!!!

J,