Attack of the microbubbles!

[Nemo2007]

I'm using a Euroreef 80RS protein skimmer. My tank recently fnished cycling. Up untill now, all I got out of my skimmer was high quality skimate that made me smile. Since yesterday or so, all I've gotten is what looks like clean saltwater and billions of microbubbles which are migrating from the sump into the main tank. The 90 degree elbow on my return line has proven useless against so many tiny bubbles. I also noticed bubbles completely fill the reaction chamber of the protein skimmer. They used to only fill the top 75% or so.

Are there any suggestions on what could be going on and how I can change it? The only recent changes to the system was the addition of a chiller. Temperature went from 91 to 81 degrees. (I didn't realize the tank was getting that hot. I knew it was above the scale of the thermometer but assumed foolishly that it was about 86 or so.) No livestock was in the tank except for live rock which I hope is still alive.

Is it possible I skimmed all the major waste out and the bubbles are the result of overskimming? :?:

 

[mr_X]

i don't think it's an overskimming issue. maybe the chiller had some funky stuff in it, like some sort of lubricant or something that acted like soap and multiplied the bubble production.
every time i change out my filter sock, my skimmer goes wild. i wash my filter socks in the washing machine, without soap. i still think there is some sort of soap residue in the washer though. when i drop in the new sock, the skimmer goes nuts and really skims super wet.
i don't know if this situation even pertains, but maybe it's something simple, like this that you've overlooked?

 

[Nemo2007]

Thanks for the timely response as always Mr. X.

I don't think its the filter sock. I wash mine with a little bleach in the washing machine too. Sometimes I give it an extra rinse if it still smells like bleach. Yet, they never seem to have much effect on my skimmer.

I think you are absolutely right about the chiller though. There was something that looked like water but had a somewhat chemical smell adhered to the inlet and outlet ports.

In addtion, I had a good skimmate just before I attached the chiller. The company that made it should warn you about that kind of stuff or ask you to rinse it or something before using it. How long do you think it will take to run this stuff out of my system? I guess, I should turn the skimmer back on?

 

[mr_X]

i don't know. the filter sock reaction only lasts for about a minute. i would run the skimmer for real dry skimmate for a while. see what happens. good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

It's your chiller- new equipment prevents your skimmer from reacting correctly and breaks the water tension. Give it a few days.