I am a big fan of preparing for the worst when it comes to keeping a reef tank and I constantly think about ways to prevent potential disasters before they happen. On several occasions in the past, my skimmer overflowed without warning and nearly dumped skimmate into my sump. I was lucky because I caught it early but it made me wonder how I could keep this from occurring in the future.

Some folks use waste collection containers connected to the skimmer cup to catch overflows but certain containers, when full, will not prevent waste from continuing to overflow onto the floor. However, other devices will shut a skimmer off when the container is full, although these automatic shut off containers can be pricey. The DIY Route MORE