Protein skimmer help!!! Bubbling over Need Help

[Skaters216]

My protein skimmer is going crazy, bubbling over collection cup like crazy. I adjusted it down to zero and it won't stop bubbling!!!! Tried everything cleaned skimmer,vinager bath, adjusted height up and down. Any ideas anyone? Skimmer has been working great for along time. It's a SCA-302 thanks

 

[Dk638]

Run carbon. Must be something in the water

 

[Skaters216]

That's what I thought so I've been running it since last night and still bubbling like crazy. Maybe time will help

 

[reefiness]

have you added anything to the tank recently? Also did you do a water change recently. Mine acts up every time i do a water change. I just turn it off for a few hours then its usually better by then.

 

[Skaters216]

i did a water change a week ago and i haven't added anything. this happened before but usually stop after a few hours. its been 2 days and i shut it off over night and started where it left off, BUBBLING

 

[reefiness]

Test your water, see if anything is out of whack. Otherwise you may need to just put the skimmer on the lowest setting and let it bubble up what ever it doesnt like in the water.

 

[Skaters216]

TESTED EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT, ammonia a pinch up but within reason.
i have it at the lowest setting and it won't stop overflowing

 

[reefiness]

pinch up on the ammonia may be a bad sign. could be something organic in the tank breaking down which could explain the excess bubbles from the skimmer.

 

[MO~IDOL]

ck the air intake make sure is not clog. did you add any new filter socks or pads?

 

[Skaters216]

I took skimmer apart and cleaned, added new filter socks but I had them soaking in rodi water for an hour before I put them in. I had that problem before with socks that's why I soak them.

 

[ohana888]

you can raise the skimmer up - how high is water level skimmer is sitting in? post a pic of setup.

 

[MO~IDOL]

I notice if I didn't wash the new filter socks well it'll go crazy. Also the air intake nob that attached to the skimmer need to clean algae will build up less air water will rise. Take out the filter sock give it a shot may b it'll help.

 

[MO~IDOL]

you can raise the skimmer up - how high is water level skimmer is sitting in? post a pic of setup.

That should help If the outlet was submerged due to Back pressure.

 

[Skaters216]

It about 8" submerged, I raised it by hand had to lift it 4" to stop the over bubbling

 

[Mark2480]

Not sure if this will help but I had a similar problem not to long ago, my skimmer worked fine for months and just started overflowing one day and wouldn't stop. I clean it regularly and even gave it a viniger bath and it didn't solve the problem. Well I missed the problem but my son found it, seems that the air intake that attaches to the pump was clogged with a calcium deposit. It looked clean but when he shined a flash light to it that's when we saw it. I had to take a small flat head to take it out and it looked like rock candy. Might be worth another look since it was working fine up till now. Good luck and hope you solve the problem.

 

[Skaters216]

Thanks Mark gonna try it now. I will let you know!

 

[Skaters216]

No luck everything clear! Mark thanks for the suggestion! Gotta be something with the water when I put it in a bucket of rodi water and a little vinegar it worked just fine.

 

[Lenny718]

Did you mount any new frags? Anytime I use epoxy to mount coral or rock my skimmer goes nuts for a few days. Also ammonia is not a good sign, an established tank should never have any ammonia.

 

[Skaters216]

I did mount some frags with epoxy, never thought of that Lenny that could be it.and my ammonia seems good could of been I was checking it almost in the dark ( light burnt out in room used my Phone light ) old eyes
FUNNY thing did everything today cleaned skimmer,raised skimmer,tested water,shut skimmer off, Read forums read more forums and read more forums, THEN I just did a water change and PROBLEM SOLVED!!!! SKIMMER back to normal! WHAT A 2 DAY ADVENTURE. Thank you all who gave suggestion and time to answer

 

[Mark2480]

Glad it all worked out, if you're going to use epoxy for frags try the DD one it's the only one that I have used that doesn't cause any reaction with my skimmer.