Aquamaxx hob-1 over flowing

Leyth · Feb 9, 2017

So I just set up an aquamaxx hob-1 skimmer and it's overflowing. I followed the instructions very closely but this thing is pouring way too much water on my floor. Any advice? Did I do something wrong?

I'm going out of town this weekend, I don't think I can let it run while I'm gone.

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

Your skimmate is way too wet. "Like water"

Have you been using putty in your tank or cyano treatment?

Did you assemble the skimmer correctly?

I ran the HOB-1 for 2 years and it produced dry foam for me from the start on a 2 month old tank.

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

If it's brand new. You could try a vinegar bath to calm it down.

You can add an air line valve to the end of the airline intake to control the bubbles.

Leyth · Feb 9, 2017

Interesting, yes there is putty in the tank and a skimmer has never been run on it. I am confident I assembled it correctly, but I could always be wrong. I knotted the air hose a bit and it seems to be under control now. I'm worried that I am just lowering its effectiveness this way though?

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

Leyth said:
Interesting, yes there is putty in the tank and a skimmer has never been run on it. I am confident I assembled it correctly, but I could always be wrong. I knotted the air hose a bit and it seems to be under control now. I'm worried that I am just lowering its effectiveness this way though?

Good, We found your problem.
Putty residue will make any skimmer go crazy. You can use activated carbon over the next couple of days to help soak up the putty residue.

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

When the putty settles down you will get dry skimmate and be able to untie the knot.

Leyth · Feb 9, 2017

It's actually already better, thanks for your help. I'm new to skimmers so I panicked when I saw water on the floor.

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

Leyth said:
It's actually already better, thanks for your help. I'm new to skimmers so I panicked when I saw water on the floor.

Your Welcome!

I'm glad it's calming down from you. I'd panic to if I didn't know better.

You did the right thing and made a thread!

Been doing this for along time and still learning too

PS: You made a great choice on going with the Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer!

Leyth · Feb 9, 2017

Thanks, the tank is aquamaxx too and I love the quality of it. I figured this would be no different.

GoVols · Feb 9, 2017

Leyth said:
Thanks, the tank is aquamaxx too and I love the quality of it. I figured this would be no different.

I didn't know Aquamaxx was making tanks.
I'll have to look into their tank lineup.

Nick92515 · Feb 9, 2017

HOB's deffinetly have their place. Make sure you got your drip loops in place.

Leyth · Feb 10, 2017

GoVols said:
I didn't know Aquamaxx was making tanks.
I'll have to look into their tank lineup.

Yea they're on marinedepot. I've only bought one from them, but I love it. It's built so nicely. Their reviews are good too so others seem to be having the same experience. I am planning on buying a second one soon.

Nick92515 said:
HOB's deffinetly have their place. Make sure you got your drip loops in place.

What do you mean drip loops? Is that the thing that comes off the side? I have it redirected back into the skimmer.

GoVols · Feb 10, 2017

Leyth said:
Yea they're on marinedepot. I've only bought one from them, but I love it. It's built so nicely. Their reviews are good too so others seem to be having the same experience. I am planning on buying a second one soon.

What do you mean drip loops? Is that the thing that comes off the side? I have it redirected back into the skimmer.

Yeah, I saw them last night on Marine Depot. Aquamaxx always makes top of the line products for a GREAT price point.
I'm running two of their reactor's and they are just built like a shermann tank. Love'm

Drip Loop: The Aquamaxx HOB-1 has an elbow that comes from the cup and dumps water back into the skimmer body so if the cup overflows and it wont hit your floors.

See the black elbow on the top right side of the cup. It takes your overflow and puts it back in the skimmer.
I attached a tube to mine so it went into the body, leaving no air gap between the elbow and skimmer body.

Leyth · Feb 10, 2017

Ah I see, this is what mine looks like, it came with a different piece:

Also, do you know what this screw is for?

GoVols · Feb 10, 2017

Leyth said:
Ah I see, this is what mine looks like, it came with a different piece:

Also, do you know what this screw is for?

Yes, I know that black screw.

The yellow tube is your air intake line. The cylinder it plugs into is a silencer. If your unplug the yellow tube you will hear the air going in get louder.

The black screw does nothing but holds the silencer parts together.
If you wanted to totally clean your skimmer, then you take out the black screw and you can clean out the silencer parts too.

schooncw · Feb 11, 2017

I have the same model. The thing is a beast and apart from my having to clean it often, it performs exceptionally!

Xopher1969 · Jan 19, 2020

I had the same problem as the original post describes. But... the cause was my own fault. I installed the AquaMaxx 1.5 HOB into a Fluval 13.5 nano tank. The Fluval has three 3" x 4" compartments in the back for overflow, filtration, etc. One of the things I loved about the Fluval / AM HOB combination is that the skimmer fits so nicely onto the tank. The feed and return pipes fit into the overflow box while the skimmer frame attaches to the tank--straddling the separator (see picture).

What I didn't consider is the exit from the PVC return tube. Turns out, the reason my skimmer was overflowing was because the exit from the elbow of the return pipe was pushed against the adjacent divider. Dumb, dumb, dumb...

Once I cut the elbow more flat (~1" off) and turned it to face inward, problem solved.