Bubbles overflowing into skimmer cup....

[Nate92]

Hello,

I'm having a really hard time getting my skimmer adjusted in my first tank. I'm using an Aquatop Xyclone. The bubbles keep overflowing into the skimmer cup which just leaves it with water instead of scum (or nothing). I raised and lowered the level of the skimmer in the sump, have the outflow valves wide open, have the air intake completely open, and am using the pump that came with the skimmer. A picture of the troubleshooting guide that came with the skimmer is attached. Maybe it's because all my water is new? If I just let it run for a few hours maybe the bubbles will die down? Any recommendations would be welcome. Thank you!


-Nate

 

[Nate92]

I'm also not sure what it means to adjust "specific gravity," nor would i be sure how to do that...

 

[PatW]

There just might be something in the water to cause it to over skim. Try letting it fill the cup, dump the contents, and repeat until it settles down. Mine did that once and the method worked pretty fast. Be sure to replace dumped water volume with salt water.

Many skimmers go nuts like that until they are broken in. It might take a couple of weeks to settle down.

 

[Nate92]

There just might be something in the water to cause it to over skim. Try letting it fill the cup, dump the contents, and repeat until it settles down. Mine did that once and the method worked pretty fast. Be sure to replace dumped water volume with salt water.

Many skimmers go nuts like that until they are broken in. It might take a couple of weeks to settle down.

Hi, Pat. Thanks for the suggestion. The only problem is the cup is filling up really fast! I'm going to let the tank run for a few hours with the emergency valve on the skimmer open... maybe it'll just take a few hours to get broken in... appreciate the tip!

 

[theMeat]

Specific gravity is how much salinity the water has. More salt equals more, smaller bubbles.

Let the skimmer run wide open for at least a week or so before attempting to adjust.

Make sure it’s within water level range

 

[Nate92]

Specific gravity is how much salinity the water has. More salt equals more, smaller bubbles.

Let the skimmer run for at least a week or so before attempting to adjust.

Make sure it’s within water level range

Great info- thank you!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm also not sure what it means to adjust "specific gravity," nor would i be sure how to do that...

That is not a good plan. Specific gravity is the salinity. Stick with 35 ppt.

IMO, folks should not ever adjust salinity because they think it is causing skimmer issues. Skimmers work perfectly well at any salinity, and if not, they are badly designed. I'm really surprised to see such an odd comment in such directions.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Actually, now that I see another uninformed comment in the directions about "gas", I conclude the writer of those directions is not well informed about the physical and chemical process in a skimmer.

 

[theMeat]

That is not a good plan. Specific gravity is the salinity. Stick with 35 ppt.

IMO, folks should not ever adjust salinity because they think it is causing skimmer issues. Skimmers work perfectly well at any salinity, and if not, they are badly designed. I'm really surprised to see such an odd comment in such directions.

Agreed,
Adjust the skimmer, not sg

 

[O'l Salty]

Decrease the water flow until no bubbles flow into the cup. Let it run like that for a week or two to get broken in then adjust accordingly.

 

[Nate92]

Decrease the water flow until no bubbles flow into the cup. Let it run like that for a week or two to get broken in then adjust accordingly.

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I can't adjust the water flow (unless you mean the outflow) because the pump is non-controllable. Right now I have the air intake limited- here are some air bubbles nearing the base of the skimmer cup, but it's still more watery than I would prefer. I am going to let it run like that for another few days and adjust from there. Thanks again!

 

[K.miller]

Im not familiar with this model of skimmer but is it sitting in the recommended water level?

 

[Brew12]

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I can't adjust the water flow (unless you mean the outflow) because the pump is non-controllable. Right now I have the air intake limited- here are some air bubbles nearing the base of the skimmer cup, but it's still more watery than I would prefer. I am going to let it run like that for another few days and adjust from there. Thanks again!

I had that problem with a new skimmer before. I was able to let it run long enough to clear whatever was causing the heavy foaming by partially blocking the water inlet. Raising the skimmer onto a stand can also help.

 

[Nate92]

I had that problem with a new skimmer before. I was able to let it run long enough to clear whatever was causing the heavy foaming by partially blocking the water inlet. Raising the skimmer onto a stand can also help.

Wow- that's a really good idea. I didn't think that would be an option because the pump is non-controllable. But, I never thought to just partially block off the water intake! Any recommendations for how to go about doing this? Thanks again!!

 

[Nate92]

Im not familiar with this model of skimmer but is it sitting in the recommended water level?

Thanks for your response. I can't find the recommended water level anywhere, but I do have it propped up ~4" on a stand.

 

[Brew12]

Wow- that's a really good idea. I didn't think that would be an option because the pump is non-controllable. But, I never thought to just partially block off the water intake! Any recommendations for how to go about doing this? Thanks again!!

The first time I restricted flow was quite by accident. I was fighting my skimmer and was trying to raise it by putting it on cut PVC pipe pieces. I moved it up against the side of my sump and it stopped overflowing. Pulled it away and it started again. So, I got lucky and found that flow was restricted by moving the skimmer up to the side of the sump. It took a few weeks before I was able to operate the skimmer normally.

 

[Nate92]

The first time I restricted flow was quite by accident. I was fighting my skimmer and was trying to raise it by putting it on cut PVC pipe pieces. I moved it up against the side of my sump and it stopped overflowing. Pulled it away and it started again. So, I got lucky and found that flow was restricted by moving the skimmer up to the side of the sump. It took a few weeks before I was able to operate the skimmer normally.

Funny how things work like that! Thanks again for your feedback!