Chemical Issue making Reef Octopus Overflow?

[ericwithac]

Good Morning!

I got a Reef Octopus INT110 from Coral Vue about a week ago. I ran it for a week without adjustment so it could "break in." I went to go adjust it the other day and even with the valve all the way closed, it is still overflow more than it should.

I contacted Coral Vue support regarding this and they had me send them a short video of the Skimmer. They said it was no doubt a chemical issue in my system and that I should do 20% water changes and run some carbon to eliminate this chemical.

Here's the thing. I haven't added any chemicals. Ive had my tank up for a week and a half and it is still cycling. Therefore doing water changes would only slow the process. It also seems odd because all I have done is mix Red Sea Coral Salt into my RO, no chemicals, no nothing.

Does anyone have any insight on what I should do and how I can remedy this issue?

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

You said you have the valve all the way closed, or all the way open? All the way closed will make it overflow, you want the valve all the way open to lower the water level in the skimmer. How deep in the water is the skimmer?

 

[ericwithac]

You said you have the valve all the way closed, or all the way open? All the way closed will make it overflow, you want the valve all the way open to lower the water level in the skimmer. How deep in the water is the skimmer?

Well then I have it all the way open. It is as low as I can get the bubbles, but they are still overflowing too much. The water is 6.5". Coral Vue recommends 6-8"

 

[PatW]

Mine did that once. I let it fill up the cup, emptied the cup, fill up the cup, empty the cup..... repeated about 8 times. Doing this removed whatever it was that was making it go nuts.

 

[ericwithac]

Mine did that once. I let it fill up the cup, emptied the cup, fill up the cup, empty the cup..... repeated about 8 times. Doing this removed whatever it was that was making it go nuts.

Basically just washing out the collection cup?

 

[MTBake]

I've had this happen in the past. I just kept dumping the cup and adding saltwater as needed so the ato doesn't kick on. Kinda like a water change through the skimmer.

 

[ericwithac]

I made this video hoping someone can help me out. Im just confused!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lemrclmgehprckt/Video Jan 31, 11 04 14 AM.mov?dl=0

 

[PatW]

Basically just washing out the collection cup?

I just dumped the old skimmate down the sink, rinsed the cup and put back on the skimmer. By the way, it is a good idea to add as much sea water as skimmate dumped to keep the salinity stable.

 

[Hemmdog]

I made this video hoping someone can help me out. Im just confused!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lemrclmgehprckt/Video Jan 31, 11 04 14 AM.mov?dl=0

I had the same issue, it will getter better by letting it work it’s way through the skimmer, but the problem will come back and it will over flow at times. I just made a simple stand with egg crate and zip ties to raise it 5 inches. It works great now, one full cup every 2-3 days instead of every 2-3 hours.

 

[ericwithac]

I had the same issue, it will getter better by letting it work it’s way through the skimmer, but the problem will come back and it will over flow at times. I just made a simple stand with egg crate and zip ties to raise it 5 inches. It works great now, one full cup every 2-3 days instead of every 2-3 hours.

My skimmer is in 6.5" of water so i dont know if it needs to be any higher...

 

[Hemmdog]

My skimmer is in 6.5" of water so i dont know if it needs to be any higher...

Ok. But once you decide to try it let me know how well it works.

Try 1 inch, 2 inch raise

 

[ericwithac]

Ok. But once you decide to try it let me know how well it works.

Well its not working. Coral Vue says between 6-8 inches of water and mines in 6.5 im not sure if putting it up higher would work as that would put it out of the 6-8 inch range

 

[Hemmdog]

Well its not working. Coral Vue says between 6-8 inches of water and mines in 6.5 im not sure if putting it up higher would work as that would put it out of the 6-8 inch range

I went through hundreds of gallons of saltwater that my skimmer wet skimmed, I’m just trying to help you and save you money by sharing what works for me and many other people with RO skimmers.

 

[Mical]

A fellow reefer taught me his version of breaking in a new skimmer, that was to leave collection cup off and let it overflow back into sump for 24 hours. After that adjust and let it run. Another note; I clean my skimmer cups every weekend when doing param checks.

 

[ericwithac]

I went through hundreds of gallons of saltwater that my skimmer wet skimmed, I’m just trying to help you and save you money by sharing what works for me and many other people with RO skimmers.

Okay i will try to raise it. Thanks alot!

 

[ajhudson15]

ive seen a lot of people go by the recommended water levels because a lot of times that water level doesn't work for everyone. I would imagine if some people haa lot of nutrients there water level may need to be different. just lower or raise it until you find a sweet spot. don't worry about their recommended level.

 

[ericwithac]

ive seen a lot of people go by the recommended water levels because a lot of times that water level doesn't work for everyone. I would imagine if some people haa lot of nutrients there water level may need to be different. just lower or raise it until you find a sweet spot. don't worry about their recommended level.

Thanks. The guy at Coral Vue is convinced theres some chemical in my water thats making this happen...i dont know if hes right or wrong lol

 

[Hemmdog]

Thanks. The guy at Coral Vue is convinced theres some chemical in my water thats making this happen...i dont know if hes right or wrong lol

New tanks do make more skim while cycling, so I see what he’s saying to some extent. I found it unbearable after a few weeks of constantly checking on/dumping the cup. I felt like a slave to my tank, and that’s not my goal. After raising it the problem I had stopped. I also raised mine so much because I also raised the sump baffle adding more water volume to my system which is always good.

 

[ericwithac]

New tanks do make more skim while cycling, so I see what he’s saying to some extent. I found it unbearable after a few weeks of constantly checking on/dumping the cup. I felt like a slave to my tank, and that’s not my goal. After raising it the problem I had stopped. I also raised mine so much because I also raised the sump baffle adding more water volume to my system which is always good.

Awesome will give that a try!

 

[ajhudson15]

Thanks. The guy at Coral Vue is convinced theres some chemical in my water thats making this happen...i dont know if hes right or wrong lol

I used to use some of the prodibio products and everytime I do I have to run my skimmer with the cup off for like a week before it settles down. If your dosing anything at all it could be setting it off. Running carbon also helps mine get back down to skimming when im having issues