Crazy Bubble Issue

[Johnnyredd]

Starting about a week ago the skimmer started producing bubbles. Not micro bubbles. I mean bubbles like in I Love Lucy bubbles. They pushed the lid off of the skimmer. I had the skimmer wide open and when I came in from work there was literally a round column of bubbles from the skimmer top extending down into the sump.

Nothing has been added to the water. I have not even put in my phyto and zooplankton, reef chilli, or marine snow in the last week waiting for this to clear up and it's getting worse. (marine snow usually gives the skimmer a fit for a few hours after it's been introduced but nothing like this)

I now have the skimmer off and a filter pad in the sump. No other bubbles like this anywhere in the system but it has to be something dealing with the water since the skimmer can't add anything to the water to make it form firm bubbles like this.

180 - 29 gallon acrylic sump, reef octopus skimmer, 5 gallon HOB fuge for pod production. Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

Thanks

 

[reef life]

Do you use socks or boots on your return? If so have you recently cleaned with Bleach? When I use to use socks, after cleaning them I would get crazy reaction in skimmer.

 

[KSzegi]

Have you checked the airline - hose, silencer etc for blockages? Has the water level in the sump where the skimmer sits changed at all?

 

[Bad Company]

Check the return pipe, it might be blocked.

 

[saltyfish]

I would take the skimmer out and give it a good cleaning and inspect the pump and outlet pipes for any blockage. I had a similar issue with a skimmer and after I gave it a good cleaning it never happened again.

 

[Johnnyredd]

I have taken the cup out and cleaned it with just water. No socks, ect. No changes in water level. I do my WC every other Wednesday which is today but I may try and pull the skimmer out and clean it up. The bubbles are pretty firm and just don't pop!

 

[Johnnyredd]

Actually it's not just the skimmer. It's in the return section, too. Noticed it after I got up today. Just thick bubbles that are not popping. No color or anything to them like a chemical but almost foam like.

 

[Johnnyredd]

Water change, cleaned the skimmer, vacuumed two of the three chambers of the sump (left the inbound side with all the rubble alone) and added filter socks to see what happened - not near as bad but still there.

 

[Johnnyredd]

Back with a vengeance this evening.

Worthy of mention is i am switching over from instant ocean to red sea coral pro salt. Thats the only thing that has changed.

IDEAS?!?!?!?!

 

[Johnnyredd]

I have added filter socks and they are filling up about once a day.

Skimmer still useless.

 

[Johnnyredd]

It got worse. With no other ideas or alternatives I did a 72 hour black out and do not have the bubbles or the residue.

 

[Ladysaber]

When I switched to Red Sea from Kent, my skimmer went nuts just like that. When I switched from Red Sea to TM BioActif, it was even worse. I don't have issues now with WC, but I also turn my skimmer off for 24 hours after a change.. It just allows everything to settle back to normal.