Having Issues With My Skimmer!

[brannock_16]

Hello Everyone,

For the last couple of weeks I have been having an issue with my skimmer that I cannot seem to fix. I now need your help in finding an adequate solution.

I am currently running a Vertex 170 Alpha skimmer on my 120 gallon (very lightly stocked now due to a very unfortunate vodka accident) and every two to three days there will be so much foam that is going into the collection cup that it begins to be forced out of the four holes drilled into the skimmers cup. To remedy this situation I duct taped the holes (both interior and exterior of the lid) to try to stop the foam bubbles being forced out. Now that there is nowhere for the bubbles/foam to go the back pressure is making the lid lift off and the bubbles to flow out that way!

Also, during this time, I think that my vodka dosing is finally working because the skimmate being produced is almost black and stinks to no end! Everytime I empty the cup (located in the living room) I can hear my girlfriend start to gag in the bedroom! I really need to find a solution to this issue because I am tired of having to clean bubbles/foam that is flowing out of my skimmer into my sump.

The only real solution I can think of is to utilize the drain hose on the skimmer and drain the skimmate into a vessel on the side of the skimmer. If I go this route what kind of receptacle should I use that will both be large enough to hold adequate skimmate while not allowing it to stink up the entire house?

All constructive ideas are appreciated as I am almost to my wits end.

Thanks in advance,

Robert

 

[skinz78]

Have you tried raising the skimmer up?

I recently had some major issues with mine and I had to raise it about 2" and I also noticed that when I placed my carbon filter back on the tank it went back to normal in 2 days.

 

[robert]

raising it up is a good idea, but I get the idea that your skimmer is producing too much foam - it not filling the cup with liquid but with massive amounts of what looks like soap-suds - is that correct?

I've had this problem before - its very annoying - I've spent literally hours scooping foam from the cup by hand. Even if you added a drain - the suds won't go down it.

What I have found to work is to take the cup off - adjust it to run wet and let it go - it will just overflow continuously - let it. Watch for a bit to make sure its not going to overfill the sump with suds (I have no idea what to do if its this bad) - and let it go. In the meantime run some extra carbon and add a light dose of oxidizer - hydrogen peroxide perhaps - .5ml of per 10gallons. In my case I had to let it go for a couple of days before I could put the cup back. But it will settle down.

 

[Troylee]

Hang a bag of carbon inside the skimmer body... As for a drain put the lid on a 1gallon jug and drill a hole in it just big enough for the hose... Hth...