IceKap K2-50 Skimmer Overflowing

[Just_Pete]

I am on day 2 of running my skimmer in my freshly setup 40g cube. This is a brand new skimmer btw.

Skimmer is sitting in 7" of water, water intake gate is open all the way and my salinity is at 32. Bubbles are everywhere and the thing is overflowing like crazy. I took off the waste cup nipple and it's just overflowing back into the sump. I know there is a break-in period with new skimmers, but is this normal considering the intake is open all the way?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

There might be a lot of bacterial film in the water causing it to produce too much wet skimmate. Try a 10 gallon or so water change and see if that helps. You may also want to raise the skimmer or lower the water level where it's located.

 

[WVNed]

It is totally normal for a new skimmer to do this. Looks like shampoo foam.

 

[Scurvy]

100% normal. The skimmer is just breaking in and depending on how new the rest of the setup is even a broken in skimmer may be overflowing. New equipment generally comes in with risidual oils and whatnot from packing/manufacturing that will make even a borken in skimmer go crazy.

 

[WVNed]

I have heard over the years it is from the release agents used to mold the plastics to organics have to bond to the plastics before it will work right.

Your manual says to let it run wide open for 2 weeks and don't try to adjust it. LOL it just doesn't say why.

WARNING: Do not attempt dialing in a protein skimmer any sooner than 2 weeks. The wetter the collection (more closed the valve is) the greater chance for the skimmer to overflow

 

[Just_Pete]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have left the skimmer open and drain nipple unplugged for a few days now and the overflowing has just about stopped. It's def. starting to break in.

I'm still in the process of setting up my ATO. The manual water top offs have fussed with the skimmer a bit here and there but I hope once ATO is up and running, I'll have the skimmer under control.

 

[Kyl]

I've cleaned all my Icecap skimmers with vinegar and a good wash before putting them in the sumps, haven't had the insane skimmer overflow that way. Once you get that 50 dialled in I think you'll be surprised at how well it works.

 

[Jonreefer]

I am having the exact opposite with mine.
When I got it I let it run in a vinegar bath for an hour or so and cleaned it up good.
I finally setup the tank about a week and a half ago. The skimmer has been running the whole time. It hasn't produce anything yet. I have it set at around 1" or so right below the collection cup. I know its a new tank but I figure I would have some gunk it would be pulling out from some left over dead organics that i didn't get fully cleaned out from the dry rock i reused from my previous tank.

 

[Just_Pete]

I am having the exact opposite with mine.
When I got it I let it run in a vinegar bath for an hour or so and cleaned it up good.
I finally setup the tank about a week and a half ago. The skimmer has been running the whole time. It hasn't produce anything yet. I have it set at around 1" or so right below the collection cup. I know its a new tank but I figure I would have some gunk it would be pulling out from some left over dead organics that i didn't get fully cleaned out from the dry rock i reused from my previous tank.

I have limited experience with the 50 but one suggestion might be the water level is to high in your situation ? I have mine setup well below the the collection cup. The only reason my collection isn’t full is because I have the flow valve open all the way still while it breaks in. I tested it by closing it half way and bubbles were filling the cup quick.

 

[Jonreefer]

where you have it set now it will never produce anything. You need to set the water level in the skimmer to right where the collection cup attaches to the body for dry skimmer and about halfway up the neck like I have mine set for a more of a wet skimming. Mine doesnt overflow it just bubbles at my setting of around 1" below the cup and it never produces anything. So either i have NOTHING in my water yet for it to skim out or it is still going through a break in even after a week and a half and a vinegar bath when I got it

 

[Just_Pete]

where you have it set now it will never produce anything. You need to set the water level in the skimmer to right where the collection cup attaches to the body for dry skimmer and about halfway up the neck like I have mine set for a more of a wet skimming. Mine doesnt overflow it just bubbles at my setting of around 1" below the cup and it never produces anything. So either i have NOTHING in my water yet for it to skim out or it is still going through a break in even after a week and a half and a vinegar bath when I got it

To each his own

I'm following the manufacturers suggestion and right now I have mine set at roughly 8".

 

[Jonreefer]

mine is sitting in 8" of water as well