Is skimmer supposed to do this?

[dbeaty78]

I hooked up the skimmer last night a coralife 125 and it filled my 110 gallon tank with bubbles to the point you couldnt see anything in it. Is this normal? I disconnected it after about an hour because I didn't know if this would hurt my tank or fish. The water level was up at the column where the guy showed me it should be and the skimmer was bubbling inside itself and bubbling up like I have seen them do at my friends house but his never filled the tank with bubbles. Any recommendations?

 

[Genesis Corals]

You might have a leak on the skimmer or it could be cracked releasing bubbles into the DT.

 

[dorky]

i have tht skimmer it take about couple of hour to let the skimmer break in but if it doing more than 2 or 3 hours then something isnt right.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Skimmer break in can take up to about 72 hours in my experience, depending on skimmer. New skimmers often have some residual oils from the manufacturing process left inside the body, which is why many people give new skimmers a vinegar bath (run skimmer in reservoir with vinegar/water mixture). It is normal for any skimmer to give off a certain amount of micro-bubbles... this is where baffles are used in the sump to help diffuse them. Some people also use sponges to help diffuse micro-bubbles.

 

[dbeaty78]

This is a used hang on back skimmer that is used. So this is normal and I should just let it run ok will it hurt my tank or fish in it thanks for the quick replies. I never seen a used one fill a 110 gallon tank like that I mean literally you couldn't see anything in it at all. This wont hurt my live rock or fish will it?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Did you install the bubble diffuser box on the return line with the sponges in it?

 

[dbeaty78]

Doesn't have one I called the guy I got it from and he said he was supposed to get me one. I have seen others though that don't even have one and still run clean without bubbles. I have watched quite a few videos on youtube and they were not using them to increase water flow.

 

[NanaReefer]

Some skimmers will produce major macro bubbles when coming into contact with certain chemicals. Could be something in your DT causing it to go crazy...i.e. certain foods, dosing.
I know when I use Selcon my skimmer goes crazy with the macro bubbles. It goes away after about 30 min. They will NOT hurt your tank. Just teeny tiny air bubbles


Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

 

[Reefing Madness]

I had to run the bubble diffuser on mine until I moved it into the Sump, where the bubbles didn't make any difference. Up to you, but using that box on a Coralife is a must if you ask me.

 

[Duffam3434]

I was told to break in a skimmer faster to place it in a tub of warm water. Not sure if this is common but it seemed to work very well.

 

[Mike J.]

The Corallife 65g has a box bubble diffuser. The 125g has a large sponge that fits onto the discharge tube. A new one will produce bubbles for a day or so with the sponge in place and then calm down. I used to use both for years and years.

 

[Reefing Madness]

The skimmer in question is a used skimmer, it will not have a break in period like a new skimmer. It should fire right up like its been in use for awhile.

 

[Mike J.]

The skimmer in question is a used skimmer, it will not have a break in period like a new skimmer. It should fire right up like its been in use for awhile.

Through personal experience (at least 10 years using them) I have found this not to be the case. What needs to break in is the filter sponge.