Off Brand Magic Erasers Made Skimmer Go Crazy

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

So, I heard that the magic erasers were great for cleaning the glass inside of the reef tank, so I got some off brand ones from ebay. I just used one recently to get some hard to clean algae off of the glass, and around the same time, I added some new dry rock that I ordered online. My skimmer went crazy, so I pulled the drain plug and let it flow into a 5 gallon bucket. After the first full bucket, I turned it all the way down, and it just kept going.... 5 buckets later, and my ATO is completely drained, and I am puzzled. This is a 90 gallon DT with a 40 gallon sump, and I've had my skimmer remove about 25 gallons of water over 2 days with the skimmer all the way down, which was replaced with RODI water, which of course dropped my salinity down to 1.20. I turn off the skimmer and prep for a water change, which I just completed. 35 gallons of new water later, and when everything powers up, the skimmer is still going crazy, so I put the bucket back, and hope for the best. It'll be at least a day before I top off my mixing station, and another few hours before I get the salt mixed in, so I'm stuck with this situation for a while. I'm also dosing DIY NOPOX, but I've been dosing that for over a month now, so I doubt it's that. I'm at a loss right now.

Thales · Jul 21, 2019

Which brand did you use? Can you link to the exact product?

Silver14SS · Jul 21, 2019

Maybe the brand you got has some kind of cleaning agent or soap in it?

Water changes and carbon may help.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

Thales said:
Which brand did you use? Can you link to the exact product?

(20 Pack) Extra Large Magic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07176372T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Got them from Amazon, and didn't see any sudsing or anything that would allude to soap in the sponge. I think they do disintegrate with use though.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

Silver14SS said:
Maybe the brand you got has some kind of cleaning agent or soap in it?

Water changes and carbon may help.

All I have is marineland zeo-carb on hand. Would that help?

burningstarIV · Jul 21, 2019

Silver14SS said:
Maybe the brand you got has some kind of cleaning agent or soap in it?

Water changes and carbon may help.

This. I can't imagine melamine foam that isn't biodegradable messing with your skimmer.

burningstarIV · Jul 21, 2019

DirtDiggler2823 said:
All I have is marineland zeo-carb on hand. Would that help?

When I look it up it says for freshwater use only. I wouldn't use it

maroun.c · Jul 21, 2019

Which rock did u add. I added some Caribsea liferock and my skimmer went crazy for a day. Suggest to turn offur skimmer or have it empty I the tank till u have saltwater to replace and also.maybe a water change. So much freshwater from top off might affect ur salinity.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

maroun.c said:
Which rock did u add. I added some Caribsea liferock and my skimmer went crazy for a day. Suggest to turn offur skimmer or have it empty I the tank till u have saltwater to replace and also.maybe a water change. So much freshwater from top off might affect ur salinity.

Did a 35 gallon WC today. Skimmer is still kinda wonky, but not as bad as before.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

DirtDiggler2823 said:
Did a 35 gallon WC today. Skimmer is still kinda wonky, but not as bad as before.

I stand corrected. Still wonky.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 21, 2019

maroun.c said:
Which rock did u add. I added some Caribsea liferock and my skimmer went crazy for a day. Suggest to turn offur skimmer or have it empty I the tank till u have saltwater to replace and also.maybe a water change. So much freshwater from top off might affect ur salinity.

I added some of that ancient coral rock.

xiholdtruex · Jul 21, 2019

never had this happen, I use magic eraser on all my salt and fresh tanks. could be the rocks

MnFish1 · Jul 21, 2019

It says - its chemical free... FWIW

Thales · Jul 22, 2019

DirtDiggler2823 said:
(20 Pack) Extra Large Magic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07176372T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Got them from Amazon, and didn't see any sudsing or anything that would allude to soap in the sponge. I think they do disintegrate with use though.

Those look fine. I would suspect the rock.

maroun.c · Jul 22, 2019

Regardless what the cause, couple water changes, changing ur carbon and letting ur skimmer run the dryest possible and maybe raising it a bit to minimize foaming then discarding whatever skimmate ot produces and replacing with saltwater should solve it in a day or two.

DirtDiggler2823 · Jul 22, 2019

maroun.c said:
Regardless what the cause, couple water changes, changing ur carbon and letting ur skimmer run the dryest possible and maybe raising it a bit to minimize foaming then discarding whatever skimmate ot produces and replacing with saltwater should solve it in a day or two.

I pulled the rock out, and I'll be making new water soon. Thanks for all the advice, everyone.