overflowing skimmer fix?

[Bos]

Need some suggestions guys

Basically, my new Octo (Reef Octopus) Elite 150int skimmer overflows


New tank, still cycling with Dr Tim's.
Rocks=bleached, rinse, dried, rodi soaked. Mix of pukani, plate, marco, some live rock which I 'killed'
Sand=Red Sea dry sand, washed, rinsed rodi

coral superglue and glue accelerator used
Fluval putty and Waterweld putty (NSF safe) used

I initially thought it was a skimmer problem so I tested the skimmer with tap water, worked fine, no overflow.
Tested in bucket with fresh saltwater, worked fine, no overflow.

Ran skimmer and empty overflow into a bucket for 30mins but it kept overflowing no sign of it stopping...

I did a 50% water change and the skimmer worked fine, no overflow but overnight it started to overflow again, so guessing its something leaching into DT.

I'm thinking about these options, what do you guys suggest?

1) sell Octo, get a deltec/BM/NYOS skimmer since Octo skimmer are renowned to be super sensitive
2) grab carbon reactor, use a ton of carbon and hope for the best
3) remove all rock and chip off all the putty and use glue only but aquascape probably won't hold stable
4) remove all rock and chip off all the glue??
5) clean/rinse/run Octo skimmer in vinegar bath for an hour again
6) ditch the pukani, plate and shop live rock and grab Marco or Real Reef Rock?

 

[ndrwater]

New skimmers often overflow. They take a bit of time to break in. You can remove the stopper on the collection cup for a bit and just let it be. In time, it'll settle down

 

[ZoWhat]

you already said the keyword: NEW.

all new skimmers take at least a month to "settle in," on a dial setting

 

[rainmaker]

Its a good skimmer I have the 110 classic,just dial it back a little till it stops overflowing an let it run couple days then readjust

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I wouldn’t even bother running a skimmer while you are cycling a new tank. Just let it sit in the water.

 

[dugthefish]

Is the sump water level inside the skimmers recommended range?

 

[ryeguyy84]

I'm going to go with new skimmer plus all the putty. Whenever I mount a new frag my skimmer goes crazy. Give it some time it will settle down

 

[Bos]

Is the sump water level inside the skimmers recommended range?

Yep, Octo recommends 7-7.9", I've tried 6.5 to 8.5 at 1/2 inch increments haha

 

[Bos]

I wouldn’t even bother running a skimmer while you are cycling a new tank. Just let it sit in the water.

Yea I know, I wasn't going to but like all new toys, I just had to try it then it exploded with foam/bubbles. If it had worked, I wouldn't even use it until I got fish or corals after the fishless cycle.

 

[Brew12]

Yea I know, I wasn't going to but like all new toys, I just had to try it then it exploded with foam/bubbles. If it had worked, I wouldn't even use it until I got fish or corals after the fishless cycle.

I like running skimmers in new tanks. I feel there is value to cycling your tank on how you intend to run it.

I think what you are seeing is related to the putty used to hold the rock together. This stuff tends to make skimmers go nuts. With an entire scape done with it you will have plenty of foaming issues regardless of the skimmer.

I would mix up a 5 gallon bucket of salt water to use for makeup. Take an empty 5 gallon bucket and let your skimmer drain into it. As the skimmer bucket fills, replace the water in the tank with the fresh salt water. Depending on how much putty you used will impact how often you need to do this. If your skimmer overflows too quickly you can partially block the water inlet of the skimmer to help slow it down and keep it controlled.

 

[lapin]

yep putty poo. In my 600 just 1/2 a fingers worth in my tank causes the skimmer to go nuts. As you can see nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Give it time it will settle in before xmas and be happy.