Overflowing skimmer

Sean Duggan · Jul 26, 2019

I’m fairly new to the reef hobby still but my tank has been up and running for 4 months now without many problems. I recently put my tank into feed mode which kills the return pump, powerheads, and protein skimmer. I fed my corals and fish as usual, they get LRS, but when the protein skimmer came on it started to overflow like crazy. I shut it off and cleaned it up but now whenever I try to turn it back on it overflows even with the water level turned down as far as it can go. The protein skimmer has been in the tank for four months and was working without a problem. I was just wondering what would happen that would make it overflow so aggressively, was there something on my hands when I went to feed? I was planning on doing a water change tomorrow should I just leave it off till then? What can I do to help remedy this overflow? Thanks for any help in advance

landlubber · Jul 26, 2019

some skimmers can be fussy about operating depth so I'll share what has worked for me.
go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of light diffuser (or egg crate) and clip 3 or 4 pieces out big enough that your skimmer can sit on them to raise it up a little. this should stop it from overflowing every time you get it going. once its been running for a day start removing pieces and then take out a single sheet each day until its at the bottom again. its possible that it may have to stay on a piece or 2 to find a point where its still creating a good foam head but no longer overflowing if your particular skimmer need to sit shallower.

LesPoissons · Jul 28, 2019

My skimmer needs to run for 5-10 minutes at the lowest setting every time it turns back on or it overflows. no idea why, didnt used to do that. try taking the cup off and letting it run for a bit and see if it settles down. otherwise id assume that something got in your tank, (on your hands, filter socks if you changed them etc) or your water level changed. if the water level is the same, try running carbon to clear it up.