Post Chemiclean use - Skimmer goes crazy

[Aquaman102]

Hi All -

I completed my 48 hour round of Chemiclean use to clear up some cyano. It did a great job at that.

Post the 48 hours a 20% water change is recommended.

I did that, but my skimmer continues to go crazy. I have it turned down to the lowest level, yet it still spills over.

Anyone else have that behavior? Do I just need to wait awhile to allow the skimmer to get back in tune post the Chemiclean use?

 

[mta_morrow]

Did you use the correct dose?

Also, when I run chemiclean, after the water change I run carbon as recommended.

It’s pretty normal for the skimmer to still be going nuts. I just let it drain right back into the tank till it settles down.

 

[TheHarold]

Yup. Run it wet, maybe another water change.

 

[Brien]

Yeap, that's par for the course. You will need to do 2-3 water changes to flush it out of your system and get things back to normal.

 

[Aquaman102]

Ok, thanks for the replies, I'll continue to run it wet and do some more water changes.

 

[Zero1091]

Same thing happened to me.
I recall after a week things went back to normal.
Just did my weekly water change nothing else.

 

[erk]

I raised my skimmer up and then let it wet skim. Went this route because after a week it wouldn't stop overflowing the skimmer. After I raised the skimmer, it took 3 days for the excessive foam production to finally die out.

 

[Dugless]

Let your skimmer drain 2-3gals into a bucket. It is the most efficient at removing chemiclean. Carbon doesn’t do much IME. Top off wit new salt water.

 

[Aquaman102]

I'm still struggling with my skimmer post the chemiclean use. I've done a few water changes, probably close to 80 gallons by now yet I can't get my skimmer back to normal. I've got it dialed all the way down and it still overflows in seconds.

Any other tips?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes- sends the skimmer nuts. Pour a large cup of RO water into skimmer and it will settle bubbles and reduce foam, in turn calming the skimmer down

 

[Dugless]

You need to let the skimmer perform the water change for you. It will be the most effective method. I used this approach and instantly saw the foam head die back to normal as I collected and disposed the clear skimmate.

 

[Ling_Thing]

You need to let the skimmer perform the water change for you. It will be the most effective method. I used this approach and instantly saw the foam head die back to normal as I collected and disposed the clear skimmate.

Exactly

 

[jd371]

You need to let the skimmer perform the water change for you. It will be the most effective method. I used this approach and instantly saw the foam head die back to normal as I collected and disposed the clear skimmate.

I've run Chemiclean a few times and the last time instead of waiting I sat next to the skimmer with a bucket of mixed water and as the skimmer cup filled I'd empty it and add a cup of mixed water. Did this for maybe 20 minutes and it was working like normal, basicly a skimmer WC like mentioned above.

 

[Aquaman102]

Welp - I'm officially stuck. I've tried all the tricks above. Putting RO water into the Skimmer and let the skimmer change about 5 gallons of water. Still no dice, the skimmer overflows when it's on the lowest setting within seconds.

Since I've been without my skimmer, the tank is getting dirtier. Although my corals seem to like it more...

 

[Dugless]

I’m confused by the RO water in the skimmer comment. What do you mean by that?

 

[Aquaman102]

Above it was suggested to pour RO water into the skimmer to settle the excessive bubbles. I tried that too.

 

[Beardo]

Add some tubing and valve to the air inlet off the silencer and throttle the air back until it doesn't overflow. As skimmer settles down increase airflow until you can return to normal nd remove valve.
Another option I have used is to just rubberband some plastic (such as from a baggie) over the air supply on silencer and poke holes in it until you get some foam. As the skimmer settles down poke more holes until you can remove the plastic. Usually only a day or 2.

 

[Terri Caton]

Add some tubing and valve to the air inlet off the silencer and throttle the air back until it doesn't overflow. As skimmer settles down increase airflow until you can return to normal nd remove valve.
Another option I have used is to just rubberband some plastic (such as from a baggie) over the air supply on silencer and poke holes in it until you get some foam. As the skimmer settles down poke more holes until you can remove the plastic. Usually only a day or 2.

The plastic trick was literally the best tip I've gotten all year!

 

[ReefinTexas]

+1 on wet skimming. I did a 30% water change and my Nyos was still going crazy. I connected a tube to the nozzle on the bottom of the skimmer cup and wet skimmed for a couple hours. It pulled out everything it needed to calm down.