Protein skimmer bubble overload!!

[DogznFish]

Hey guys I had just set up my first saltwater tank. It’s a 20 gallon and I have an AquaMaxx HF-M HOB filter/skimmer. When I had plugged in and primed the pump the skimmer started to really go crazy with bubbles. It was overloading my cup and now it’s drippig down the sides of my filter into a 5 gallon bucket as I hope this doesn’t continue for too long. I am starting to cycle this tank which might be the cause it also might be due to breaking in but what I do know is that these bubbles have already filled up the 5 gallon bucket halfway over the course of a couple hours and I know the bucket will overflow at night when I’m asleep. Should I turn off the skimmer at night? I really only have the skimmer on because it’s part of the filter and I need to get the water moving. Here are some pictures not sure if it’ll help.

 

[Hemmdog]

Did you add beneficial bacteria to the tank?

 

[Hitman]

It’s not recommended to run the skimmer during your cycle so I would turn it off.

 

[Smittyj]

If you remove or plug the air intake tube it will stop foaming over. That way you can leave it running if it's your only flow.

 

[Foosball]

Try raising your skimmer cup to a higher level by lowering the rubber ring that goes around it and the over flow tube should go back into the skimmer.

 

[Evan28395950]

It’s not recommended to run the skimmer during your cycle so I would turn it off.

+1

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Welcome to R2R!! ;Bookworm As mentioned, no need to run a skimmer during cycle. Shut it off until you have fish in there. When it is time to start it back up, skimmers can take a couple days or even a week to settle in due to residue from manufacturing. Totally normal but it settles down eventually.