Skimmer Issue

ericegg01 · Nov 25, 2019

Why is my skimmer doing this? This thing was not cheap and this has never happened to me before... any ideas? I cannot keep this on and it immediately does this once it is turned on.
Skimz has no help on their site... It is in 8" water depth.

MTBake · Nov 25, 2019

How old is the skimmer? Has anything out of the norm been added recently?

Peace River · Nov 25, 2019

It's unlikely the problem is the skimmer itself. It is either an indicator that something else happened in your tank or that it needs to be dialed in. As @MTBake mentioned, please give us some additional background about how long your tank and skimmer have been set up and what else has changed with your tank.

ericegg01 · Nov 25, 2019

New tank and skimmer just done cycling. Not sure how I can dial it in when this happens immediately! even when the output is fully open. I tried everything.

bjc451 · Nov 25, 2019

Build a skimmer stand

Peace River · Nov 25, 2019

ericegg01 said:
New tank and skimmer just done cycling. Not sure how I can dial it in when this happens immediately! even when the output is fully open. I tried everything.

Have you tried to raise the skimmer by putting it on a stand?

bjc451 · Nov 25, 2019

MTBake · Nov 25, 2019

Raising it should help. You can also remove the cup till it breaks in. Could take a day or a week. Depends on the skimmer and tank.

lapin · Nov 25, 2019

ericegg01 said:
New tank and skimmer just done cycling. Not sure how I can dial it in when this happens immediately! even when the output is fully open. I tried everything.

Its doing its job. its unfortunate. Let it foam for a while each day and remove the foam when you can.

MTBake · Nov 25, 2019

I would really just let it do its thing for now. Rinsing in vinegar could help, but since it's already running, I would leave it.

Terry Mattson · Nov 25, 2019

There is something in the water causing that much foam. Will keep this short. Adjust air input, reduce until it goes down. Raising a little will help. Play with air intake. Then as things stabilize, increase air then dial in with water heights.

bjc451 · Nov 25, 2019

All that and I would vinegar soak too

CoralReefer61 · Nov 25, 2019

My skimmer did the same thing,,
Raised it up some and let it "Break In" and it calmed down,,

ericegg01 · Nov 25, 2019

I've done all that everyone has suggested, It is in the recommended depth set forth by manufacturer... however if I'm supposed to break this thing in while it's in the tank and the sludge forms and I allow it to flow back into the water then what's the point. Or will it not sludge because there is no collection cup? Again in all my experience and tanks I've never had this problem with a skimmer but I have never used this brand before either...

MTBake · Nov 25, 2019

The foam should reduce if you pull the cup off. It still let's the skimmer body and pump build up that kinda slime like coating and remove any manufacturing residue that may or may not be on the skimmer. Which is all that breaking in a skimmer is doing really. I've even seen some people leave the cup in the sump floating around during this build up that slime coating on it. Give it a day or 2 like this and you should be able to start dialing it in.

ericegg01 · Nov 26, 2019

Appreciate the suggestions I'll try raising it for starters...

ericegg01 · Nov 29, 2019

Update: Finally heard from Skimz and they're saying it's because the system (water) is new. I lowered my sump waterline rather than raised the skimmer so that it's now in 6" of water and the pump inlet is just mm away from water line so I now get a whirlpool at times, not too mention having the exit full open on the skimmer is now creating microbubbles throughout the water column and into the DT (sarcasm:so pretty).

I'm at a complete loss here... and starting to think I made a bad choice here since it's now more practical to use this as a paper weight... very disappointed.

bjc451 · Nov 29, 2019

Did you try vinegar. Most skimmers have oil residue from manufacturing process

ericegg01 · Nov 29, 2019

I soaked/cleaned it with vinegar before putting it into the system. One of the features of why I bought this is because I can completely tear it down just for this reason.

homer1475 · Nov 29, 2019

Took my last brand new skimmer nearly 2 weeks to finally settle down and actually skim properly.

So instead of just raising the skimmer, you lowered the water level and now your pump is creating a vortex and spitting out microbubbles. Why on earth did you do that? Just make a small platform out of anything that can go in water and raise your water level back up so thats not creating unnecessary issues.

With all your experience and tanks(your words not mine), you should know that EVERY skimmer goes through this break in period when brand new.