Skimmer Issues

[Roknari]

Howdy,

I am having some trouble with a skimmer for a new tank. Some vital statistics.

~60 gallon tank. 6" water level in sump. Reef Octopus XP 1000 Skimmer.

Tank has been set up for 2 weeks now. Only has rock and sand in it. Pretty much just testing the plumbing and other equipment. Skimmer functioned correctly for a week. Adjusted the gate valve and water level was fine. With no changes the skimmer is going crazy. Gate valve wide open, water level still rides too high. I pull the pipe the gatevalve is atached too off so it has unrestricted waterflow and it is still too high. I have tried raising the skimmer up and inch or two, still overskims. I've tried plugging the air intake with a peice of sponge, that kinda helped but still overskimms.

Anyone out here with some advice?

 

[CKI]

Super Reef 1000sss optimal water height in sump: 5.5”-5.75” ... with my eshopps skimmer, if i have to much water in the sump, it goes crazy!... and a 1/4" higher water level than recommended with mine and it over skims ... try removing a bit of water from your sump

 

[MondoBongo]

also is this a brand new skimmer? it could just be adjusting to the break in period. i know both of my skimmers were funky for a few weeks until they got some shmootz (that's a highly technical term) on the inside of the body.

also, check the air inlet line, make sure it isn't clogged with anything. occasionally my air inlet line will clog up with either calcium deposits or just random stuff, and it will lead to constant over flows of the cup until i clean out the line.

 

[Reefing Madness]

What did you dose your tank this week that you didn't last week?

 

[Roknari]

@ Reefing Madness. No dosing done yet. Just set it up and was letting it run. Tweaking the overflow box for noise, that kind of thing.
@ Mondo: Yes brand new skimmer. Its not that its just wonky, nothing I do will get the water level down. Maybe something got in the water that is causing excess foam, but no children here to put anything in it. It is an open top, rimless tank though.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Only thing with a new skimmer is that they generally take a couple weeks to break in correctly. You may take it out and give it a rinse wipe using vinegar, this removes the resin on the acrylic that the factory has on it.

 

[Supramike]

Are you using filter socks? Replacing them with new ones sends my skimmer in a frenzy for like 2 days

 

[bluewaterbruce]

I have that same skimmer, and had the same problem as you when it was new. I found that the best depth of the skimmer is the sump water level should be about 1/2 inch below the red gate valve knob. On the skimmer, the lower water level mark is where I run without overflowing the collection cup. Actually its about 1 inch above the lower mark. Anything higher and you may get wet skimmate. It will settle down once the skimmer has pulled out a large portion of skimmate. The gate valve is touchy, so a little goes a long way. It does a great job on my 54 Corner with a 55 Ga. sump / refugium.