Skimmer not skimming after chiller.

[branbray07]

Hey guys. So im having a bit of an issue. I just installed a chiller , and my skimmer stopped working. It is just blowing microbubbles everywhere!!. It has been two days and nothing, i even followed the manufacture recommended steps yet nothing has helped . Besides the chiller, nothing has been changed other than removing ny sand completely.
This is from manufacture


wonderfully. The microbubbles are caused by something from the chiller, please run through the steps outlined previously:
So how do you fix it?
Thankfully it is pretty easy, you just have to remove the supplement or product that is causing the issue. To do this you will want to slow the skimmer down to where the collection cup is filling up over at least 3-4 hours. It will fill up with clear liquid, but this will be loaded with the agent causing the issue. Throw out this water and let it keep skimming. You will find after 2-4 collection cups full of water you will start to have to make dramatic changes to the settings to get it to skim at all. The easiest way to achieve this is simply to slow down the pump with the controller, or close the air fairly tight until bubble production is greatly reduced.

 

[branbray07]

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Protein Skimmers can be a bit finicky. New products that we introduce into our tanks or sumps can have an undesirable effect on our skimmers. Whether new mechanical or new filter media such as phos “pads” nitrate, carbon, ammonia etc if placed near the skimmer can throw it off for sometimes more than a few days. Not knowing what new components, plastics or prefilter etc exist in your new chiller, My first go-to would be a water change to eliminate these factory fresh residues out of your system. Seen it before. But that’s my guess. Good luck.

 

[DE FISH]

Agree with the above ^^^^^^^

 

[branbray07]

So I performed a water changed and still nothing… smh

 

[neo1738]

Guess is residues from chiller from factory likely have to let skimmer go for week or 2 until they are all gone. I usually just remove the plug from cup let it run until starts skimming again.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

So I performed a water changed and still nothing… smh

Another possibility is that because your skimmer is blowing bubbles into the sump and not reaching the skimmer cup, it may very well (and this is common) that your air intake is clogged. More than once have i cleaned that usually white plastic intersection that brings both water and air into the skimmer body. The obstruction can often time be salt “chunks” keep the air from entering the skimmer body while the water pump continues to bring water in. So to fix without taking it apart: there’s an air hose that leads from the cup down to the venturi valve intersection. Take off the end of tge hose that is under water at the valve. Gently stick a metal bbq skewer (pointy) or something like it in the hole and gently chop the debris. Put hose back on and see? If that doesn’t work, you can always take your skimmer apart and really assure yourself that it is or isn’t your skimmer. Good luck. I know it’s a pain.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you have the return from chiller in the same section as skimmer?

 

[branbray07]

Do you have the return from chiller in the same section as skimmer?

I have checked and rechecked and no clog or anything.

chiller intake is in the chamber prior to skimmer. The water outflow or water coming from chiller is on the return chamber.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have checked and rechecked and no clog or anything.

chiller intake is in the chamber prior to skimmer. The water outflow or water coming from chiller is on the return chamber.

My splashes in its chamber. Yours may be delivering bubbles before it reaches skimmer section. My return goes in after skimmer

 

[Doctor Derp]

Did you clean off the chiller coil before installation? I immediately suspect machining oils of some kind.

 

[branbray07]

My splashes in its chamber. Yours may be delivering bubbles before it reaches skimmer section. My return goes in after skimmer

Mine too. The chiller return goes straight to the return pump chamber. No skimmer there

 

[branbray07]

Did you clean off the chiller coil before installation? I immediately suspect machining oils of some kind.

No i did not. I was not aware of this. If so what are my options . I have already performed about 30 to 40 % water changes

 

[vetteguy53081]

If In the pump

Mine too. The chiller return goes straight to the return pump chamber. No skimmer there

chamber and emitting bubbles, that would do it

 

[branbray07]

If In the pump

chamber and emitting bubbles, that would do it

Sorry man im not understanding what you mean.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My chille

Sorry man im not understanding what you mean.

My chiller return emits a lot of gushing and bubbles and if pump is picking up the bubbles and placing into tank, you will have micro bubbles in system

 

[branbray07]

My chille

My chiller return emits a lot of gushing and bubbles and if pump is picking up the bubbles and placing into tank, you will have micro bubbles in system

Negative its not the chiller. It is for sure the skimmer.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The only issue I had with skinm

Negative its not the chiller. It is for sure the skimmer.

The only issue I had with skinmer emitting micro bubbles is when the line from muffler was clogged not to say it’s your cause

 

[branbray07]

Checked man and n

The only issue I had with skinm

The only issue I had with skinmer emitting micro bubbles is when the line from muffler was clogged not to say it’s your cause.

I checked man and nothing. This is so frustrating

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Checked man and n

I checked man and nothing. This is so frustrating

Not able to see the video, can you post it to youtube (put it as not listed and just visible with the link).

I had the same issue when I setup my chiller, even after rinsing it via a hose to make sure there were no machining oils present. I had to adjust my skimmer to skim wet and after a few days of that, all of the residue from the chiller was pulled out and the skimmer was able to be adjust back to a dry skim and has not had any issues since.