I finally completed my aqua scape and installed last night. Used Approx. 120lbs south seas base/shelf dry rock and aquavito bond to hold all together. (aquavitro bond...takes a little bit to nail down how to use, but works excellent and not so bad when you figure technique) Structure built in 5 main sections, I shut down the skimmer and atk during install, removing water from sump to bring back to atk level once every segment was installed. Once complete, turned the skimmer and atk back online (all water levels normal) when I checked this morning, skimmer was overflowing. Does dry rock have this much organics on it? Should I raise my skimmer to a higher elevation? (skimmer is a red seas 300, gate is wide open, elevation is at recommended height approx. 7") Is this normal? Any help would be much appreciated! thanks all!
Skimmer overflow!! Help??
- Thread starter mikus
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ludnix
Valuable Member
This sounds normal, if the skimmer cup has a drain line I would hook it up to a bucket and collect whatever it's skimming off. This usually fixes overskimming the fastest for me. It would be a good idea to mix up some more saltwater to replace what it takes out, I have drained about 5 gallons this way before but it got the skimmer back in action.
DMG Reef
Valuable Member
^^^^^^This!^^^^^^^^
My Red Sea RSK-300 skimmer was overflowing like yours. After watching a video by Melev, I directed the drain hose into a 5 gallon bucket and let it do its thing. After 5-7 gallons, it started skimming correctly.
My Red Sea RSK-300 skimmer was overflowing like yours. After watching a video by Melev, I directed the drain hose into a 5 gallon bucket and let it do its thing. After 5-7 gallons, it started skimming correctly.
So after letting 5 gallons skim out, there was no stopping it. It was still foaming out as quickly as it began. I built another skimmer stand 2.5" inches higher and have the skimmer opened up half way...still producing a very wet skim, but controllable. I'm thinking just leave it there and gradually opening up the gate till there is no more skimming then move it back down to the original stand?? Also, when is the best time to add cheato and pods??
Squirrellyman
Community Member
@Kattkrazie - do you have a link to that video? I'm a first time reefer struggling to get the RSK 300 under control while cycling. Close the adjustment knob a bit - no skimming, bubbles only to the bottom of the neck. Open it a little bit - wake up to an overflowing skimmer spraying saltwater everywhere!
My RSK 600 was going nuts for the first two weeks. I just opened the hose valve and let it run. Now it seems to be working well.
Make sure you have your water level correct according to the skimmer.
Turn the skimmer down if it is a DC skimmer.. Open up the drain as far as it can go.
If it still overflows turn off the skimmer for a day or so and runs some carbon and polyfilters. Some people will just remove the cup and let the skimmer over flow and add carbon or ployfilters.
Squirrellyman
Community Member
Thanks, @AZMSGT. I'll do that. I'll also make sure to replace that volume of water with saltwater. Until I read another post here, it didn't even occur to me that replacing the pitchers of saltwater skimmer juice (skimate) with RODI from the ATO reservoir is actually slowly lowering salinity. I'll have to check tonight!!!!
ludnix
Valuable Member
dmanshep
New Member
Thanks for the video @melev .. I have an RSK300 that wet my floor after some chemiclean.. I just finally put the skimmer on a tupperware to get it up out of the water a bit.. but I think i'll follow your suggestion of a waste collector with a float shutoff.. Was curious how you combat the water loss? have fresh salt made up and just replenish as water is lost?
NYG140
Community Member
I just installed one of these and you just have to let it run for a day or so and get all the chemicals and junk out of it. I find once that's done and you tune it correctly, it tends to stay put.
GregDaKeg
Active Member
I added a valve to the air intake tube. I believe the skimmer takes in to much air. Now I have a great dry skim.
Do you have a picture of your valve installed?
