Skimmer overflowing immediately. Possibly chlorine or soap?

[ZombieEngineer]

Background: I got 100 lbs of Dry Rock used. I bleached the rock with 1:10 bleach water ratio for 48 hours, then rinsed thoroughly with a hose, filled the bucket with tap water and 6 capfuls of dechlorinator per 20 gal overnight, then dumped and repeated the process for 8 hours. Then dumped and let dry in the sun for 36 hours.

I then shaped the rock using a combination of instant ocean 2 part epoxy putty and instaset superglue / dry rock dust to tackle weld mortar joints. I let this dry for 4 hours (epoxy closer to 6) then placed in tank and added 30lbs of dry sand. I forgot to rinse the sand outside the tank first, so I rinsed it inside the tank and siphoned out the 10g when I realized I forgot to wash the sand.

Tank was filled with saltwater last night and I mixed the salt in the tank since my NSW barrel is only 30 gallons.

Build thread here:

ER Inferno Anemone / WWC Hawaiian Punch Anemones / Japanese Spotbreast Angelfish FS $60-120$

Elite Reef Inferno Anemone (Med+, 4in opened) Retail Price: 250 Selling for 120 WWC Hawaiian Punch Anemone (2 Available) (Baby+, 1-1.5in opened) Sorry for crappy pic, they are in a weird spot where I can't get a good shot :( Retail Price: 100 Selling for 60ea Japanese Lyretail Angelfish -...

marinecolorado.org

I got everything except the skimmer functioning flawlessly, but when I turn on the skimmer, I get what you see in the picture after about 2 minutes and it did not improve between last night and tonight. I just threw 2 cups of activated carbon in the media bag chamber of my sump hoping that might help.

Any suggestions?

 

[blaxsun]

Turn it off for a few days, then start it up again. That or connect a drain tube and just let it "go through its thing".

 

[terraincognita]

Skimmer's most always "overflow" when first introduced, once they're up and running they balance out. IME.

 

[outhouse]

Yep all correct, there is nothing to skim really. let the tank break in, then turn it on

 

[Harold999]

Skimmer's most always "overflow" when first introduced, once they're up and running they balance out. IME.

This is not overflowing, this is as someone is doing the dishes.

 

[WVNed]

Generally epoxy causes this and it will go away eventually
https://www.reef2reef.com/search/3255603/?q=epoxy+skimmer&o=relevance

 

[Miami Reef]

Is this skimmer new? Turn it up and let it flow through the sump to break it in.

Make sure skimmer is in the proper water level. Finally, practice correctly tuning your skimmer. It should be wet foam which falls through the collection cup that collects as green/brown water.

Right now it looks like your skimmer is skimming way too dry.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Is this skimmer new? Turn it up and let it flow through the sump to break it in.

Make sure skimmer is in the proper water level. Finally, practice correctly tuning your skimmer. It should be wet foam which falls through the collection cup that collects as green/brown water.

Right now it looks like your skimmer is skimming way too dry.

The skimmer is about 10 years old and came with the tank when I bought it a few weeks ago. I don't know how the tank and skimmer were cleaned before I purchased them.

I have been tuning skimmers for more than a decade. This is not a lack of tuning knowledge or incorrect water level/standpipe setting. This skimmer is doing this even elevating with a stand so the water level is even with the bubble plate and flow set fully open. Something is causing this to foam like a kitchen sink in a matter of minutes and is incredibly wet (cup fills with water completely in 5 minutes)

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Generally epoxy causes this and it will go away eventually
https://www.reef2reef.com/search/3255603/?q=epoxy+skimmer&o=relevance

That might be it. I used 4 sticks worth...

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Is this a brand new tank? If so, there's no need for a skimmer as there's nothing to skim. That's why it's overflowing...
(and, yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but put a clean skimmer in a container of clean water and see what happens )

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Is this a brand new tank? If so, there's no need for a skimmer as there's nothing to skim. That's why it's overflowing...
(and, yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but put a clean skimmer in a container of clean water and see what happens )

Brand new setup. Only had water for 2 days. No livestock. Just curing rock and testing/automating in preperation for fish in a few weeks.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Some reasons a skimmer may foam uncontrollably:
Break-in Period: The protein skimmer break-in period is typically 2-4 weeks. Skimmers are erratic during the break-in period due to a lack of a biofilm on the skimmer body.

Newly Mixed Saltwater: Can increase (thicken) the viscosity of your aquarium water leading to more foam.