Skimmer overflowing

primo21 · Sep 19, 2016

I have a SCA-302 running for a little over a year. this weekend it started overflowing even on the lowest setting. what should i be checking to fix this. no changes to water level and no additions to the tank.

thanks.

primo21 · Sep 19, 2016

no livestock additions or subtractions. haven't counted all the CUC, but losing them would not make the skimmer go nuts, i would assume since it never did in the past .

the cup is scrubbed clean every 1-2 months, emptied weekly as needed. the pump was cleaned ~3 months ago.

there does appear to be more bubbles than normal in the body, but that could be due to aerated water entering the pump from the overflow??? i have left it running the last day or so to see if that would "re-break" it in.

Karmann · Sep 19, 2016

Probably the air intake tube is clogged.

primo21 · Sep 19, 2016

wouldn't that cause less bubbles? i am having the opposite effect.

Karmann · Sep 19, 2016

When either the tube, silencer or the venturi is blocked the skimmer pulls more water thus overflowing. It is the first thing to check and really easy to fix before looking into anything else.

primo21 · Sep 19, 2016

do i need to take the body out to check this? had to put it in the stand while inside the sump so getting it out will require draining the sump. i can get the pump out to check the venturi so hopefully that is it.

Karmann · Sep 19, 2016

I would start by taking the silencer and tube out and cleaning them, if you see a lot of salt creep soak them in rodi water and some vinegar. If that doesn't do it check the venturi next.

Karmann · Sep 19, 2016

Sorry, missed your first question but no you don't need to take the skimmer out

webbl19 · Sep 19, 2016

Did you add any chemiclean? I have the same skimmer and mine only goes crazy like that if I add Chemiclean. I leave mine set at about 2 1/2in about 8binches of water. When mine is plugged up I get no bubbles, so I'm not sure how it could be plugged up. Unless it's been plugged up and now it's opened back up.

What do you have it set at?

primo21 · Sep 19, 2016

nope, no chemiclean. it is set in the same water level it has been for the last year with no issue. last couple days started overflowing with the dial set at 0.

Girish23 · Sep 20, 2016

R u add any bacteria in you sump section that will also casuse that kind of issue but after few hrs it get noramal running

primo21 · Sep 20, 2016

No it's been a few days since it started and still is overflowing

reeftivo · Sep 20, 2016

if the intake is clogged the bubble density would be much less than normal-hmm?

Still check the venturi and silencer. Better safe than sorry.

Sump level is the same? No new equipment, glue for frags, filter socks, poly filter, etc..???

Something is messing with the surface tension. Did you clean the skimmer body inside? If you did maybe you completely removed the slime coat. That has made my skimmers go a little bonkers in the past. Can you raise the skimmer with some light diffuser (egg crate) temporarily until it beds back in?

primo21 · Sep 21, 2016

i agree if there is some blockage i would expect less bubbles, there are definitely more at this point.

did not clean the body, no way to get it out from in the stand/sump. still have to take the pump out and clean it, so that is still a potential. venturi has been cleaned, but the airline at the pump end is not a tight fit. water level is the same, no new equipment/glue/poly. did change the sock, but i do that every week.

reeftivo · Sep 21, 2016

can you get something under it to raise the skimmer? Sounds like a tight fit!

also, do hands in the tank kill the foam head or does it keep on overflowing?

that skimmer is sold with an Atman pump which has a history of issues. maybe the pump got a little wacky and is drawing more amps. There are several old threads where people all of a sudden had the same issue as you are having. If you can't raise it and it doesn't settle down then a micro valve on the airline to tune down the air should help.

primo21 · Sep 21, 2016

i have had my hands in there a lot since it started and has not helped with the foam. i could probably raise it a little, but not much.

if i put a valve on the air line how should i adjust the dial on the skimmer? should i set that somewhere in the middle then adjust the air so it breaks in the neck like normal?

reeftivo · Sep 21, 2016

primo21 said:
i have had my hands in there a lot since it started and has not helped with the foam. i could probably raise it a little, but not much.

if i put a valve on the air line how should i adjust the dial on the skimmer? should i set that somewhere in the middle then adjust the air so it breaks in the neck like normal?

just split the air line where it is convenient to get to and install the micro valve. after installing it, the valve "fully wide" open will restrict the air a bit due to the smaller id of the barbs. just watch it after that before tightening/adjusting. it may just do the trick wide open. if not, then slowly close it until you get the foam head to break just below the base of the cup. small increments are always best with an hour or so of monitoring between adjustments. leave the effluent/output fully wide open when working with the air valve.

primo21 · Sep 21, 2016

right, but where do i set the skimmer's dial. right now it is at 0 and overflowing. do i set it back to where it was before the current situation, 3-4?