Skimmer

[bhavy]

My skimmer goes nuts every few days and poors out about 5 gal of water until my low sump switch triggers. It just goes crazy and I see micro bubbles that come out the outlet. It is a vertex Alpha 200. Nothing stuck in the inlet of the pump.
Anyone have ideas?

 

[HotRocks]

Where is it pouring water?

 

[DesertReefT4r]

My guess would be from the cup. Are you doing anything to the tank just before it goes crazy? Dosing, feeding, cleaning or hands in the tank? Do you have an live stock that may be causing it like a goby messing with the sand, snails or clams spawning? More info and pics would help. What water level do you have the skimmer sitting in and does it stay the exact same level 100% of the time?

 

[jda]

Check the air inlet for salt creep. Partially clogged air intake can put more water into the skimmer and cause them to overflow from time to time.

You will probably get more help if you post in the Equipment forum, but just for my experience, the 150 was one of the worst skimmers that I have ever had. It was so inconsistent that I end up selling or trading it. I do not know if the 200 is materially different, or the same. Has it ever had periods of stability and good performance?

 

[bhavy]

Water level always the same, when I feed or put my hands in the skimmer bubbles fall due to the oils in the watercollumn as expected. Generally I thought if the air inlet was clogged the air would NOT mix with the water and the overall level in the skimmerbody would drop . I’ve tested this theory by pinching the fresh air line.
Any other ideas?
Thanks for replying