Sump foam (not slimmer)

[Pongo]

Brand new skimmers often bubble over until they break in. Brand new filter socks can cause the same thing.
You've got a brand new skimmer and I assume brand new filter socks, so double bubble trouble.

The skimmer and sump are acrylic. Both may have had some residual manufacturing residue. It will pass.
I think the carbon will help.

 

[FishGuyBri]

Carbon itself will change the surface tension of the water.
Let the skimmer do its job and pull out what is causing the water to "bubble". Eventually it will remove it all and things will run normally.
We can not define what is causing it but we can say that it will be removed.

So, excuse me if I sound slow, haha - but If i run it and it keeps overfilling, like every minute, should I use this to do water change basically? I just filled it yesterday.

 

[Pongo]

I just let mine run, bubble over and ignored it until it stopped.

But my sump is glass and my filter socks are made of nylon mesh so I don't think they added anything to the bubbling.

Changing water now would just be a waste of good salt.
Watch your water level and salinity, you might get greater loss than normal for a while.

 

[FishGuyBri]

Man that is a lot of bubbles...

 

[twilliard]

So, excuse me if I sound slow, haha - but If i run it and it keeps overfilling, like every minute, should I use this to do water change basically? I just filled it yesterday.

You will have to discard what it pulls out. Raise the skimmer open the effluent and from there it is a waiting game.

 

[bevo5]

Just take the lid off and let it overflow into the sump. No harm no foul.

I'm not sure why the foam is building up in the sump, but as long as it's not causing damage just let it run over into itself. That way you can see how long it takes to settle down.

 

[FishGuyBri]

You will have to discard what it pulls out. Raise the skimmer open the effluent and from there it is a waiting game.

I'm going to have to leave it off for a while. It's filled my entire sump with bubbles in about 5 minutes.

 

[malira]

Thanks to both of you for replying! It is a brand new system, no meds, I used Reef Rock 2.1 and live sand. If I turn the skimmer on, I will run out of water fast! It's literally overflowing in about 30 seconds. I'm afraid if I leave the skimmer on and it overflows, I'll get foam everywhere.

The interesting thing is that right now, with skimmer off, the drain section (with filter sock) is full of foam, but it is leveled off. It's almost like turbulence bubbles. I can stir it and it will go down, then the sock will fill back up with foam. Once full, it stops making more (except like a thumb sized amount that squeezes out the drain section lid). The display is clearing up nicely but this foam is weird.

I had something similar happen. I raised the skimmer so it doesn't over flow and it's allowed to actually skim. Also do water changes. Scoop out the foam and water changes. This will also allow the skimmer to work. Then as needed lower the skimmer.

 

[twilliard]

Soaps, chemicals, organic inorganic compounds and such will make a bubble. When you do decide to fire the skimmer up use a tube from the collection cup to a bucket.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If the tank is empty, and you have a large mesh bag, it probably wouldn't hurt to place the bag of carbon directly on the return pump. did you put sand and water in like yesterday? did you use the bio magnet stuff?

 

[FishGuyBri]

If the tank is empty, and you have a large mesh bag, it probably wouldn't hurt to place the bag of carbon directly on the return pump. did you put sand and water in like yesterday? did you use the bio magnet stuff?

Yeah I filled yesterday and I did use the bio magnet stuff..

 

[FishGuyBri]

This is my skimmer right now. I sat for about an hour pulling what bubbles I could, about a gallon or two worth once the bubbles subsided.

 

[FishGuyBri]

Could it be biospira?? I forgot i put some of that in.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All of the above?

 

[FishGuyBri]

haha. I'll just have to see what happens... I'll be gone Mon-Thurs with someone else watching it (and my dogs). This will be interesting.

 

[leahfiish]

Could definitely be the bacteria.

 

[Maritimer]

Skimmers will pull bacteria from the water column ... that's part of how carbon-dosing works to reduce nitrates. Might not be a horrible idea, after adding Bio-Spira or other bottled bacteria products to turn off the skimmer until those guys have had a chance to settle on the substrate / work their way into the rocks.

Just a wacky thought, passing through my brain . . .

~Bruce

 

[FishGuyBri]

Skimmers will pull bacteria from the water column ... that's part of how carbon-dosing works to reduce nitrates. Might not be a horrible idea, after adding Bio-Spira or other bottled bacteria products to turn off the skimmer until those guys have had a chance to settle on the substrate / work their way into the rocks.

Just a wacky thought, passing through my brain . . .

~Bruce

Thanks! I've decided to leave it off for a few days then see what happens.

 

[corky1966]

Ok so my tank is up and running, starting to do its thing. I have two questions. First- here's my background. I'm new to the hobbit. Taking my sweet time. Finally filled yesterday. SG 1.025. Used 80# live sand and 50# reef rock 2.1. Sump is Eshopps R-200 and skimmer is Reef Octopus INT-150. Here are the two questions:

1) skimmer is off- if I turn it on, it overfills in less than a minute even with the gate all the way open. It's at 7.75" and I even tried 6" with no luck. I'm assuming I should just leave it off for now. I think it may be due to the live sand. Does this sound ok?
2) my sump in the drain section is making so much foam it's coming back out the lid! This is with skimmer off. The foam literally comes right out the top. Does this sound weird? I'm hoping that it goes away or is there something I should/could be doing?

I would n

Ok so my tank is up and running, starting to do its thing. I have two questions. First- here's my background. I'm new to the hobbit. Taking my sweet time. Finally filled yesterday. SG 1.025. Used 80# live sand and 50# reef rock 2.1. Sump is Eshopps R-200 and skimmer is Reef Octopus INT-150. Here are the two questions:

1) skimmer is off- if I turn it on, it overfills in less than a minute even with the gate all the way open. It's at 7.75" and I even tried 6" with no luck. I'm assuming I should just leave it off for now. I think it may be due to the live sand. Does this sound ok?
2) my sump in the drain section is making so much foam it's coming back out the lid! This is with skimmer off. The foam literally comes right out the top. Does this sound weird? I'm hoping that it goes away or is there something I should/could be doing?

i would turn the skimmer back on and turn it way down. The bubbles are protein you have for some reason to much in your system! Just a thought!

 

[FishGuyBri]

I would n

i would turn the skimmer back on and turn it way down. The bubbles are protein you have for some reason to much in your system! Just a thought!

It is down allllllll the way. Overflows within seconds with water and bubbles. Even with different heights. It's off right now but I'm out of town and its completely livestock free. Friend checking it says the foam in the sump has gone way down (put small carbon bag in). I had him turn on skimmer last night and it immediately goes nuts. I'll try again when I get home Friday.