Trouble with my Super Octopus 2000 protein skimmer

[Carmen]

I started in this hobby in Sept. 2013--so pretty new. I bought the best equipment I could because my 14-year experience with a koi pond taught me that going cheap usually meant more time and trouble.

I have a 75 gallon tank, mixed reef and peaceful fish. The skimmer, named above, I believed at the time, was the best one to get for me. It's rated to skim for tanks up to 150 gallons. The thing is, I have never been successful in tuning it in. And it should be easy because there's just a big red dial to turn. I used to work hard at trying to tune it in so that there was a constant supply of foam being produced. This is what would happen--it was either producing foam or it was simply "boiling" foam way down in the canister--or container or whatever you call it. I couldn't keep it constant. Even though I didn't touch it in between, it was either producing foam or doing nothing. Finally I just gave up trying to dial it in and would just let it do it's thing...maybe that's what skimmers do(?)

Well, yesterday I just happened to open the cabinet door and the skimmer is super overflowing--and I mean bad. I tried turning the dial all the way one way and then all the way the other, but to no avail. So I just unplugged it. Today I tried working on it again and this time it produced billions of micro bubbles that went right into the tank. Again, I unplugged it. This thing has been cleaned on a regular basis, every week or every other week. I don't know if I can be helped with this...but thought I'd throw it out here and see if anyone has ideas. I want to get rid of it and get a different on, but don't know what that would be. I hope all of this is operator error and it can be fixed, but...

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Is your water level constant in the skimmer chamber in your sump constant? Are you using an ATO? How high are you keeping the water level?

I know SRO's are supposed to be great skimmers, but I've heard they can be pretty picky about water level.

 

[Carmen]

Yes I do have an ATO. and I keep the water level at the recommended level by Reef Octopus. When it was overflowing the first thing I did was look at the water level--I have it marked on the side of the sump. According to the level, this should not have been happening.

 

[HiddenUser]

I have a SRO XP1000 and don't have any issues.

If it's consistently overflowing, I'd check the air line or the water level...If the water level in the sump is too high it will overflow, same deal if the air line is plugged. How deep does your skimmer sit within your sump? I found that 6" was optimal for mine.

Once my skimmer was broken in, I tuned it by opening it all the way and letting it run for a hour or two before making any adjustment with the red dial. When I do make adjustment, I only turn the dial a quarter turn. I tried to get the water line within the skimmer about 1/2 to 2/3's of the way up the neck of the collection cup...Then I leave it alone and see what happens.

There are times when my skimmer is producing a thick head of foam...and other times it just doing nothing similar to what you've mentioned, but I just leave it be instead of continuously trying to tune it.

 

[Carmen]

I have a SRO XP1000 and don't have any issues.

If it's consistently overflowing, I'd check the air line or the water level...If the water level in the sump is too high it will overflow, same deal if the air line is plugged. How deep does your skimmer sit within your sump? I found that 6" was optimal for mine.

Once my skimmer was broken in, I tuned it by opening it all the way and letting it run for a hour or two before making any adjustment with the red dial. When I do make adjustment, I only turn the dial a quarter turn. I tried to get the water line within the skimmer about 1/2 to 2/3's of the way up the neck of the collection cup...Then I leave it alone and see what happens.

There are times when my skimmer is producing a thick head of foam...and other times it just doing nothing similar to what you've mentioned, but I just leave it be instead of continuously trying to tune it.

The water level is perfect. I took a lot of time to make sure it was at manufacture's level...it was like 6.5" or something like that for that model. It just started overflowing out of no where...I hadn't touched it. Then the next day it was micro bubbles. I guess I need to take it out to see if it's plugged up somewhere.

 

[dougers31]

Certain tank additives/chemicals will make a skimmer go crazy.

 

[HiddenUser]

The water level is perfect. I took a lot of time to make sure it was at manufacture's level...it was like 6.5" or something like that for that model. It just started overflowing out of no where...I hadn't touched it. Then the next day it was micro bubbles. I guess I need to take it out to see if it's plugged up somewhere.

If the valve is all the way open with the skimmer sitting in 6.5" of water, I'd check the air intake to see if it's clogged...or check to make sure the output isn't being blocked or anything. I also noticed if the water output is submerged the skimmer will overflow. I think I also read somewhere that if the output is too close to a wall within the sump that it can cause it to overflow???

Maybe mix a small batch of saltwater in a container and set the skimmer in it and try to troubleshoot it there? Vinegar / water mixture does the same, just not as well.

You also mentioned you clean the skimmer every week? Are you referring to removing the entire skimmer and running a vinegar / water mixture through it? Or just cleaning the collection cup?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

The water level is perfect. I took a lot of time to make sure it was at manufacture's level...it was like 6.5" or something like that for that model. It just started overflowing out of no where...I hadn't touched it. Then the next day it was micro bubbles. I guess I need to take it out to see if it's plugged up somewhere.

Dang! Sounds frustrating. I do wonder about additives too. Are you dosing anything at all? Giving the skimmer a good cleaning (pump and all) is a good idea too. Also, have you contacted the manufacturer to see what they say? Good luck! Hope you get this worked out!

 

[Carmen]

If the valve is all the way open with the skimmer sitting in 6.5" of water, I'd check the air intake to see if it's clogged...or check to make sure the output isn't being blocked or anything. I also noticed if the water output is submerged the skimmer will overflow.

Something definitely doesn't seem right here.

Maybe mix a small batch of saltwater in a container and set the skimmer in it and try to tune it there? Vinegar / water mixture does the same, just not as well.

I have to go work on my koi pond now (always something!) but when I get done I'm going to check for cracks or plugged lines or ? I don't put any additives in the tank and the water output is not clogged it sits above the water lever and empties into the refugium...a set up that's worked well.

 

[HiddenUser]

I have to go work on my koi pond now (always something!) but when I get done I'm going to check for cracks or plugged lines or ? I don't put any additives in the tank and the water output is not clogged it sits above the water lever and empties into the refugium...a set up that's worked well.

Alrighty, good luck! Just sharing my experiences as I had a learning curve with my skimmer as well. It works like a champ now though!!!

 

[Carmen]

Dang! Sounds frustrating. I do wonder about additives too. Are you dosing anything at all? Giving the skimmer a good cleaning (pump and all) is a good idea too. Also, have you contacted the manufacturer to see what they say? Good luck! Hope you get this worked out!

Yeah, no additivies. Haven't talked to the manufacture but I may do that after I clean it and don't find anything visibily wrong with the skimmer.

 

[Carmen]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your help and will let you know what I find out.