HOB Skimmer Help

[IronMan3178]

Hi all! I’m new to salt water tanks! I’ve got a innovative marine 50g tank that’s been set up since March 5 2025 and it’s going well so far! I’m having an issue with my skimmer though! I’ve only found one skimmer that will work with my set up and it’s the aqua maxx hob skimmer. It’s brand new but it immediately overflows into the floor when I turn it on and I don’t know what to do? I took the lid off the cup because it allows it to keep bubbling without going into the floor but as soon as I put the lid on it’s instant mess in the floor. I’m attaching some video and photos to show what I’m talking about. Any help on how to fix this would be great thanks!!!!

 

[KochergenJ]

I have the same skimmer on my tank. Occasionally have the same issue, bubbles will either push the lid up a little or come through the top opening. My solution to the problem is just empty it more often.

The skimmer looks to still be breaking itself in with how clear the water. Just keep emptying the cup and eventually the bubbles and clear water will slow down.

 

[KochergenJ]

You can also raise the cup even higher if you want, but be careful of the drain hose. At some point it will stick out of the slot in the lid and that will lead to an even larger mess.

 

[IronMan3178]

I have the same skimmer on my tank. Occasionally have the same issue, bubbles will either push the lid up a little or come through the top opening. My solution to the problem is just empty it more often.

The skimmer looks to still be breaking itself in with how clear the water. Just keep emptying the cup and eventually the bubbles and clear water will slow down.

Thanks! Your right it is still breaking in its only ran maybe 48 hours . But I just found it odd to automatically be overflowing. It fills up from empty to full within a couple minutes it’s insane So I thought something was wrong and turned it off afraid of the mess it would make while I’m at work. Should it fill up that fast cause idk if I can empty it every 5 minutes lol

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Attach a tube to the outlet, let the foam run into a bucket until it stops. Its just cause its brand new, it will probably stop doing that after a matter of hours. Its a good quality skimmer, I had mine for years without issue.

 

[KochergenJ]

You can do what Mojo stated, thats the nice part about these having the drainage tube. In a day or two it should mellow out.

 

[IronMan3178]

Thank you guys for the help I’ll give it a try and see what happens!

 

[IronMan3178]

Any advice for the micro bubbles?

 

[Maize & Blue]

Take a piece of egg crate and set the cup on it. Dirty bubble will still go up into the cup, but clear bubbles will just run back into the sump. Watch this video.

 

[Maize & Blue]

Hi all! I’m new to salt water tanks! I’ve got a innovative marine 50g tank that’s been set up since March 5 2025 and it’s going well so far! I’m having an issue with my skimmer though! I’ve only found one skimmer that will work with my set up and it’s the aqua maxx hob skimmer. It’s brand new but it immediately overflows into the floor when I turn it on and I don’t know what to do? I took the lid off the cup because it allows it to keep bubbling without going into the floor but as soon as I put the lid on it’s instant mess in the floor. I’m attaching some video and photos to show what I’m talking about. Any help on how to fix this would be great thanks!!!!

Sent you some advice on how tune a skimmer, but I didn’t look at the picture didn’t realize it was a Nana skimmer so what I sent you won’t work!

 

[IronMan3178]

Take a piece of egg crate and set the cup on it. Dirty bubble will still go up into the cup, but clear bubbles will just run back into the sump. Watch this video.

Thank you I’ll watch it now

 

[KochergenJ]

Any advice for the micro bubbles?

I run the bubble attachment to solve that problem. It's ugly but it works for the most part.

 

[KochergenJ]

And its like $30

 

[Uncle99]

Hi all! I’m new to salt water tanks! I’ve got an innovative marine 50g tank that’s been set up since March 5 2025 and it’s going well so far! I’m having an issue with my skimmer though! I’ve only found one skimmer that will work with my set up and it’s the aqua maxx hob skimmer. It’s brand new but it immediately overflows into the floor when I turn it on and I don’t know what to do? I took the lid off the cup because it allows it to keep bubbling without going into the floor but as soon as I put the lid on it’s instant mess in the floor. I’m attaching some video and photos to show what I’m talking about. Any help on how to fix this would be great thanks!!!!

Did you clean it before use?
It may just be tossing out some manufacturing coating.
Should stop on its own

 

[IronMan3178]

Bubble attachment? Om
Not sure I’ve seen that

 

[IronMan3178]

Did you clean it before use?
It may just be tossing out some manufacturing coating.
Should stop on its own

Rinsed it but that was all

 

[KochergenJ]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquamaxx-bubble-stopper-for-hob-1-and-hob-1-5-protein-skimmers.html
Unfortunately brs must have bought aquamaxx and changed everything to aquaready but this is what I have on mine to solve the micro bubbles.

 

[mboley]

Is there a check valve on the air intake? If not install one until your skimmer is done breaking in.