Reef octopus classic 202 skimmer help

[spud_53]

As title states my skimmer water level (the level of water inside the skimmer) fluctuates a lot, like 4 to 5 inches. Does anybody else have this problem, is it normal?

 

[cjd]

Need a little more. First is the skimmer in a section of the sump that doesn't fluctuate in water level, skimmers need a constant water level that they sit in. Second is the skimmer new and or is the tank new. Are you familiar with skimmers and is assembled correctly. Is the air intake clogged with salt creep. Just somethings to check out.

 

[bobman]

Is the outlet of the skimmer under water? if it is it will create a siphon and cause you level inside the skimmer to fluctuate. Either raise the outlet of the skimmer to be above the water (this option adds a lot of noise) or add a anti syphon hole. Do you have a pic of the skimmer

 

[spud_53]

Ya I've tried all of that, the tank and the skimmer are not brand new, skimmer about six months old. The outlet is under water but only a little bit, and I tried turning the 45 elbow sideways so it wasn't under water and still fluctuated. Do your guys' skimmer fluctuate at all, and the skimmer is in a section of the sump that doesn't move a lot unless the return pump is shut off

 

[bobman]

The skimmer I have is external so the water level in my sump has little to no effect on the skimmer. With your skimmer in the sump water level consistency in the sump plays a vital role in the water level in the skimmer. However even on mine I have a breather pipe on the return pipe off the skimmer for anti siphon but I found the level in the skimmer would fluctuate a good 3 inches. What I found to fix that was to drill a hole just above the water level in the sump. Have no idea how it is even possible to create a siphon with a 1.5 inch hole before before the valve but it did. Here is a pic of when I was setting it up to give you an idea I will take a pic of the sump but its just a 1.5 inch pipe with a hole in it I am sure you know what that looks like lol