Skimmer acting up

[marvelousone]

My skimmer is acting up. The cup is filling up with water. I drain it and it is full in 30 minutes. Could it be possible the sump is sitting in to much water.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

It's hard to say without a full picture. Did you change anything in the tank? add chemicals? change filter floss/socks? Skimmers are so touchy, could be a parameter change or additive. Does it overflow even if you adjust it fully open?

 

[theMeat]

First guess would be air intake is being partially blocked

 

[davocean]

Most of us have our skimmers raised on platforms to keep pump at optimal depth, which is usually about 6-8" for most skimmers.

I can't tell if yours is raised or not, but that's one possibility

 

[marvelousone]

It's hard to say without a full picture. Did you change anything in the tank? add chemicals? change filter floss/socks? Skimmers are so touchy, could be a parameter change or additive. Does it overflow even if you adjust it fully open?

added nothing in a month. It started this couple weeks back. only thing I did is raise water level. I have to turn it way down to keep from overflowing.

 

[marvelousone]

Most of us have our skimmers raised on platforms to keep pump at optimal depth, which is usually about 6-8" for most skimmers.

I can't tell if yours is raised or not, but that's one possibility

It is on a platform. It is in 7 3/4 inches of water. The skimmer is a lifereef. Their website says up to 9 inch. so I guess that's not it.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Oh then that’s most likely it if the level in the skimmer chamber was raised. Give this a shot maybe (egg crate cube stand):

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Oh... you could try further raising it just to see

 

[marvelousone]

First guess would be air intake is being partially blocked

It has a VENTURI. I cleaned it last week thinking that's what is wrong. it worked for 4 or 5 days then started again.

 

[marvelousone]

It is an Advanced acrylics sump. It has a stand built for it.

 

[theMeat]

It has a VENTURI. I cleaned it last week thinking that's what is wrong. it worked for 4 or 5 days then started again.

Then you’re onto something. Take pump, air line/tube, and silencer if you have one. Put it in bucket with water and white vinegar solution. Let run overnight. Make sure airline is underwater so it pulls no air. Next day take out impeller and clean that and motor cavity impeller sits in with brush. Rinse, reassemble

 

[theMeat]

Oh, it’s a lifereef.
Think an improvement/mod for that skimmer is taking the air intake off the skimmer cup and run from outside for fresh air.
Another mod is getting a drill bit and drilling the venturi out slightly to increase air intake. Don’t drill to big or you’ll weaken that fitting too much.
An old trick people used to do with those older style Venturi skimmers is after you soak that fitting in vinegar and clean let dry. Then dip into cooking oil to help keep fitting free of moisture and salt creep.
Motor output is vital on a skimmer of that design. As above mentioned clean it and see what ya got