Skimmer overflowing help Reef Octopus 152-s

[leahfiish]

Hello, I need advice regarding my skimmer. I have a Reef Octopus 152-s set up in my sump (Eshopps R-200). It's a new tank so I wasnt really in a huge rush to get it running as I had nothing to skim out, so I had just been running it without the cup on to keep the water in the skimmer section circulated (otherwise I had a gross film on the top). I want to get it dialed in now but I'm having some issues. It is constantly overflowing with foam. I've tried different water levels, but I've seen conflicting info on the recommended water level for my skimmer, anywhere from 6.5 to 8.7". Right now the water level in the sump is 10" and the skimmer is on an eggcrate platform so it's at about 8.25". I have the gate valve turned all the way open but I've tried it at pretty much every setting, with very little change. I've been trying to get this skimmer dialed in for weeks as I have yet to get even a single cup of skimmate. Any advice?

 

[Highgrade]

You can try different water levels and adjust the valve.
Few questions
Did you clean the Skimmer with RO/DI and Vinegar before using?
Also any medication or supplements added to the tank in the past couple weeks?
Have you tried a large water change to see if the skimmer stops overflowing?

A trick you can try is putting an valve on the airline hose to cut down the amount of air intake. This may or may not help.

 

[fragit]

I have the 202-2 and have mine on an egg crate that makes it sit in about 7" of water. I would say you need to raise yours up a bit more. I believe if you go to the BRS site it recommends 7"-9" water. I like to skim dry so I went with the 7". Also I'm not sure if yours comes with the little stopper for one of the air intakes on the muffler. If it does using it or not using it will make a huge difference.

 

[blkhwkz]

I have the 202-S (oversized for my tank on purpose) and the manual says both of these should be 7.9-8.7" so you should be fine on height. I ran mine during the cycle just to break it in. Still took awhile to produce skimmate, even when I had 3 tangs and 4 other fish in the tank. Amusingly enough it produces more skimmate now with the tank fallow from an ich outbreak. I set my valve so the foam is right at the bottom of the neck of the cup where it sits on the skimmer body.

 

[george1381]

The slightest bit of Dawn soap will reek havoc on a skimmer or most any soap for that matter. Be careful washing your hands before they go in your tank. Don't wash filter socks with soap.

 

[leahfiish]

You can try different water levels and adjust the valve.
Few questions
Did you clean the Skimmer with RO/DI and Vinegar before using?
Also any medication or supplements added to the tank in the past couple weeks?
Have you tried a large water change to see if the skimmer stops overflowing?

A trick you can try is putting an valve on the airline hose to cut down the amount of air intake. This may or may not help.

I purchased the skimmer used, the guy had only been using it for a few months at the most and it had been working fine for him. I cleaned it with tap water only, let it dry out completely for a few days and then installed it. I've used StartSmart, and epoxy, but not a lot and it's been weeks since that.
I'be been doing 20g water changes (on a 90g tank) which is the biggest that I can do. I'm also running carbon, purigen, phosguard, and a filter sock. I soaked the (new) filter sock in RO for 24 hours before using.

I have the 202-2 and have mine on an egg crate that makes it sit in about 7" of water. I would say you need to raise yours up a bit more. I believe if you go to the BRS site it recommends 7"-9" water. I like to skim dry so I went with the 7". Also I'm not sure if yours comes with the little stopper for one of the air intakes on the muffler. If it does using it or not using it will make a huge difference.

It has a little cap which I currently have on, I've tried it off and it seemed worse that way.
I might try raising it more (again!)

I have the 202-S (oversized for my tank on purpose) and the manual says both of these should be 7.9-8.7" so you should be fine on height. I ran mine during the cycle just to break it in. Still took awhile to produce skimmate, even when I had 3 tangs and 4 other fish in the tank. Amusingly enough it produces more skimmate now with the tank fallow from an ich outbreak. I set my valve so the foam is right at the bottom of the neck of the cup where it sits on the skimmer body.

I've been running it for well over a month now so it should be broken in. I have no fish yet, but have CUC and have been occasionally feeding them. No matter what I set the valve to, the bubbles still overflow the cup.

The slightest bit of Dawn soap will reek havoc on a skimmer or most any soap for that matter. Be careful washing your hands before they go in your tank. Don't wash filter socks with soap.

I am very careful with soaps.

 

[FishGuyBri]

I purchased the skimmer used, the guy had only been using it for a few months at the most and it had been working fine for him. I cleaned it with tap water only, let it dry out completely for a few days and then installed it. I've used StartSmart, and epoxy, but not a lot and it's been weeks since that.
I'be been doing 20g water changes (on a 90g tank) which is the biggest that I can do. I'm also running carbon, purigen, phosguard, and a filter sock. I soaked the (new) filter sock in RO for 24 hours before using.

It has a little cap which I currently have on, I've tried it off and it seemed worse that way.
I might try raising it more (again!)

I've been running it for well over a month now so it should be broken in. I have no fish yet, but have CUC and have been occasionally feeding them. No matter what I set the valve to, the bubbles still overflow the cup.

I am very careful with soaps.

Any more ideas for this? Same problem. Running two weeks, new tank, spits foam everywhere.

 

[leahfiish]

Any more ideas for this? Same problem. Running two weeks, new tank, spits foam everywhere.

I had to raise my skimmer up (used a tupperware bowl) so it was in about 4.5" of water. That seems to have done the trick.

 

[scardall]

Restricting air intake will cause foam to rise even more. Confirm this by putting thumb over intake opening until you see foam rise the top of cup. After you take your finger off it will take a little time to settle down. adjust the valve so foam barely reaches the bottom of collections cup neck. It will take some amount of time(30+ minutes/not consistent) for the level to stabilize. Make very small adjustments ( wait a minute to see level change) then make other adjustments as needed. Over time you will get to know what level is best for your tank. All this is part of the deal.:p Good Luck and Have Fun. :cool::cool:

Welcome to the Adventure:D:D:D:D:D:D

 

[fragit]

My airline was run into the garage. My wife had been putting recycling where the airline was. The intake may have been restricted by cardboard leaning against it. I removed the line from the garage at any rate. I had some pantyhose over the end to keep bugs from crawling in the tube. It looked like it was a little clogged with dust too. Haven't had an issue since taking the tube off.

 

[Seanb1]

Take it out and look at the gate valve .
Make sure the valve is opening and closing correctly.
Open the valve all the way and run it.
If it is overflowing then it's in too deep of water.
Keep raising it till it operates correctly and you can keep raising it up while closing the gate valve.
Oh and if you've added any chemicals it can affect the way it runs too, try running some carbon and see if that helps at all if all else fails.
In the end, if the gate is open and it's overflowing then it's in too deep of water no matter what.