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- Aug 3, 2015
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I've got a 75g mixed reef, with a smallish sump, maybe 10-15g. I have a Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, which has been working to my satisfaction for about a year. About a month ago I did a ChemioClean treatment. I turned off the skimmer, and left it off for about 5 days. I did not have any other media (Carbon, GFO) in the system, only filter socks and filter sponge material in the HOB return and in the sump from one chamber to the other. I also had some Chaeto in the sump.
Before I turned on the skimmer I did two water changes (one 20% and one 15%), and I thoroughly rinsed the filter socks and filter sponges. Ever since I turned on the skimmer it has overflowed like crazy. No matter what adjustment it runs wet, wet, wet - to the point where it is not usable. I took the skimmer out and thoroughy cleaned it, washed the socks and gave them a slight bleach, and I removed the Chaeto - nothing. I did another water change. Nothing. I removed the HOB return,, cleaned out lots of debris from inside (still lots of debris left - any ideas on how to clean the inside of this, given that it does not come apart? See pics). Have done yet another water change, and still no change.
A couple of times, when I make the above changes the skimmer has gone back to what it should be, but it lasts only a few minutes. Then back to overflow.
I thought it might be the bleach in the socks, but I ran the system without socks with no change. I've been happy with this skimmer, but a month with no skimmer is about enough! I am thinking about junking this and finding a new one, but it seems a waste given this has performed well.
Any ideas would appreciated. Also, what is the best and most powerful skimmer for my tight-fitting sump?
Thanks in advance!
Before I turned on the skimmer I did two water changes (one 20% and one 15%), and I thoroughly rinsed the filter socks and filter sponges. Ever since I turned on the skimmer it has overflowed like crazy. No matter what adjustment it runs wet, wet, wet - to the point where it is not usable. I took the skimmer out and thoroughy cleaned it, washed the socks and gave them a slight bleach, and I removed the Chaeto - nothing. I did another water change. Nothing. I removed the HOB return,, cleaned out lots of debris from inside (still lots of debris left - any ideas on how to clean the inside of this, given that it does not come apart? See pics). Have done yet another water change, and still no change.
A couple of times, when I make the above changes the skimmer has gone back to what it should be, but it lasts only a few minutes. Then back to overflow.
I thought it might be the bleach in the socks, but I ran the system without socks with no change. I've been happy with this skimmer, but a month with no skimmer is about enough! I am thinking about junking this and finding a new one, but it seems a waste given this has performed well.
Any ideas would appreciated. Also, what is the best and most powerful skimmer for my tight-fitting sump?
Thanks in advance!