Skimmer Issues After Water Changes

[Tommy Gunnz]

Hello everyone!

I have sort of asked this question before but I think I may have narrowed some problems out and yet, I dont know how to fix this skimmer problem.

I started a thread a couple weeks ago about how my skimmer would create so many bubbles in my sump that when the water was pumped back into the tank, it came out looking like a sand storm was happening, only this 'sand' was tiny air bubbles. I never got to the root cause or anything because it just stopped. Yesterday I did a water change though and the problem instantly came back. So, I am pretty sure there is something to do with the air bubble issues and when I do water changes as this happens every time (so far I have changed the water about 5 times on this tank)

Any ideas on what I can do to stop this? I made this video of what I am talking about so you can understand what I mean. In the beginning, the skimmer is off and no bubbles come out of the sump return pipe. I also pan down to show that my sump is nice and calm and full to just under the maximum level. Then I turn on the skimmer and you can see that the sump water looks all 'milky' and finally, I pan up to the same sump return pipe and it is pretty easy to see the bubbles.

Thanks for any help, info, or ideas you can give me!

P.S. the skimmer is most likely not broken in yet as I have only had it for about two and a half months now.

 

[SkiFletch]

As improbable as it may seem, you might have a bad batch of salt mix... Sounds like when you do a water change you're altering the chemistry of the water enough to allow the formation of extra microbubbles (more so than normal). Because your skimmer is creating too many bubbles, some of them invariably come back out into the sump. Thats just a theory but could be part of your problem...

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

As improbable as it may seem, you might have a bad batch of salt mix... Sounds like when you do a water change you're altering the chemistry of the water enough to allow the formation of extra microbubbles (more so than normal). Because your skimmer is creating too many bubbles, some of them invariably come back out into the sump. Thats just a theory but could be part of your problem...

Ski,

Thanks for that idea. I will try getting another pail of salt for my next water change. This could be as I have used the same salt for each water change. They are all bags from one large box and they are all labeled with the same dates and lot numbers. The micro bubble problem seems to be slowing down a bit today. I will be sure to try new salt next time.

Also, it may be helpful if I told you that I have three large fish in this tank, all preditors and meat eaters, so I expect to empty the protein skimmer quite a bit. I have the air intake of the skimmer at the lowest setting and just turing it up a little bit, it fills the cup in a couple of seconds. It is a coralife super skimmer if that helps as well.

 

[SkiFletch]

Actually, most of the byproducts of messy predators do not increase microbubble formation itself. Its usually the addition of some salts or metal ions that help break down the surface tension and hydrogen bonds of water to allow a skimmer to reate excess microbubbles. You dont want the skimmer operating at a point where the cup overflows in seconds. Ideally it operates at a point where bubbles just barely break at the top of the neck and overflow into the collection cup.

 

[PaulasPets]

Your skimmer should be broken in after 2 and a half months. It usualy doesnt take any longer than a couple of weeks.

Paula

 

[ostrow]

What kind of skimmer is it? How do you do your water changes and what is the status of the skimmer when you do them? How often do you clean the skimmer, and more important, the pump(s) on it and how do you clean it/them?