Why does my skimmer go berzerk ???

kien · #1 12-10-2010, 02:48 AM

Okay, this is driving me mental!! I've been using this skimmer (Bubble Magus CS220) since this past spring and recently it has been behaving strangely. At least once a week it will bubble over and flood the collection cup and spill into my sump. Drives me mad! I have only ever seen it do this when I use a lot of epoxy but I'm not using epoxy once a week. In fact, I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary. The skimmer has been cleaned thoroughly 3 times this month. The water level in the sump compartment that it is in does not change. I know that it'll do this if a new sock is put on that happens to have detergent residue on it, but nope, will bubble over with old unchanged sock. The first few times it did this I thought, okay, some spawning event or some such thing must have occurred. Well, this is still happening at least once a week and has been doing this for over a month now. If it keeps this up I'm going to throw this skimmer into the blue recycling bin.. after I've run it over a few times.

viperfish · #2 12-10-2010, 02:58 AM

Try injecting some hot water down your airline with a syringe. If you have a blockage in your airline or venturi the skimmer level will increase rapidly because the pump is pushing more water than air. This is something that should be done on a regular basis to keep the skimmer running efficiently. It's worth a try.

kien · #3 12-10-2010, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medhatreefguy

Try injecting some hot water down your airline with a syringe. If you have a blockage in your airline or venturi the skimmer level will increase rapidly because the pump is pushing more water than air. This is something that should be done on a regular basis to keep the skimmer running efficiently. It's worth a try.

Been there done that

The Grizz · #4 12-10-2010, 05:07 AM

I would say it is cuz it is CRAZY just like you

Delphinus · #5 12-10-2010, 05:11 AM

Mine does the exact same thing about as frequently. Different model skimmer but still a Bubble Magus. Maybe it has something to do with the pump. I've looked at all kinds of things to explain it away like small variances in water level and blockages and dirty intake venturi but it doesn't seem to be any of those things ... it just happens.

And it torques me off too.

I've been living with the collection cup overflowing the last few days because I just give up on resetting it every few days.

Bloodasp · #6 12-10-2010, 05:14 AM

Mine went crazy lst night and it's not even bubble magus and I didn't do anything different from what I normally do.

kien · #7 12-10-2010, 05:19 AM

Huh.. Weird. I've never had a skimmer just randomly blow its load. I've always been able to determine why (epoxy, new sock, medications, etc). This is driving me ape detritus!! At least I'm not the only one. I can't live like this tho so if it keeps up I'm recycling its red ass!

Coleus · #8 12-10-2010, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

Okay, this is driving me mental!! I've been using this skimmer (Bubble Magus CS220) since this past spring and recently it has been behaving strangely. At least once a week it will bubble over and flood the collection cup and spill into my sump. Drives me mad! I have only ever seen it do this when I use a lot of epoxy but I'm not using epoxy once a week. In fact, I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary. The skimmer has been cleaned thoroughly 3 times this month. The water level in the sump compartment that it is in does not change. I know that it'll do this if a new sock is put on that happens to have detergent residue on it, but nope, will bubble over with old unchanged sock. The first few times it did this I thought, okay, some spawning event or some such thing must have occurred. Well, this is still happening at least once a week and has been doing this for over a month now. If it keeps this up I'm going to throw this skimmer into the blue recycling bin.. after I've run it over a few times.

Do you notice when it happens. i got this too when the water level is too high when i turn off my return pump during feeding.

Have you tried to shoak the whole skimmer in vinegar and let it break in again? may be some proxy got stuck in chamber?

Red Coral Aquariums · #9 12-10-2010, 05:24 AM

Your controller should monitor your ph. That being said can you record your ph levels and the approximate times it overflows?.
Just a thought.
Kevin

kien · #10 12-10-2010, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coleus

Do you notice when it happens. i got this too when the water level is too high when i turn off my return pump during feeding.

Have you tried to shoak the whole skimmer in vinegar and let it break in again? may be some proxy got stuck in chamber?

Always seems to happen while I'm at work. I have not turned off my return pumps for a few months now

The three times I did clean it this month I did run it in vinegar.