Help Please! Skimmers Gone Crazy! New Filter Stuff? (1 Viewer)

[PygmyAngel]

Tonight I am doing basic filter maintenance and skimmer cup cleanouts on my reef tanks....Well, the only thing different I did was try this filter cartridge material that I got at City Pets for $6.99, no label on it or anything when I bought it....so anyway, I put it in the media holder thingies that go in my HOB filters: Emperor 400s (1 on my 20g tank and 1 on my 75g tank) - cut to size, then put in the filters...

Here's the package of the stuff:

Okay, so I then notice SUDDENLY my 20g skimmer started going crazy, foaming like no tomorrow, and so I removed the skimmer, checked it, etc. I then put it back on, and it starts doing the same thing, w/ the water collecting in the skimmer being clear, but foam like crazy, and shooting microbubbles all into the tank.

Here you see it foaming like this instantly/continuously w/ clear water leaking into the cup:

So I thought I better check the 75g skimmer and see if it's doing the same thing, and sure enough, it is. Hard to tell, but you can see the white foam all in the cup of the skimmer, w/ clear water collecting at bottom:

Okay, the only thing I did to both of these tanks just now tonight was put some of this new floss type material in the cartridges of the filters. I smelled it to see if there was maybe a chemical or soapy smell or something, and I couldn't tell anything weird, though. Couldn't feel any residue either. The material is white, all woven, and hardish-not softer like the poly filter floss though. But I'm real worried. This is definitely not normal.

Should I remove the media? I got it from City Pets in the filter media/cartridge floss section....surely they wouldn't sell something w/ chemical or soap residue or something on it that would harm the tank? Of course I didn't think there would be any problem with it or anything when I got it, so I didn't worry about the package not having any label on it or anything. But I also have not used this particular material before either.

Does anyone know what's going on here? Had this problem? I guess if I don't hear back from anyone, I'll just remove the stuff from my filters for precaution's sake.

P.S. - I still have my skimmer going on my 75g, but not on the 20g, as the skimmer on the 20g was just foaming too much...

Help, please!

Kim

 

[Guest]

I would recommend cutting a piece of the material and sloshing it around in the sink to see if you can produce a foam.. In the mean time remove the filter cloth from your tanks and do a water change (large) just to be safe..

 

[RickD]

Kim,
I don't know what causes that, but when I put a new filter sock in, I get the same results in the skimmer. Even if I rinse the sock before I put it in the system. Never bothered to ask, because it goes away after a couple of hours and my livestock don't complain.

-rick

 

[PygmyAngel]

Well, something is definitely not 'normal' - for the skimmers anyway....this is what happened when I plugged the skimmer on the 20g back in just now, and within seconds it started filling up again w/ all this foam and completely clear water:

I had to turn the skimmer off. No choice. Err.

And now the 75g's skimmer is continuing to fill up too. It's also making this loud sound every few seconds like it's working hard to pull the water in; it's freaking me out. I think I'm going to have to turn this skimmer off too:

I guess I will leave both skimmers off tonight. I don't know if I should remove the floss or not. I can try to swish the floss stuff in freshwater and see if it foams up as well. What will that tell me, I don't know.

RickD, I hope you're right. Maybe it's just the way the skimmers react to this type of floss, and not a chemical or something in the floss. I just never had the skimmers do this before, but I also never used this particular floss before either. I mean, I have had the skimmers do funky stuff from time to time, and the skimmer on my 75g often starts to overflow for no particular reason, but nothing like this exactly....

As for a large water change (2 tanks), oh man.....if I do that, I'll be up all night, and it's already 11 pm and I have to go to work early in the morning. I also don't want to lose everything in the tanks either, and don't want to ignore a problem, if there is one, that is.

This is so confusing; I don't know what to do....I am looking at all the critters closely; they don't seem to be getting sick, and things don't seem to be withering. In fact, the water seems suddenly crystal clear in both tanks. Go figure. Sigh....I don't know. My head is hurting again.

 

[PygmyAngel]

only 2 responses but 46 views when I am worried w/ a real concern. but someone wants skimmer opinions and there are 13 responses to that....hmmph. :x

things aren't dead in the tank this morning anyway, so I guess if the filter material was toxic it would have done something by now.

 

[Guest]

I'm glad to hear there were no ill effects. I tend to overcorrect when I dont understand a change in the way my system operates. I guess I'm just overprotective..

 

[pernelf]

I wouldn't be mad if many people look at the post and do not respond. They just may not have any good advice or are trying to learn from others mistakes. Lord knows I do not have a response for every post I see/read.

 

[RickD]

I would be too distraught, I've had several posts where people didn't have an answer.

Here is an excerpt from another website (http://www2.hawaii.edu/~delbeek/reefaq3.html) which might help.

Finally, the addition of certain buffers and molecular adsorbtion filter pads can cause the skimmer to foam excessively. In this case, the best action to take is to turn down the skimmer for a day and then gradually restart it.

I would assume there were some cleaning solutions used during manufacturing. If you really want to know you might consider writing to the company and find out so we could all know.

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, Kim.
I've had this happen a couple of times when I've added stuff to my system. I would just stop skimming for a day, usually that's all it takes.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[PygmyAngel]

Yeah, I had to turn off the skimmer on the 20g anyway, and turned the other one way down. I probably would call the Mfr. in this case, but again, there was no label or any information or anything on the packaging anywhere.

I guess if I do see any problems, or my skimmers continue to stay weird for a prolonged time, I will talk to City Pets about it.

Rick, that excerpt explains what it's doing pretty much, so at least it's something that's been encountered before, sounds like....that's a little encouraging. At least it didn't say that it does harm or something....

Well, we'll see....

Thanks for the continued responses...feeling a lil calmer now

 

[PygmyAngel]

Update for this evening: well, things look ok in both tanks. Skimmer on 75g calmed down, so I turned it back up a little. Tried to start skimmer again on 20g, but still wouldn't work right, though. I've left it off for now a second night in a row. Guess I'll try each day and see when I can finally get it going again.
On a side note, tanks look exceptionally clear - can see all the way to the other side of the room thru them. (Am quite curious as to what the exact make up of the filter media/floss stuff is that I got).
Fishes still swimming, critters still moving, so things seem to be ok in the tanks for now....

 

[AggieBrandon]

There are tons of things that can cause a skimmer to act weird. Just putting your hands in the tank can affect them. when you replace the filter pad in the future you should try to wash it out really well with ro/di water or distilled water. This should help...but maybe not. Either way it is better to wash it out just in case

B