Crazy flowing protein skimmer

[rspring]

We've got a protein skimmer that we can get going perfectly sometimes, but not always. Most often it's temperamental. It loves to overflow the middle cylinder and simply pour into the collection bin up top. It happens sometimes if we add water, other times it's an eventual over the course of a day.

How do we stabilize it? We've tried venturi valve adjustments, which works sometimes, but other times not. (flame) (scratch) (cussing) Help us please?

[dsoz]

I have the same problem with my Coralife Super Skimmer. It seems to go nuts when I add top-off water. It has to do with the different properties of salt vs. fresh water. Try to top off less water more often so the salinity does not change so much when you do top off. I don't know what else to tell you. I am kinda new to this myself.

By the way, welcome to the site. :)

dsoz

[Michael7979]

When was the last time you cleaned the skimmer and pump? Might just need to be cleaned.

Or it might have to do with the water level in which it sits in, some skimmers need to sit in an exact amout of water all the time to be operating correctly. (along the lines of what dsoz said)

[impur]

Adding FW will make the water level in the skimmer higher, the properties of SW and FW are different when it comes to injecting air. I assume you have a somewhat small sump, so when you add the FW it lowers the salinity making the water level in the skimmer rise. Feeding will also affect how your skimmer acts, as will just putting your hand into the water.

What kind of skimmer is it? Any mods done to it?

[rspring]

Sorry I forgot to get back to this. It's an Aggressor A1590. I bought it used with the tank, so I'm not positive it doesn't have any mods, but it doesn't look like it has (see others like it in the lfs).

[dsoz]

To check for a mesh mod, take the pump apart, and look at the impeller (propeller looking thing) and see if there is fish line or wire mesh in the impeller then it has what is called a mesh mod.

dsoz

[rspring]

Will do. Thanks!

[rspring]

Ok, so I'm finally getting back to this. Skimmer pump looks fine. No mods that I can see. And I got model wrong earlier, it's an Aggressor AIS-90.

[defigart]

Are there any valve's you can adjust. I had issues with my skimmer, till I figured out how it worked. I had to adjust a valve on it, and now it is working fine.