Chem clean vs protein skimmer

[eagle9252]

Added the chem clean per instructions. Says to allow 24 hrs before adding carbon or PS and then 20% WC in 48 hrs. well I waited for 48hrs and PS was acting crazy, so I turned it off. Even with the water flow turned all the way down. So I did another 20% WC 48hrs later. PS is still going crazy even after turning it on after 24hrs of the 2nd WC.

 

[jhutto]

It takes lots of water changes...more than they say.

 

[mbachota]

I just ran my protein skimmer and let it go crazy. I think it took about 6 water changes before the skimmer stopped going crazy.

 

[eagle9252]

crazy is fine but turned all the way down and overflowing out the top is not good

 

[jhutto]

6 water changes is about right. I would turn skimmer off as you will get salt spray all over everything in your sump. It will be fine.

 

[ralph atl]

Change your carbon quicker...helps...

No big deal though.

 

[jbdreefs]

Yeah, this takes forever. I did several water changes and still couldn't get the Skimmer to operate at some sort of normal operating level. I ended up elevating the Skimmer to create more back pressure and then I tapped a hole in my collection cup and installed a drain. The elevation helped to some degree, but I was able to just let the Skimmer wet skim (and drain) for several hours. After a while, the Skimmer settled down. I replaced the wet skim With new salt water and turned off the ATO for the time being.