Coralife skimmer issue?

[ibleedblue65]

Just walked in the door and as usual checked the tank. I had been running carbon in the sump for a while and battled a cyano issue. I was told that carbon can be bad about leaching phosphates so I removed it and replaced with a phosphate absorber. I am running a coralife 125 skimmer and it had worked beautifully until I pulled the carbon out. Pulled out some real nasty stuff consistently and produced a nice foam. When I pulled the carbon all it will do is wet skim. I have heard this is normal for these P.O.S. skimmers but wondering if ya'll have any suggestions. Is there a better carbon to use, is there something I can do to help the skimmer, or should I just save my money and purchase a better skimmer? Just fyi my tank is a 72 bowfront with a 10 gallon sump and 15 gallon fuge, and the coralife skimmer. O and I am proud, I feel like this was a pretty decent post after a night of drinking.

 

[ibleedblue65]

minus the screwed up smiley :yay:

 

[jamescook]

you can always run carbon except when you medicate.
you probably just changed the flow in the sump and the water level is a little higher. adjust the skimmer down if it's wet

 

[ibleedblue65]

I have adjusted the skimmer. All it will do is wet skim. I have heard that carbon will leach phosphates, that is why i removed it

 

[jennm]

All carbon contains *some* phosphates. Good quality carbon contains much less phosphate than the cheap stuff that is re-packaged for aquarium use but is primarily used for air filtration.

The benefits of running a good quality carbon, IMO outweigh any negative effects.

Jenn

 

[ibleedblue65]

well can you recommend a good carbon? I have heard carbon can affect the skimmer. Is this true? I am looking for help getting my skimmer skimming properly again.

 

[jennm]

Yes, carbon can help settle a skimmer. I don't know the 'science' behind it but I've seen it work numerous times.

I'm partial to Seachem Matrix Carbon.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/MatrixCarbon.html">http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/MatrixCarbon.html</a>

Jenn

 

[jamescook]

that's what i use too.
If the water level in the sump isn't the issue with the skimmer, have you added any supplements or meds? The only time mine acted like that was after the chemiclean dosing.

 

[jennm]

Using 2-part epoxy (ie to fix coral frags) can and will cause a skimmer to go nuts also.

Jenn

 

[ibleedblue65]

only thing that is added to the tank is trace and iodide. I do buffer alk and calc occasionally but don't have a big coral load so usually just use water changes to keep calc stable

 

[weaglereefer]

Unfortunately these skimmers sometimes just do that. Take it out, give the venturi and exit tubes a good cleaning, stick it back in, and I bet it's good as new.

 

[jdabs]

au01st;517106 wrote: Unfortunately these skimmers sometimes just do that. Take it out, give the venturi and exit tubes a good cleaning, stick it back in, and I bet it's good as new.

+1 Sometimes you get a little buildup and this happens. Should be good to go after a good cleaning!

 

[ibleedblue65]

will do thanks guys

 

[drnecropolis]

Ive always been under the impression that the trace elements in a bottle are a huge waste of money.. Being that all the stuff its supposed to replace gets replaced in a water change..

 

[downtime89]

not trying to hijack this thread but does anyone know were i can get a online copy of the owners manual for the 125 corallife?

 

[weaglereefer]

 

[jennm]

http://www.oceanicsystems.com/assets/006/12626.pdf">http://www.oceanicsystems.com/assets/006/12626.pdf</a>

Google.

 

[ibleedblue65]

o and btw a good cleaning helped a lot... thanks guys