HELP!!!! Skimmer Gone Wild

[jonboyb]

After having to empty the skimmer cup way too often with my Aquamedic Turboflotor 1000 Multi, I finally bit the bullet and bought a EuroReef 135. I can't keep it steady or prevent overflowing. I've tried running it from it's recommended minimum depth to the recommended maximum with no change. Tried no air restrictor and various settings with the restrictor. I've also tried ever possible position with the riser pipe.

It builds a foam head that pulses and won't stay steady. It'll be where it's supposed to be then WHOOSHHH and it overflows then falls. Sump level dead steady. Seriously...the foam will rise and fall better than 6". I've been fighting it for around 8 hours now and have finally given up. I've had skimmers run wet during break-in before....but this is rediculous. I've never seen one have this rising and collapsing foam.

The Turboflotor did a great job and stayed very steady from day 1. Just produced too much gunk and I had to empty daily which is hard with the holidays here.

 

[jonboyb]

Brand new. I have the air restrictor completely off as that's the lowest level I can attain. Pulled the pump and ran it in a tub to see if it was surging and it seemed to be constant. Runs nice and quiet too....doesn't seem to be anything out of wack.

 

[mufret]

If it's new, it needs to break in. Set the minimum level and let it run a day or two before you start tweaking it.

 

[jonboyb]

Tried running it at minimum and woke up this morning to it wildly overflowing. I mean geiser. Blew the top off the cup and my stand is soaked.

 

[jennm]

Do you run carbon? If not - try running a bag for a day or two. I don't know why it works but it does.

Jenn

 

[fener103]

Is your skimmer return completely submerged or at water level. Mine used to give me fits with consant level if I did not

 

[jonboyb]

OK....I think I have it whipped now. Honestly....I think I got a unit with a small manufacturing mistake. The return riser on this skimmer is 2 piece: one fits into the return elbow and then a pipe and sponge riser that slips over that one to control water level in the skimmer. Well, with the riser slid all the way down, the inner piece stuck up like 4" over the riser like it was too long. Trimmed it a couple inches and now I can maintain level steady (for a couple hours so far anyways). Hard to picture, but seems to have been the problem.

And don't believe Euroreef's instructions...this skimmer will not function in 9" like they claim to be the max operating depth. It definantly wants 8" or less.

 

[jonboyb]

fener103;433749 wrote: Is your skimmer return completely submerged or at water level. Mine used to give me fits with consant level if I did not

The return elbow is submerged but the risers stand well out of the water.

 

[jonboyb]

Well...4 hours of steady now and it's pulled 1/2" of green, but still a little wet, skimmate. I guess shortening a riser worked. Stinks to pay this much for a skimmer and still have to modify it (if it wasn't a manufacturing error that is). Bought it to be able to relax a little during the holidays.....but looks like i'll be worried through them now

As a backup, I also added a pound of carbon based on Jenn's suggestion and the Euroreef manual.