[Twan013]

hey guys, i've FINALLY broke down and bought a skimmer... its a Coralife Super Skimmer (for up to 125 gallons).... ok, after finally getting the powerhead to work (i had to mess with the impeller until it turned)... my skimmer filled up with water, the foam filled the collection cup within 10 minutes, and my bubble diffuser box overflowed like a crazy mofo!! i read that there's a 24-72 hour break in period in which it would do that, but in 24-72 hours of that crap, my tank would be drained completely! my collection cup filled one time, and then i turned around and changed out the drain plug for a tube that went down into an old jug... anyway, it was bedtime by the time i got it set up, and i couldn't leave it running because i was afraid the jug would overflow while i was sleeping... so what can i do? rather, why is it filling up so quickly? i have the outlet tube all the way open, i even tested it while the thing was running, and when i closed it, the collection cup filled even faster....

[Raymond3457]

Ok I am by no means an expert as I have only had my skimmer running for a couple of days. But my skimmer is very simular to yours and this is what has happened to me. Mine filled up like that the first few times i ran it. Thought i was doing something wrong also. I even left a post on here just as you did!!! I have the right pump for a skimmer and everything. My return line is opened all the way. I did put the little black hose on that came with the pump for more air. And it seems the thing has calmed down and started acting right. It now gets a little foam and fills very slowly, in fact last night was the first time I felt comfy letting it run with out supervision. It was only 1/4 full with water and that water was a nasty green and slimy so I figure it is working right. I know that this probaly don't help much but, maybe just give it a little time. I also figured that since I am just now cycling my tank that it just had allot of stuff to deal with. Hook up the extra air line to your pump, make sure your return is all the way open and just keep working with it and watching it. I think it will kind of settle out like mine did. But do keep me posted!!!! Good luck!!!!!

[Twan013]

how much water did you lose before it settled down? my tank is fully cycled, so on that part, i'm good to go... when your collection cup fiilled up, did you unplug the pump to empty the cup? i think that that's what's causing my problem... perhaps when i unplug it, it starts the process all over again... or it could be the water conditioner that i use... i read on here that some conditioners will cause it to do that for some reason or another... i dunno... but i've got it running again, i'll empty the big jug before i leave (got a dentist appointment here in a little bit)... and then i'll come back before i go to work

[Raymond3457]

I lost 3 or 4 collection cups worth. Yes I unpluged it to empty it. But in the space of time we have been typing this today. I cleaned my collector and started my skimmer up and it filled the cup in about 20 minutes. The foam and water were pretty clear. I don't know if it is because I am cycling my tank and there just isn't stuff to skim yet or what??? And yes I have heard the additives will make a skimmer freak out!! I guess I wish us both the best of luck!!!! LOL!!!!!!

[Twan013]

alright! mine's going good now... i just have a hard time finding that perfect adjustment on the output... too little, and the cup fills up real quick, but turn it up just a tad little bit, and the bubbles don't even reach the top of the funnel thing... oh, plus, i feel like i wasted time adding water in the aquarium... i had let it evaporate a pretty good bit, (yeah yeah, shame on me) so i topped it off before installing the skimmer, and the skimmer ended up taking out almost exactly as much water as i put in in the first place... but now i can't do anything until i get more salt.. oh, another complaint about the skimmer, is the powerhead... i read somewhere on the box that its supposed to be "whisper quiet"... no... whisper quiet to me is a mouse... this thing sounds like a herd of elephants tramping through a minefield... ok, that's a little excessive, but still, i can't sleep because its so loud... i think the store that i bought it from shafted me... the box had been previously open, and i think someone even tried to use it, because everything was clean, but here and there were traces of salt (ya know, when saltwater dries, the salt sticks behind, etc. etc.) everything was in the box, but the small exit tube on the powerhead has a piece chipped off, and a small clip is broken... i mean, nothing major, everything works, just not as i expected..

[Twan013]

oh, by the way, i think i've heard that you don't want to skim whilst cycling... something about the skimmer removes whatever it is that is supposed to make the beneficial bacteria grow.. but yeah, my first emptying of the cup (sounds like a formal initiation lol) after letting the excess bubbles come and go... yeah, the first time the stuff in the cup was just god-awful... talking about initiation, it looked like something a fraternity would make the pledges drink... oh, and instead of unplugging the thing, i just turned that output dial all the way open, so the bubbles would stay down, that way, you'd keep the water flowing (it just seems to me that unplugging and plugging it back in would mess something up eventually)

[Raymond3457]

Ya I probaly shouldnt skim while cycling. Just had to play with new toy though!!!!!!!!!shoot mine gets bubbles in it even with the output turned all the way up. maybe after cycling I will get it right! Glad to hear yours is doing good now!