Make it stop! Skimmer overflowing solution

[@dysfunctionalgreek]

Dude you are a lifesaver I’ve had the problem for a week started losing my marbles

[@melevsreef]

Glad it helped.

[@soudalkharji9610]

This is the best advice for an overflowing skimmer highly suggest to try

[@BillTee92]

This definitely works, i had to raise the skimmer extremely high, and every time id empty a few cups, id lower it, 3 hours later the skimmer was back to normal Thanks

[@taylord9772]

You’re a genius can’t believe I didn’t think of this. Worked good thanks

[@Beets1e]

Just used this solution it worked great took about 2.5hrs and ended up changing 20 Litres or 4.3 Gallons. Nyos quantum is now at the opppsite end haha air fully open and closed almost fully and barely halfway up the neck but i'll give it some time as i gave it a deep clean like 5 days ago, Thanks melev.

[@Mike75W]

Thank you so much - this worked like a charm! I just added some new rock, and used underwater epoxy - skimmer went nuts. Lesson learned. This worked 100%

[@marywilliams6823]

Thank you Mark.. This is what I needed to know for my skimmer was overflowing like crazy because I had treated the tank with chemiclean. I will do what you showed in your video and hopefully it will get back to normal.

[@tami7878able]

This is THEE most helpful video ever!

[@RandomlyRantful]

I’ve been watching hundreds of reef videos since I bought my nano tank a couple weeks ago. You’re my first sub in the community. Real information with great presentation. I like you.

[@melevsreef]

Thanks Drew!

[@k1assic]

Worked great! I added some 2 part epoxy and a day later a new filter pad. My skimmer was going NUTS for DAYS with no end in sight (how I ended up here). I've been reefing for 15 years and never had this happen. So I fed the skimmer drain to a container and just let it run. Tank is a 30 gallon with 10 gallon sump. This method only took a few hours! Only casualty was 2.5 gallons on tank water that has to be replaced so have replacement saltwater ready before you start.

[@tommycristaldi9037]

Did you raise the skimmer or just leave it and collected the waste from the skimmer?

[@k1assic]

@@tommycristaldi9037 I adjusted the internal skimmer water level as low as possible and gradually raised the water level as it calmed down but I didn't touch the skimmer height or sump water level.

[@tommycristaldi9037]

@@k1assic I tried that method and it succeeded. Never using Chemiclean again. It did take 6 gals of skimate to remove.

[@anthonyrodriguez2570]

Thanks for this video! I used this technique on my new 40 Breeder system and it pulled 4 gallons before calming down!

[@tinabloomfield7228]

This is exactly what I did with my last chemi clean treatment. Worked like a charm.

[@simonbennetts9393]

Wow. Started up an old tank and couldn't get the skimmer to stop. Pulling what it dumped out had it fixed in 3 hrs. Thanks so much for the knowledge!

[@reisingsreef3527]

This is one of the biggest reasons I’m happy to have a DC adjustable skimmer, just knock the pump down until it skims all that out and when it’s done, turn it back up 👍🏼

[@cameron6824]

Good tip. Has the same problem a long time ago. Ended up buying tubing to run from the skimmer to the floor drain. 😎👍

[@melevsreef]

That works, but if it does it a lot, the salinity may plummet as the top off adds freshwater to replace what is lost.

[@cameron6824]

@@melevsreef always turn off ato if it happens. But I keep a close eye on salinity. Way more than I need too (once a day) 😎👍

[@HNiCDuke]

​@@melevsreefI put salt in my ato to balance that out and i dont see a change in salinity

[@melevsreef]

@@HNiCDuke Your skimmer is overflowing into a drain or nearby bucket, so you are topping off with saltwater for the time being?

[@HNiCDuke]

@@melevsreef a bucket so I know how much is being drained and yes topping off with SW

[@danalcott6541]

Hi Mark, I'm so happy that I watched this video, thank you so much 👍 Happy new year, all the way from England ...🎉

[@folksoter]

My new skimmer nyos 160 does the same a couple of months ago. I read somewhere that solution and 2 hours after works perfect.

[@bigjay4142]

Is so funny that post this video today my Skimmer is going crazy Thank you for the tip I think it’ll help

[@Mike__B]

Interesting solution... just let it go. Never used a collection bucket myself so I simply took the skimmer cup off and let it go for a few hours, then put it back on.

[@melevsreef]

That doesn't remove anything, and odds are when the skimmer is turned on later it will resume overflowing.

[@Mike__B]

@@melevsreef No it doesn't, but at least it will allow what I dosed to do what it's supposed to do before being removed. Sometimes it's a chemical that binds with something else, sometimes its a food that has a bit more of an oily "surface" which makes it more susceptible to skimming. So by letting it "run its course" (or work for a little while) you may not have to remove as much hence not as much overflow. At least that's how I've always looked at it.

[@robertrayworth8615]

Thanks for this very useful tip I was struggling before!

[@craigdeklerk3863]

After being in marine for a long time with things going right, you forget how to correct things when they go wrong sometimes. This video helped remind me of a simple fix - lift the skimmer higher! Thank you!

[@ccasasolac]

Thanks finally found the video I needed. Thanks

[@bassieh193]

Yep change filtersocks last week, skimmer started overflowing for an our and after that went back to normal again😊

[@tommycristaldi9037]

Dealing with this now. Did Chemiclean and the skimmer is going ape 💩. I used carbon and it’s not working. Next step is what you suggested. Raise the skimmer and get a Home Depot bucket. Let you know the outcome.

[@jeffreyheelan4428]

I have a question bud. I have a icecap k1:200 . I have it on a stand it's about 4 inches to 5 in water. And it's overflowing no matter what I do. I don't understand it's brand new

[@Wealthyhealthyabundance]

What about a new hang on skimmer? How we dealing with an overflowing new hang on skimmer? Tq

[@dramad2974]

Question about letting skimmer export all that volume. Did you turn off your ato? I had a friend who wet skimmed alot, causing his ato to kick on alot. Long story short, it dropped his salinity in the tank a few points.

[@melevsreef]

That's why I said to turn off your ATO. You can even fill up your ATO with saltwater instead so it replenishes that automatically for the duration, but you will need to remember to drain out what remains and replace it with RODI water later when things are running as they should.

[@dramad2974]

@@melevsreef yeah,sorry didnt see that until after I already commented. Thanks Marc

[@davidbatzos9416]

I have a esshop skimmer and I recently placed new life rock in my tank after rinsing it and my skimmer went nuts for a week I ended up having to do a very large water change to stop it.

[@brinks128]

Mark. I have tried this but it's still over flowing. I even did another 50 gallon water change on my 300 gallon system. Please help.. I did the 2nd water change 4 days later after the 1st one.

[@melevsreef]

Did you get it resolved finally? Changing out more water is usually the solution, using the method I explained in this video.

[@rhombifer566]

What if it’s been running crazy for like three weeks

[@slowinfastout3304]

Is there something that can be done to a new filter sock beforehand to prevent the skimmer going nuts?

[@melevsreef]

Perhaps rinse them clean with a garden hose, blasting out any residue before use?

[@slowinfastout3304]

Thanks. I’ll put them in the washer with no soap

[@joeymerrell8585]

Just happened to be dealing, ok struggling, with this as we speak. Fluconazole has my skimmer going crazy.

[@206gfd]

You leave your ATO top off in the off position ?

[@melevsreef]

Yes the skimmers overflowing… Absolutely

[@206gfd]

Do you leave your return pump on or off ?

[@melevsreef]

@@206gfd The return pump would still be running.

[@bobbyrodriguez5635]

I have a ice cap k1 nano skimmer if it stops working is my water clean or pump bad? The tune tube will not close I run it full open. The tuner will not tune properly. So I run it full open. Any ideas?

[@melevsreef]

Perhaps Coralvue has a video about their skimmer. Icecap is their brand.

[@littleche7676]

Yeah i added Fritz fixich and my skimmer gone crazy.. 🥴

[@novak52489]

I can see this as a solution when you put something new in the tank, like filter socks, and your skimmer is overflowing. But isn't the reason the skimmer overflows when you dose say Chemiclean or Reefbooster is because it added extra organics to the water that the skimmer is now removing. And by following your advice, you are just removing whatever you dosed, thereby forcing you to do all this extra work to contain the skimmer, for 0 gain. You'd be better off just not dosing anything? Am I mistaken, or isn't that the reason why medications and other dose-able items tell you to turn your skimmer off?

[@saltyfarms]

That’s why I hate filter socks 😂

[@TheHelicapt]

Is it worth having a avast marine skimmer cleaner? I see you have one

[@melevsreef]

I love mine!!

[@brobbelweatherill2773]

What if the water looks clean?

[@melevsreef]

Even then, something in the water is causing the skimmer to overflow. Best to let it run its course until it settles down.

[@mnelson10000]

Ah man, I was hoping you had some magic bullet antidote! Lol... Yeah I let the skimmer drain into a bucket and put saltwater in the ato. The last couple times I did it after chemiclean, I came darn close to a 100% water change before it finally settled down.

[@brinks128]

Really? I already did 100 gallons on my 300 system. It's still over flowing

[@mnelson10000]

@@brinks128 On every tank I've ever run ChemiClean on, I've needed a near-100% water change to get the skimmer to calm down. I've only gone as high as 180g, so I can't speak to 300g. :)

[@Sec_coach]

If it’s overflowing it’s because something bad is in the water maybe it’s a time to collect the overflow and change the water

[@rookie_reefer4062]

Mine does this after I feed every time. this is the only solution to be able to keep it running...

[@melevsreef]

What food do you use? Are you turning off the return pump when you feed, causing the skimmer to overflow since the skimmer is in deeper water then?

[@Carlos23reef]

My skimmer acts up sometimes when I change the socks

[@RustyShacklefardd]

I literally just did a 50% change and it’s still going bananas

[@melevsreef]

Open the output of the skimmer fully, and let the collection cup drain into a bucket (or dump the cup into a bucket) as much as is necessary, and only top off with saltwater during this process. That way salinity won't be affected.

[@KlemmetsmoReefing]

I should make a video on “how to control the water level in your reef tank.” (Turn the flow down). OR “how to control the salinity of your saltwater” (don’t add so much salt). 😂😂😂 I thought this subject to be common sense? I guess there is always that someone who can’t figure common sense stuff out. I had this one roommate in college who was literally a genius, but couldn’t wash his own laundry... so I guess this is a great video for those reefers 👍

[@melevsreef]

This isn’t a video about a water level problem in the sump. And you may not notice the abundant threads of people frustrated by overflowing skimmers that worked fine but suddenly seem possessed to never run right again. That’s what this video is for.

[@KlemmetsmoReefing]

melevsreef yeah you’re right. I just thought it common sense? Like adding soap to fresh water - the result is suds... conversely add something to a reef tank makes the skimmer go nuts... but I guess some ppl can’t get that. Love your videos😁

[@melevsreef]

I agree, I’ve never had this issue because I decided to handle it like this video. Others however don’t; they even leave their skimmer off for weeks and later turn it on and it will overflows. So I’m demonstrating my advice to them on KZbin. I’ve had this information on my website for years.

[@TheFiscallySound]

This guy is full of it. Nothing had changed and yet my skimmer started to overflow and I have the identical skimmer as he's showing,

[@melevsreef]

Did you solve your problem yet?

[@tasanastasi7799]

Why not just tune down the skimmer ? say for the day .

[@melevsreef]

In a situation like this, the user has already done that but the skimmer keeps overflowing despite lowering the water level in the body.

[@tasanastasi7799]

@@melevsreef Thank you

[@nathenrad2303]

dont say bulshets skimmer its best filtration if adjust air level never over flooding .you think have chip skimmer as bublemages its ok for 2 week over flood i tell you stupid . best skimmer after adjust air never flooding new or use . if you like I tell you don’t buy babble mages shet skimmer (seler tell you 2 weeks flood it’s normal 😆😂)