Super Reef Octopus 5000 Internal Skimmer SRO-5000INT

Nov 11, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

The manufacturer is Reef Octopus and Coralvue is the sole distributor here in the U.S.

Nov 11, 2014

bmw328i wrote

I purchased your Super Reef Octopus 5000 Internal Skimmer SRO-5000INT about 2-3 years ago..The skimmer was working great, but I am noticing that over the past year..The skimmer goes crazy and fills up the collection cup. The water level is perfect. I clean the collection cup weekly, I have grounding probes in the tank for stray voltages. I clean the air intake regularly (at the end connected to the pump and submerged) to keep salt creep from blocking air intake. I even dismantled the pump to clean the impeller. Most of the time the skimmer is skimming correctly but maybe once or twice a week without warning it will just start to overflow until the collection cup is full. I have no idea what's wrong with the skimmer but hoping this is something that has been reported or seen before and there is a solution.

Can feeding cycles have anything to do with the cup overflowing? Usually after feeding I will see the level in the skimmer neck reduce, but not overflow.

Btw...I know that if I loose power to my skimmer, when power resumes, it will overflow. The condition listed above happens with constant power on.

Thanks

Nov 11, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

Yes, feeding the tank can crash the skimmer and after that, make the skimmer overflow. Can you tell me what water depth are you running the skimmer at? This is measured from the very bottom of the skimmer to the water surface level outside the skimmer.

Also, does the sump have a constant water level or does it change due to evaporation?

Nov 11, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Thanks Carlos,
I am running the skimmer at a 9.5 inch water depth and yes...the water level I'm my sump does stay constant.

Are there any suggestions on what to do to keep the skimmer from crashing after feedings? I do not want to turn it off during feedings because upon restart it behaves the same way and will overflow and fill the collection cup.

Thanks

Nov 12, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

You are running the skimmer too deep and that is why it is overflowing. The SRO-5000INT should be running in 6.5" of water and no more. Please raise the skimmer and the overflowing will stop.

Nov 12, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Thanks Carlos.....I think I was instructed to do that about a year back and it did not fix the overflow problem, but let me try to raise it again and see if that works. I'll let you know the results.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Carlos...raised the skimmer so it's was just in 6 3/4 inches of water. It ran for almost two days with no issues. This morning the skimmer overflowed again. Since I was trying to run an experiment, I have not fed or dosed anything to the tank for the last two days. So........nothing has changed in the tank for the last few days and again it just goes into this overflow mode. This is the behavior I have been experiencing with this Skimmer and I cant figure out what's causing it.

Nov 14, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

Are you running activated carbon? Can you please send me a video of the skimmer running? You can attach it to this post.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Yes. I am running carbon (it's a high capacity carbon from bulk reef supply.com). I'll provide a video once I get back to the house. Thanks

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Let me know if this video is sufficient. Thanks

20141114_133811.mp4

Nov 14, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

You are running that skimmer inner water level WAY TOO HIGH. That is why you are overflowing. Don't force the skimmer to collect. The water level on that skimmer should not exceed where the collection cup meets the neck of the skimmer. Then, when there are enough DOCs, the skimmer will collect and when there are none, the skimmer won't. They are not supposed to collect all the time, only when they have to.

Here is a short read on how to dial in your skimmer... http://www.coralvue.com/support/317511-How-do-you-dial-in-a-protein-skimmer

Nov 14, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

Also, how long ago did you change the carbon? Carbon only lasts a couple of weeks and then it actually start to release the chemicals it previously trapped. So when it comes to carbon, no carbon is better than old carbon. Make sure that you are running a batch of new carbon because your water on the sump looks a bit yellow to me.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Ok...I have a always run my skimmer level about an inch from the top of the collection cup, but what you said makes sense. I will Read the attached article and dial it in. Also my carbon is only about 4 weeks old.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

OK...just read the dial in article....so basically I should have the top of the foaming bubbles much lower in the neck of the collection cup...closer to where the collection cup attaches to the skimmer.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Is this a better level to run at?

20141114_145304.mp4

Nov 14, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

Yes, that is a great start. Keep an eye on it. You may need to lower the water level even more if you are still collecting tea-like skimmate instead of the darker stuff.

Nov 14, 2014

bmw328i wrote

Excellent...thanks for your help.