Aug 10, 2019
Ryan Sanford
wrote
Hi all, thanks in advance for any insight or help you can offer.
I have the RO Elite 220 Int and have had microbubbles coming out of the return since I gave it a vinegar bath two weeks ago. I don’t remember these microbubbles being apart of/lasting this long in my initial break in period or when I have given it a vinegar baths before.
It’s been two weeks and the microbubbles are still going strong which lead me to reach out for help. I’ve double checked the impeller and it’s free from obstructions. The skimmer is sitting in 8.5” of water with the pump running mid power and the gate at about 4.5.
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
I have the RO Elite 220 Int and have had microbubbles coming out of the return since I gave it a vinegar bath two weeks ago. I don’t remember these microbubbles being apart of/lasting this long in my initial break in period or when I have given it a vinegar baths before.
It’s been two weeks and the microbubbles are still going strong which lead me to reach out for help. I’ve double checked the impeller and it’s free from obstructions. The skimmer is sitting in 8.5” of water with the pump running mid power and the gate at about 4.5.
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
Reply
3 Answers
Aug 12, 2019
Carlos
agent
wrote
There are several common reasons a protein skimmer will overflow and/or create excess micro bubbles but the most common is a chemical within the water itself.
Chemical Reaction - Some chemicals react with the air that the skimmer produces and causes the skimmer to over produce foamate. Chemicals known to cause skimmers to overflow and/or produce excess micro bubbles are, red slime remover, medications, reef/frag putties (epoxy Putty) frag glues, water conditioners, dechlorinators, stress coat, NEW filter socks, newly mixed salt, bacteria (seeding) additives as well as other dosing medias. In order to remove these chemicals from the water column we suggest that you do several 20% water changes over the period of a month and add a good amount of fresh activated carbon to the system and change out every week till the skimmer has returned to normal operation.
Chemical Reaction - Some chemicals react with the air that the skimmer produces and causes the skimmer to over produce foamate. Chemicals known to cause skimmers to overflow and/or produce excess micro bubbles are, red slime remover, medications, reef/frag putties (epoxy Putty) frag glues, water conditioners, dechlorinators, stress coat, NEW filter socks, newly mixed salt, bacteria (seeding) additives as well as other dosing medias. In order to remove these chemicals from the water column we suggest that you do several 20% water changes over the period of a month and add a good amount of fresh activated carbon to the system and change out every week till the skimmer has returned to normal operation.
Aug 12, 2019
Ryan Sanford
wrote
Thanks for your quick reply Carlos!
Even though I haven’t introduced any of the items mentioned recently, I’ll be following your water change instructions to confirm/rule out the chemical reaction possibility.
If it’s not a chemical reaction, are there any other things I should look for or test that could be the cause?
I’m scratching my head on this one right now, Could it be possible that the skimmer is still breaking in from the vinegar bath I gave it a week and a half ago?
Thank you again for your insight and direction!
Even though I haven’t introduced any of the items mentioned recently, I’ll be following your water change instructions to confirm/rule out the chemical reaction possibility.
If it’s not a chemical reaction, are there any other things I should look for or test that could be the cause?
I’m scratching my head on this one right now, Could it be possible that the skimmer is still breaking in from the vinegar bath I gave it a week and a half ago?
Thank you again for your insight and direction!
Aug 13, 2019
Carlos
agent
wrote
Let's do the water changes and carbon first and see if that works.