classic 200

There are several common reasons a protein skimmer will overflow, 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 overproduce foam. Chemicals that may cause skimmers to overflow 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 media. To remove these chemicals from the water column, we suggest that you do several 20% water changes over a month and add the right amount of fresh activated carbon to the system and change out every week till the skimmer has returned to regular operation.

If it still overflowing, that means the chemical is still in the water. Either you are inadvertently adding it back into the system or the concentration is very high that it will take more water changes and carbon to lower it and allow the skimmer to go back to normal.

As I mentioned before, it may take a few times, not just a couple. Again, either you are adding the chemical back into the water when you do the water change or the chemical you added is very high in concentration. It will take MULTIPLE water changes AND activated carbon to get your skimmer back to normal.

Did you open take the pump apart to see if something got pulled into the skimmer pump and is jamming the impeller?

Can you please send us pictures of the skimmer's intake? We want to see how the intake basket sits in the water and what the water level inside the tank is in relation to the basket.