Help! My Vertex Skimmer is actin crazy!

[Timbits]

Hi guys i really need your help, i have a Vertex IN-250 and lately its been acting crazy! Basically, its not skimming and fills the cup too fast. I tried adjusting the air intake and lowering the water level and it seems to help a bit but now i have it on almost open and the water level is like half of the suggested operating level.

I don't know what to do and it's driving me crazy!

Please help!

[Snufflupagus]

Have you dosed anything lately? I find sometimes with mine it goes crazy after dosing. It takes sometime to work itself out. At these times, I take the little plug off the skimmer cup and run a hose to a bucket until it works itself out. It does this after water changes sometimes too.

[azulikit]

When the intake is tight how many turns are you opening it?

[Timbits]

Originally Posted by Snufflupagus

Have you dosed anything lately? I find sometimes with mine it goes crazy after dosing. It takes sometime to work itself out. At these times, I take the little plug off the skimmer cup and run a hose to a bucket until it works itself out. It does this after water changes sometimes too.

i know it goes crazy after dosing or a water change but lately its been doing this every day it's pretty ridiculous i unplug it, turn it back on the next day and it still does it

[Timbits]

Originally Posted by azulikit

When the intake is tight how many turns are you opening it?

you mean on close? initially it was just a lil to the left, just one tiny turn but now i have it almost all the way open

[Timbits]

i have a vertex IN-80 on another tank and that one never has any problems. even after water changes, it never acts crazy. when i do a water change on this tank, the skimmer just bubbles just under the neck for a lil while and then starts skimming again, never overflows

[Timbits]

would high nitrates be a cause? or too much top off water added to sump at once??

[azulikit]

Silicone air intake tube is free of any debris? Sometimes mine fills up with evaporated salt causing it to perform unusual. What water height is the skimmer sitting in?

Top off water will do it if you adding to it to fast. If you don't have a ATO you need to add water very slowly. Put some markings for water height on so you don't fill up the sump too much.

[Snufflupagus]

Hmmm, interesting. Have you cleaned the pump and air hose lately? I took mine apart after it acted up the last time, cleaned everything in a vinegar soak, run the skimmer in the bath tub in vinegar water for a few hours and put it back in the sump and it seemed to solve the problem. I haven't had an outbreak since.

[Timbits]

Originally Posted by azulikit

Silicone air intake tube is free of any debris? Sometimes mine fills up with evaporated salt causing it to perform unusual. What water height is the skimmer sitting in?

Top off water will do it if you adding to it to fast. If you don't have a ATO you need to add water very slowly. Put some markings for water height on so you don't fill up the sump too much.

it is currently in about 9-10". thx i will check the silicone air intake tube.
hmmm ok it might be the top off water then i had a feeling it might be that, i do have a marking for water level but i have very high evaporation so i add a lot of top off water every day and i do add it very fast at once. i will add it more slowly and see if it helps thanks