Skimmer overflowing + Coral warfare issues ???

[kien]

My skimmer (bubble magus) used to do this religiously after (or some time after) a sock change. I chalked it up to residual detergent in the washing machine that got into the filter sock fibers. I never washed my sock with any detergent tho! I think it was also related to the use of fabric softeners in the washer. Anyway, I stopped using socks for a time and the overflow stopped so that's how I knew it was the socks. Then I put the socks back on and it overflows. Then I started washing the filter socks with an extra rinse cycle and this seemed to solve that. Then we stopped using fabric softener in our wash and that too seemed to solve it for me. Haven't had my skimmer overflow for a year now.

Anyway, it's a worthy experiement. Try taking your socks off line to see if its the socks or not. It could be something else triggering your overflow.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by kien

My skimmer (bubble magus) used to do this religiously after (or some time after) a sock change. I chalked it up to residual detergent in the washing machine that got into the filter sock fibers. I never washed my sock with any detergent tho! I think it was also related to the use of fabric softeners in the washer. Anyway, I stopped using socks for a time and the overflow stopped so that's how I knew it was the socks. Then I put the socks back on and it overflows. Then I started washing the filter socks with an extra rinse cycle and this seemed to solve that. Then we stopped using fabric softener in our wash and that too seemed to solve it for me. Haven't had my skimmer overflow for a year now.

Anyway, it's a worthy experiement. Try taking your socks off line to see if its the socks or not. It could be something else triggering your overflow.

+1. Seems legit

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Titus99

Haha. My wife had me pick up a frag of that too. But it went missing after a week. To this day I can't recall where it went. Hehehe

Mine might become a carpet surfing casualty, or some other unexplainable issue Xenias jump, right ?

Originally Posted by kien

Try taking your socks off line to see if its the socks or not. It could be something else triggering your overflow.

Thanks Kien, but I can't equate it to my socks. Firstly I wash them 4 times without bleach or other stuff. Secondly, it only happens after 6-7 days.
I could see it being an issue if it happened right away, or the day after a sock change, but not after a week .... ?????

This is why I am wondering, could it be a buildup of coral warfare ??

[Proteus]

Toss the leather and see. If it still happens you could buy a frag back within days lol

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Titus99

Toss the leather and see. If it still happens you could buy a frag back within days lol

It's definately an option
If I could convince myself 100% that it's the Xenia causing it, I'd get rid of it post haste

Anyone ever experience corals causing their skimmer to overflow ?

[kien]

Do you run carbon? (sorry too lazy to go through your build to check) :-)

[kien]

also, I have had plusing xenia before (a couple of years ago) and never noticed any overflow when I had the xenia. Plus there are lots of people out there with xenias. You'd think that this would be a rampant issue with xenias?

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by kien

Do you run carbon? (sorry too lazy to go through your build to check) :-)

No worries, it's a big thread to read through ...

I use carbon and gfo in 2 TLF 150s, and change each @ 4 weeks, 2 weeks apart

Originally Posted by kien

also, I have had plusing xenia before (a couple of years ago) and never noticed any overflow when I had the xenia. Plus there are lots of people out there with xenias. You'd think that this would be a rampant issue with xenias?

I agree it should be a noted issue, but I'm kinda at a loss to figure it out

Causes of random skimmer overflows are, with a constant water level;

Blocked air intake
Plugged or dirty/buildup in venturi

Anything else ?

Back to my observations ...

My foam head collapses at about 5 or 6 days after a WC, and does not recover until after another 10% WC

I've tried turning the skimmer off during frozen feedings; turning it off for a 1/2hr when it's acting up; total cleaning when it's acting up

I haven't had my hands in the tank for many weeks, and am very careful about what does go in
I'm at a loss here, so hence the weird questions about coral warfare and possible 'stuff' in the water building up causing my foam to collapse over time