Crazy skimmer?

[Ratpack]

What would cause a skimmer to all of a sudden overflow? I can set it where I want it and it will run fine for days and sometimes a week or more, but then for whatever reason, overnight it will overflow and fill the cup and keep going. Luckily it is a sump model so the water just goes back in the system, but so does everything it pulled out. To get it to stop overflowing, I have to open the valve a lot, let it settle and then slowly adjust it back to where it was. Any thoughts on why it would do that? I am not adding anything other than food to the system.

 

[Snelly40]

mysis will definately cause some skimmer fluctuation, also water level in the sump changing could affect that

 

[DaveK]

Here are a few things to look for when a skimmer cup fills quickly -

First make sure you have the skimmer adjusted correctly. You may have the flow off or be adding too much air.

Additives, many will cause a skimmer to really foam, as it removes them. Some will tell you to stop skimming others will not.

Your LFS using products like stress-coat when they ship a fish. You shouldn't ever add shipping water to your tank, but if you do, it can cause skimmer foaming.

Frozen foods often use a binder that can cause foaming. It's best to rinse them out before use, but even them you may not get it all. Some frozen foods have a lot of "juice" in them and this can also cause foaming.

Any contamination you may have on your hands or tools you use in and around the tank.

 

[Ratpack]

It may have been the food. I used some LRS food that night. Don't use that food much, so perhaps that was the culprit.