protien skimmer foaming over

coreef2006 · 02-01-2007, 07:20 PM

I was wondering would high ammonia's, or nitrates or nitrites casuse this condition, or the that fact that a chemical has been introduced into the aquarium be the only reason for the protien skimmer going nuts.

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2007, 07:25 PM

Chemicals, medications, and stuff like water conditioners can make skimmers act up. When my ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates were high my skimmer was fine.

lgerold · 02-01-2007, 07:39 PM

Can you give us more details about your set-up? If your skimmer is new, it needs to be adjusted. We'd love to help you out!

BoomerD · 02-01-2007, 08:24 PM

What kind of skimmer? Some are notorious for it, (coralife) and most of the others may do it when you add chemicals, like water treatments. What chemicals did you add?
More info is required for a more complete answer.

coreef2006 · 02-01-2007, 10:49 PM

Ok welll here is the hole story. I bought a dead coral from a shop here and a hermit crab. I did a water test right before I added the hermit crab all was good. I added the coral the next day due to I had things to do plus I had to take my canopy off to get it in the tank (180 gallon). Well to make it short 2 days later I walk out of my office and my grouper is upsidown and twitching, both lions are foating, and my poor eel was twisting around in the rocks like it was in pain. My triggers ( Hi black and Huma Huma ) were hitting the glass and trying to find a way out of that tank and fast. Well I opened the canopy door and was hit with a smell of clorine (bleach). My protien skimmer was foaming so bad it was all over the top of my refusion and over filling that. Well I called the store back and told them what happened, then they said well thats odd we have never had that happen and we have been cleaching corals for years. Well all I know is that they will refund the money for the coral, but take no responcability for the rest of my tank that is all dead now. And they are trying to say that what killed my fish was ammonia toxicity. So thats why I would like to know if high ammonia or nitrites or nitrates would cause the protien skimmer to foam like that, it had never done it before and with the last chem tests I did before adding the hermit crab all was very good. Thanks for all your help in this matter to all that reply.

BrothaWolf · 02-01-2007, 10:57 PM

Real sorry to hear that! Sounds like they JUST bleached the coral recently. I used to do that in my FO tanks to keep the coral white but I always soaked the corals in stress coat or one of the other chlorine locks out there and then soak it in water and test the water till i got no ammonia readings.... I never put it straight back in. Its the CHLORINE that killed your tank.

sasquatch · 02-01-2007, 11:20 PM

Coreef, I would agree with BroWolf on that, the bleach killed all the micro organisms first and thats why your skimmer went nuts, just lots of dead stuff in the water column, Karma for misery on the way.Steve

coreef2006 · 02-01-2007, 11:21 PM

Oh yeah I understand that the clorine killed all. If I would have been told that from the begining I would not have taken the chance and not bought it for my tank. My new philosophy is I'll spend 500 on a live coral, and if my fish eat it, well its better for the fish and and I'm out less money. My snow flake eel would eat out of my hand, adn I don't think I'll ever find a grouper like the one I had. I asked for help for the store I purchased from, but they said they weren't responceable, I asked if I could pay there cost for the fish and they would be out no money, and I would be out less. They said they weren't responceable. So I guess I won't go to that store anymore. I'll just stick to the one that I have bought all my stuff from.

billyr98 · 02-01-2007, 11:23 PM

sorry for the bad luck... Karma to ya dude!! ask any questions here, we are friendly and will get ya a nice answer

BrothaWolf · 02-01-2007, 11:26 PM

I would be MAD!!!!!

coreef2006 · 02-01-2007, 11:32 PM

Oh beleave me I was pissed, I lost alot of stuff, I had so many fan worms on my live rock, featerh dusters ect... about 20 snails gone, plus my eel, triggers and lion fish would est out of my hands, well the lion fish were a little timmid, but is was so great. I didn't have my water farm set up yet so I couldn't do a water change, besides when I noticed it most every thing was dead.

PhilOlsen · 02-01-2007, 11:32 PM

Sorry for your loss. You should consider filing a complaint with the BBB against that store. What store is it and where is it at, I want to make sure I never go in if it in the Chicago area.

coreef2006 · 02-01-2007, 11:41 PM

I did, and considering going to court, but I hate to sue, but has been a big loss.

lcstorc · 02-02-2007, 12:07 AM

I am very sorry to hear of your losses. That really stinks.

lgerold · 02-02-2007, 12:34 AM

I'm so sad for you. I cannot imagine how depressing that would be. Have you added some dechlor to try to save what you can?

02-01-2007, 07:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
coreef2006 Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	protien skimmer foaming over I was wondering would high ammonia's, or nitrates or nitrites casuse this condition, or the that fact that a chemical has been introduced into the aquarium be the only reason for the protien skimmer going nuts.

02-01-2007, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,943 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Chemicals, medications, and stuff like water conditioners can make skimmers act up. When my ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates were high my skimmer was fine. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow Please Donate to the American Cancer Society: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/lorrainerichards Last edited by bluespotjawfish : 02-01-2007 at 07:26 PM. Reason: added info

02-01-2007, 07:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
lgerold Scopas Tang Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brainerd, Mn Posts: 473 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Can you give us more details about your set-up? If your skimmer is new, it needs to be adjusted. We'd love to help you out! __________________ Lucy Upgrade from 125 long to 210 on 1/7/07. 66 gallon sump/refugium. 10 hrs of light: 500 watt pc actinic 10 hrs 400 watt pc daylight 6 hrs 500 watt MH 4 hrs 180 lbs branch liverock. 100 lbs + assorted liverock. 3"+ DSB. Fish - Foxface, Yellow Tang, Mimic Tang, 2 Tomato Clowns, pair True Percula Clowns (and their 6 inch pastel green carpet), Mandarin, Scooter Blenny, Bartlett's Anthias, Royal Gramma, Pseudochromis Splendens. Blue/Gold Crocea Clam, Teardrop Squamosa Clam Coral favorites include: 2 Acanastreas, Pink Cynaria, Green Cynaria, Birdsnest, Trumpets, Red and Pink and Green Goniporas (3), Frogspawn (peach favorite), Fox Coral, Diploastrea, Blasto, 3 Fungia (orange, purple, and green) and many others.

02-01-2007, 08:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over What kind of skimmer? Some are notorious for it, (coralife) and most of the others may do it when you add chemicals, like water treatments. What chemicals did you add? More info is required for a more complete answer. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

02-01-2007, 10:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
coreef2006 Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Ok welll here is the hole story. I bought a dead coral from a shop here and a hermit crab. I did a water test right before I added the hermit crab all was good. I added the coral the next day due to I had things to do plus I had to take my canopy off to get it in the tank (180 gallon). Well to make it short 2 days later I walk out of my office and my grouper is upsidown and twitching, both lions are foating, and my poor eel was twisting around in the rocks like it was in pain. My triggers ( Hi black and Huma Huma ) were hitting the glass and trying to find a way out of that tank and fast. Well I opened the canopy door and was hit with a smell of clorine (bleach). My protien skimmer was foaming so bad it was all over the top of my refusion and over filling that. Well I called the store back and told them what happened, then they said well thats odd we have never had that happen and we have been cleaching corals for years. Well all I know is that they will refund the money for the coral, but take no responcability for the rest of my tank that is all dead now. And they are trying to say that what killed my fish was ammonia toxicity. So thats why I would like to know if high ammonia or nitrites or nitrates would cause the protien skimmer to foam like that, it had never done it before and with the last chem tests I did before adding the hermit crab all was very good. Thanks for all your help in this matter to all that reply.

02-01-2007, 10:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
BrothaWolf Acropora Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,798 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Real sorry to hear that! Sounds like they JUST bleached the coral recently. I used to do that in my FO tanks to keep the coral white but I always soaked the corals in stress coat or one of the other chlorine locks out there and then soak it in water and test the water till i got no ammonia readings.... I never put it straight back in. Its the CHLORINE that killed your tank. __________________ 75 Gal AGA Nano - 115lbs LR 140lbs LS Tunze 6025 x 3 40 gal DIY Sump/fuge 20lb LS 26lb LR Outer Orbit 150 HQI Mh x 2, 54w T5 x 4, 18 moons, ASM G3 Mated pair Yashia Gobies (seperated) and Red Band Pistol Shrimp, True Percula, Purple Fire Fish, Yellow Clown Goby, Orange Back Fairy Wrasse, Barber Pole Goby, Blood Shrimp, Crocea Clam, Scarlet Hermits, Cerith, Nassarius, Nerite and Margarita Snails (hold the salt) Zoas, Rics & Shrooms, Xenia, Hammer & Frog Spawn, Star Polyps, Blasto, Blue Anthelia, Lord Acans 29 Gal Oceanic Bio Cube- 40lbs LR 30lbs LS Sapphire Skimmer, DIY Nanotuners 4.36 Lighting, DIY Moonlights, DIY Mod CPR Refugium Randalls Goby, Zoa's ,Trach,Shrooms President: Crabs Make Me Itch Society

02-01-2007, 11:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Coreef, I would agree with BroWolf on that, the bleach killed all the micro organisms first and thats why your skimmer went nuts, just lots of dead stuff in the water column, Karma for misery on the way.Steve

02-01-2007, 11:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
coreef2006 Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Oh yeah I understand that the clorine killed all. If I would have been told that from the begining I would not have taken the chance and not bought it for my tank. My new philosophy is I'll spend 500 on a live coral, and if my fish eat it, well its better for the fish and and I'm out less money. My snow flake eel would eat out of my hand, adn I don't think I'll ever find a grouper like the one I had. I asked for help for the store I purchased from, but they said they weren't responceable, I asked if I could pay there cost for the fish and they would be out no money, and I would be out less. They said they weren't responceable. So I guess I won't go to that store anymore. I'll just stick to the one that I have bought all my stuff from. __________________ If you can't take the salt, please get out of my aquarium!

02-01-2007, 11:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,409 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protien skimmer foaming over sorry for the bad luck... Karma to ya dude!! ask any questions here, we are friendly and will get ya a nice answer __________________ Billyr98 - I'm BACK!! -

02-01-2007, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
BrothaWolf Acropora Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,798 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protien skimmer foaming over I would be MAD!!!!! __________________ 75 Gal AGA Nano - 115lbs LR 140lbs LS Tunze 6025 x 3 40 gal DIY Sump/fuge 20lb LS 26lb LR Outer Orbit 150 HQI Mh x 2, 54w T5 x 4, 18 moons, ASM G3 Mated pair Yashia Gobies (seperated) and Red Band Pistol Shrimp, True Percula, Purple Fire Fish, Yellow Clown Goby, Orange Back Fairy Wrasse, Barber Pole Goby, Blood Shrimp, Crocea Clam, Scarlet Hermits, Cerith, Nassarius, Nerite and Margarita Snails (hold the salt) Zoas, Rics & Shrooms, Xenia, Hammer & Frog Spawn, Star Polyps, Blasto, Blue Anthelia, Lord Acans 29 Gal Oceanic Bio Cube- 40lbs LR 30lbs LS Sapphire Skimmer, DIY Nanotuners 4.36 Lighting, DIY Moonlights, DIY Mod CPR Refugium Randalls Goby, Zoa's ,Trach,Shrooms President: Crabs Make Me Itch Society

02-01-2007, 11:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
coreef2006 Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Oh beleave me I was pissed, I lost alot of stuff, I had so many fan worms on my live rock, featerh dusters ect... about 20 snails gone, plus my eel, triggers and lion fish would est out of my hands, well the lion fish were a little timmid, but is was so great. I didn't have my water farm set up yet so I couldn't do a water change, besides when I noticed it most every thing was dead. __________________ If you can't take the salt, please get out of my aquarium!

02-01-2007, 11:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over Sorry for your loss. You should consider filing a complaint with the BBB against that store. What store is it and where is it at, I want to make sure I never go in if it in the Chicago area.

02-01-2007, 11:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
coreef2006 Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 45 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over I did, and considering going to court, but I hate to sue, but has been a big loss. __________________ If you can't take the salt, please get out of my aquarium!

02-02-2007, 12:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protien skimmer foaming over I am very sorry to hear of your losses. That really stinks. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

02-02-2007, 12:34 AM	#15 (permalink)
lgerold Scopas Tang Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brainerd, Mn Posts: 473 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protien skimmer foaming over I'm so sad for you. I cannot imagine how depressing that would be. Have you added some dechlor to try to save what you can? __________________ Lucy Upgrade from 125 long to 210 on 1/7/07. 66 gallon sump/refugium. 10 hrs of light: 500 watt pc actinic 10 hrs 400 watt pc daylight 6 hrs 500 watt MH 4 hrs 180 lbs branch liverock. 100 lbs + assorted liverock. 3"+ DSB. Fish - Foxface, Yellow Tang, Mimic Tang, 2 Tomato Clowns, pair True Percula Clowns (and their 6 inch pastel green carpet), Mandarin, Scooter Blenny, Bartlett's Anthias, Royal Gramma, Pseudochromis Splendens. Blue/Gold Crocea Clam, Teardrop Squamosa Clam Coral favorites include: 2 Acanastreas, Pink Cynaria, Green Cynaria, Birdsnest, Trumpets, Red and Pink and Green Goniporas (3), Frogspawn (peach favorite), Fox Coral, Diploastrea, Blasto, 3 Fungia (orange, purple, and green) and many others.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)