Need HELP ASAP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[yankeefish]

For some reason, my tank keeps springing a "leak"!!! Yea NO good!!
It is hard to explain, especially for a newbie, but bare with me please!! ANY help would be greatly appreciated!!!!
From what I can tell, the water rises to the top of the skimmer and leaks out from the cylinder and not the cap, but nothing is cracked or anything. When you look at a skimmer, you have the cylinder, then there is a "ring" going around it a couple of inches below the cap ontop.
When I saw this happen, the water is building up, no foam or crap or anything, just water. When I did catch it, I turned the valve and the water level went back down and then I watched it for awhile and everything was fine. I check the water level in the skimmer everyday, cause this is not the first time it has done it, but i'm leaving tomorrow night to go to NY for 2 weeks, and I am afraid that when I get home, my tank is going to be empty, my houses flooded and everything is going to be dead. I'm going to have my cousin come by and check and feed them, but he doesn't know anything about fish at all.
I'm wondering since it is an old pump and skimmer if they can be going out, or something and causing this. I tried to ask at the LPS but they don't know.
Anyone have any ideas??
Thanks,
Matt

 

[tizzo]

I am pretty much clueless as what you are describing. To help me with my mental picture, what kinda skimmer is it? And did you say you think it's the skimmer that's leaking or the actual tank?

 

[airforceb2]

Without further description, it sounds like you have a venturi skimmer and your water level is set too high on the return line. More info would further clarify on what to fix. Maybe your rubber O ring has gone bad and the water is leaking there.

 

[yankeefish]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
I am pretty much clueless as what you are describing. To help me with my mental picture, what kinda skimmer is it? And did you say you think it's the skimmer that's leaking or the actual tank?

Yeah I know it's going to be hard for me to explain this....
Precision marine, but i'm not sure exactly which one... Ok this one is very simailar to the one that I have. The only time I have caught the water coming out, was from the "black ring" (with the white nuts) below the cap of the skimmer. That is where I saw it coming out of. I don't think it's my wet/dry or tank or anything because its not a continous leak, just whenever it wants to pretty much. So i'm also wondering if it could have kind of affect on the water or bacteria or whatever could be causing this?
Here is the link....
http://www.precisionmarine.com/html/e-series_.html

 

[tizzo]

Your water level goes all the way up to that black ring? I had an experience with a situation similiar to this, not sure if it's the exact same scenario, but the air line hose there, was not large enough. To little air meant to much water. Can you try to rinse out that airline and if the water is still to much then maybe getting a larger airline all together. The skimmer I was working with was... well I'll post a pic, gimme a minute, but that was it's problem...

 

[larrynews]

have you turned off the skimmer for a day or so and checked to see if you still have wetness...my first wet dry had a pin size hole in on of the side seals and the vibrating of the pump mad a water come outnot much just enough to notice wetness...if you cant find it and it is the skimmer just turn it off while your gone

 

[yankeefish]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
Your water level goes all the way up to that black ring? I had an experience with a situation similiar to this, not sure if it's the exact same scenario, but the air line hose there, was not large enough. To little air meant to much water. Can you try to rinse out that airline and if the water is still to much then maybe getting a larger airline all together. The skimmer I was working with was... well I'll post a pic, gimme a minute, but that was it's problem...

I will get a bigger hose and try that.....right now I will try just about anything.
Thanks!!

 

[yankeefish]

Originally Posted by larrynews
have you turned off the skimmer for a day or so and checked to see if you still have wetness...my first wet dry had a pin size hole in on of the side seals and the vibrating of the pump mad a water come outnot much just enough to notice wetness...if you cant find it and it is the skimmer just turn it off while your gone

I don't think its the wet/dry cause one sec my floor will be fine and then all of a sudden I need 3 towels to clean up.
I will double check it though.
Thanks

 

[tizzo]

This is the skimmer that I had to increase the hose size on. It was brand new and it wasn't taking in enough air, so it filled the collection cup immediately with clear water then started to leak... If you cannot find a solution before you leave, can you simply disconnect your skimmer while your gone?

 

[tizzo]

The airline you have now, blow real hard into it and see if that brings the water level down, if it does then you need a larger line.

 

[snipe]

If its a ventri style you might not have enough air gowing through it. Turning the cap down closes the air down "slowing it down" causes more water to go into the skimmer. The way your saying it the water is coming out above the o-ring is that it?

 

[mudplayerx]

Ahh, glad I converted to limewood-driven skimmer. Pop a new limewood in every 30 days and forget about it

 

[tizzo]

Glad I have a Remora...no airlines anywhere! I have a bak pak on my QT and the few times I've had to adjust the air flow, even frustrated me!!

 

[yankeefish]

Originally Posted by Snipe
If its a ventri style you might not have enough air gowing through it. Turning the cap down closes the air down "slowing it down" causes more water to go into the skimmer. The way your saying it the water is coming out above the o-ring is that it?

Yeah thats where the water seems to come out at. I guess I need air to fix it then??
Thanks everyone for the help.
Matt

 

[snipe]

Mine is pretty consistant until I used some tap water filterer stuff in my tank then it went crazy! But after that all I did was plugged it in and havent messed with the air flow or anything since.

 

[ophiura]

Hmmm....this is a pretty high end skimmer, and it has some nuances to get it to work right but should not need some of the other "fixes" of other lower end skimmers (eg adding an air pump) if properly plumbed. Wouldn't have a picture of how you have it set up, would you? How long have you had it? Do you clean the venturi regularly (weekly)? Do you take it apart at that point often and make sure it is equally tightened? I think there is a gasket/O ring in there too..

 

[snipe]

The O-Ring is what keeps the water from overflowing when the collectiong cup is setting in it. If its leaking around the gasket then it needs a new one.