Still have problems with my skimmer need some advice please

[tcoco]

OK peps here I go again asking this question. I bought a sealife 75 protien skimmer about 3 weeks agoHeres the link for the skimmer I have so maybe someone could help and I can't keep this thing from bubbling out and over the top, the overflow tube If I put it into a gallon jug it fill up in about 15-20 min with water.
I have a 55 gal salinity is 1.23 and all other levels are purfect I doubled check myself and brought the water to my LFS and they got the same readings. The tank has been up for about 3 months. My W/D is a DIY 10gal tank with bio balls and and return pump where the return pump is sits my skimmer. I have not used any chemicals or medications in this tank all 5 damsels are living fine but I seem not to be able the keep inverts (thats another issue). I tried the carbon thing and I changed it with fresh carbon every 2 days. 2 weeks ago I did a 20 gallon water change. About every 2 days or so I put the over flow tube from the skimmer into the empty gallon jug and let it fill I do this about 2 or 3 gal depending how much salt water I have mixed. I'm figureing that its all bad stuff comming out of it anyways. yeasterday I bought a magnum canister filter just to help aid in the filtration plus it holds more carbon. My LFS keeps telling me "Keep letting it run it will soon stop!" well I have been letting it run and I can't keep the overflow in a jug because I have to work and there is no one here to keep dumping the water and adding new. By the way I'm using winn dixes (supermarket here in FLA) distilled water. Please everyone here has been great so if any one has any suggetions or has had the same prob please send me all the info I need help.
Thanks in advance

 

[wingnut]

well with most in sump skimmer you have to just let them go for a bit thay will build a film up witch will help i had a few skimmers doing the same thing just let it go for a bit make sure you dont have a huge amount of air going in to it also check the bottle of dechlorine suplement if it says anything about helping a slime coat or strees helper thats your problem try useing SEACAM products anouther thing is what color is the stuff in the cup if its brown thats good if its just white then you probly have 1 of the above problems take the skimmer to you local fish store and have them make sure its put togther right

 

[tcoco]

there is brown stuff in the cup but its very little because the foam is so wet it just keeps flowing out of the overflow but some brown or dark color suff is on the bottom I'll try and lower the air rate. Right now i have it full blast because if I lower it the water level in the skimmer drops below the water line thats specified. Thanks I'll give it a try. Anyone else have 2 cents they would like to throw in please be my guest.

 

[new]

tcoco i think im confused, i have a nautilis skimmer from kent, the white tube on the side of the skimmer, is this connected to the pump with a tube or is this where the water leaves the skimmer?

 

[j21kickster]

Well, every skimmer is different as far as adjusting the water line. I assume you know how to do that. It sounds like you have too much wet foam in the cup. lower the water level and toy with it until you get a thich frothy foam that dosent turn into water the second it is in the cup. it takes a while for this foam to form if you have low organic matter.

 

[j21kickster]

You want as much air bubbles as you can get. The water line just needs to be lower

 

[tcoco]

thanks guys I'll give this a try I can lower the water level all the way down but it still comes out allitle wet there is a sicker on the skimmer that says water line so thats wherw I was trying to keep it at but I'll run it with the water level real low and the air fully open to keep it low and see how that works.
New on your skimmer are you talking about the tube that runs up and has a 90 degree elbow on the top of it if u are from the picture it looks like the return side. Check your owners manual that would be the safest bet (not to familiar with this one not to familiar with my own )

 

[new]

thanks toco on mine i just have a rise stack with a pre-filter sponge for return, was asking about yours. if you are removing the water that comes out of the return tube isnt that the skimmed water? i think i have confused myself on your question sorry

 

[tcoco]

no prob new the white tube is the return of the skimmed water and it also slide up and down to adjust the water level. no i'm not getting rid of the return water I'm evacuating it from the overflow off of the collection cup thats where about a gallon comes out of in about 15-20min it crazy but these guys gave me some good tips and I lowered the water level inside the skimmer and it slowed down ALOT!
Thanks guys now Im going to wait for that slim coat hopefully it starts working the way its supposed too

 

[new]

sorry toco prob made it harder than it needed to be, mine needed some tweaking and then took about 6hrs to breakin, but since has worked great.