400 gallons of saltwater running through my house.

[DevonM]

Skimmer collection cup overflowing with new filter pads

Last week a strange thing happened when I was changing my filter pads. My Reef Octopus Skimmer’s collection cup began to overflow after I changed out the old filter pads and put the new ones in. This week I thought I would film the process to see if it happened again… it did. I use Marine Depot’sEmperor Aquatics Super Filter Felt 50 micron pads for small particles and Lifegard Aquatics Bonded (blue) Filter Pads for large particles. I think that one, or both, of the pads actually increase the water’s surface tension temporarily when added to the system. The increased surface tension would keep the skimmer’s bubbles from popping. When it happened last week I turned the recirculating skimmer pumps off to see if the water level was running high, but it was normal. Must be the pads. It only overflows for about a minute but that would be long enough to fill up some people's collection containers.

Do any of you use these same filter pads or had similar experiences with other filter pads/media?

​

 

[CarlaW]

Almost like a chemi clean episode huh????

 

[DevonM]

Almost like a chemi clean episode huh????

Yeah, but it didn't last for too long.

 

[CarlaW]

I have never experienced anything like that. Did the skimmer return to normal after that?

 

[DevonM]

I have never experienced anything like that. Did the skimmer return to normal after that?

Yeah, after a minute or so everything was back to normal.

 

[CarlaW]

I wouldn't worry then, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[LostCreekReefer]

When I first used the large filter socks that I got from Dan at Reef Missoula, the same sort of thing happened, very much a ChemiClean-esque event. I just rines the new ones before I use them & it has not happened since...did you rinse the filter pads prior to using them? Makes me thing there was something on the filter socks that got filtered out - yes, a something that increases surface tension.

 

[DevonM]

When I first used the large filter socks that I got from Dan at Reef Missoula, the same sort of thing happened, very much a ChemiClean-esque event. I just rines the new ones before I use them & it has not happened since...did you rinse the filter pads prior to using them? Makes me thing there was something on the filter socks that got filtered out - yes, a something that increases surface tension.

I did not rinse them, probably should from now on though. The filter socks are made out of that same felt so I'm sure that's the culprit.

 

[DevonM]

Couple recent vids.

Our hippy snails, think we got them from Charlie.. jks



...and the mantis shrimp feeding

 

[user 26995]

Thats great. I have a couple snails like that.
Boy, those mantis shrimp are agressive little things, aren't they!

 

[CarlaW]

My snails have red hair...................................lol.

 

[CarlaW]

Thats great. I have a couple snails like that.
Boy, those mantis shrimp are agressive little things, aren't they!

They are beautiful animals tho!!!!!

 

[dsmhero]

I know you are looking for some shoaling fish and found that these are kinda cool looking...Threadfin Cardinalfish

 

[CarlaW]

Those are kinda cute

 

[user 26995]

Those guys are really cool.

I love that second picture.

 

[CarlaW]

The only problem with shoaling fish is that you may buy 5-7 of them and 5 months later you have 1 or 2. That has happened to me with blue/green chromis at least 4 times.

 

[DevonM]

This is true, I bought 6 two stripe cardinals... down to 1, 5 pajama cardinals... down to 3, 6 green chromis... down to 1. But, it just means I get to add something new every once in a while.

 

[CarlaW]

yeah, but that hits the pocket book a little to hard for me, I just call it natural attrition.

 

[DevonM]

yeah, but that hits the pocket book a little to hard for me, I just call it natural attrition.

I think I need to keep my tank a little more busy so the Achilles will spread the "love." He and the rabbit fish are friends..... sometimes.

 

[CarlaW]

Remember they are just new buddies Devon and give em time, they will get things settled out in their own way, at leat that is my opinion.