Melafix and protein skimmer problems

[Dave]

Hello;

Slightly long post here ...

Last night I dosed my 55 gal tank with Melafix; a short time later the
skimmer (AquaC Remora HOB) started foaming wildly, and has since
(overnight, about 12 hours later) pulled about 1 and 1/2 gallons of
water out of the tank. Luckily the skimmer has a drain fitting on the
collection cup which drains into a container. Unfortunately that
container is a one gallon milk jug, hence I got about 1/2 a gallon of
water on the floor. Anyway ... I'm looking for suggestions as to what
to do now.

Should I do water changes, and if so, any suggestions as to how much
and how often?

Or will it just slow down on its own as the skimmer works, and I
should let it run its course? I'd keep testing the S.G. and do
top-offs with water having an appropriate salt content.

Also, in six days I'll be leaving the house for about five days, and
I'm concerned about what to do if the skimmer is still pulling off
large amounts of water at the time. I suppose I can trust the person
who'll be here to dump the collection jug, but I don't think I can
expect them to do topoffs (never mind water changes) correctly. Would
it be possible to leave the skimmer off for five days, with no harmful
effects to the fish and (bubbletip) anemones?

Thanks in advance.

[Marc Levenson]

Why did you dose with Melafix?

Here is a fool-proof option for your skimmer, to keep it running and prevent a
flood. Take the tubing that goes to your jug and put it in the tank instead.
If the skimmer goes nuts, the water will continue to stay in your system. This
isn't an elegant solution, but it will prevent your water from dropping too low
too quickly. Don't worry about the crap going back into the tank, since it came
from there in the first place. (This is your best option in a worst case
senario.... not a permanent solution.)

Your skimmer should settle down again over the next few ays, but I'd suggest you
not use that product again until you come back, if you even need it then.

I wouldn't turn off the skimmer.

Marc


Dave wrote:

> Hello;
>
> Slightly long post here ...
>
> Last night I dosed my 55 gal tank with Melafix; a short time later the
> skimmer (AquaC Remora HOB) started foaming wildly, and has since
> (overnight, about 12 hours later) pulled about 1 and 1/2 gallons of
> water out of the tank. Luckily the skimmer has a drain fitting on the
> collection cup which drains into a container. Unfortunately that
> container is a one gallon milk jug, hence I got about 1/2 a gallon of
> water on the floor. Anyway ... I'm looking for suggestions as to what
> to do now.
>
> Should I do water changes, and if so, any suggestions as to how much
> and how often?
>
> Or will it just slow down on its own as the skimmer works, and I
> should let it run its course? I'd keep testing the S.G. and do
> top-offs with water having an appropriate salt content.
>
> Also, in six days I'll be leaving the house for about five days, and
> I'm concerned about what to do if the skimmer is still pulling off
> large amounts of water at the time. I suppose I can trust the person
> who'll be here to dump the collection jug, but I don't think I can
> expect them to do topoffs (never mind water changes) correctly. Would
> it be possible to leave the skimmer off for five days, with no harmful
> effects to the fish and (bubbletip) anemones?
>
> Thanks in advance.

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Dave]

Hi Marc;

I had heard that Melafix could be used successfully in marine tanks to treat
bacterial infections ... it has worked well for me with my freshwater tanks.
My tang had what looked like a bacterial infection above one eye.

After about a day, my skimmer returned to normal operation. About a day
after that, the spot on my tang was gone (though of course I can't say with
absolute certainty that it was the Melafix that did it).

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Why did you dose with Melafix?
>
> Here is a fool-proof option for your skimmer, to keep it running and
prevent a
> flood. Take the tubing that goes to your jug and put it in the tank
instead.
> If the skimmer goes nuts, the water will continue to stay in your system.
This
> isn't an elegant solution, but it will prevent your water from dropping
too low
> too quickly. Don't worry about the crap going back into the tank, since
it came
> from there in the first place. (This is your best option in a worst case
> senario.... not a permanent solution.)
>
> Your skimmer should settle down again over the next few ays, but I'd
suggest you
> not use that product again until you come back, if you even need it then.
>
> I wouldn't turn off the skimmer.
>
> Marc
>
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > Hello;
> >
> > Slightly long post here ...
> >
> > Last night I dosed my 55 gal tank with Melafix; a short time later the
> > skimmer (AquaC Remora HOB) started foaming wildly, and has since
> > (overnight, about 12 hours later) pulled about 1 and 1/2 gallons of
> > water out of the tank. Luckily the skimmer has a drain fitting on the
> > collection cup which drains into a container. Unfortunately that
> > container is a one gallon milk jug, hence I got about 1/2 a gallon of
> > water on the floor. Anyway ... I'm looking for suggestions as to what
> > to do now.
> >
> > Should I do water changes, and if so, any suggestions as to how much
> > and how often?
> >
> > Or will it just slow down on its own as the skimmer works, and I
> > should let it run its course? I'd keep testing the S.G. and do
> > top-offs with water having an appropriate salt content.
> >
> > Also, in six days I'll be leaving the house for about five days, and
> > I'm concerned about what to do if the skimmer is still pulling off
> > large amounts of water at the time. I suppose I can trust the person
> > who'll be here to dump the collection jug, but I don't think I can
> > expect them to do topoffs (never mind water changes) correctly. Would
> > it be possible to leave the skimmer off for five days, with no harmful
> > effects to the fish and (bubbletip) anemones?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always consider your
equipment and any directions included with the medicine. Even ask the LFS if
they've ever used it and what to expect.

Skimmers go nuts over many things, and meds would definitely change water
tension. When I used Marycin II in the "Sickbay" tank, the water was very green
for a day. If I had a skimmer on it, I bet it would have bubbled over too!

Marc


Dave wrote:

> Hi Marc;
>
> I had heard that Melafix could be used successfully in marine tanks to treat
> bacterial infections ... it has worked well for me with my freshwater tanks.
> My tang had what looked like a bacterial infection above one eye.
>
> After about a day, my skimmer returned to normal operation. About a day
> after that, the spot on my tang was gone (though of course I can't say with
> absolute certainty that it was the Melafix that did it).
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Why did you dose with Melafix?
> >
> > Here is a fool-proof option for your skimmer, to keep it running and
> prevent a
> > flood. Take the tubing that goes to your jug and put it in the tank
> instead.
> > If the skimmer goes nuts, the water will continue to stay in your system.
> This
> > isn't an elegant solution, but it will prevent your water from dropping
> too low
> > too quickly. Don't worry about the crap going back into the tank, since
> it came
> > from there in the first place. (This is your best option in a worst case
> > senario.... not a permanent solution.)
> >
> > Your skimmer should settle down again over the next few ays, but I'd
> suggest you
> > not use that product again until you come back, if you even need it then.
> >
> > I wouldn't turn off the skimmer.
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> > Dave wrote:
> >
> > > Hello;
> > >
> > > Slightly long post here ...
> > >
> > > Last night I dosed my 55 gal tank with Melafix; a short time later the
> > > skimmer (AquaC Remora HOB) started foaming wildly, and has since
> > > (overnight, about 12 hours later) pulled about 1 and 1/2 gallons of
> > > water out of the tank. Luckily the skimmer has a drain fitting on the
> > > collection cup which drains into a container. Unfortunately that
> > > container is a one gallon milk jug, hence I got about 1/2 a gallon of
> > > water on the floor. Anyway ... I'm looking for suggestions as to what
> > > to do now.
> > >
> > > Should I do water changes, and if so, any suggestions as to how much
> > > and how often?
> > >
> > > Or will it just slow down on its own as the skimmer works, and I
> > > should let it run its course? I'd keep testing the S.G. and do
> > > top-offs with water having an appropriate salt content.
> > >
> > > Also, in six days I'll be leaving the house for about five days, and
> > > I'm concerned about what to do if the skimmer is still pulling off
> > > large amounts of water at the time. I suppose I can trust the person
> > > who'll be here to dump the collection jug, but I don't think I can
> > > expect them to do topoffs (never mind water changes) correctly. Would
> > > it be possible to leave the skimmer off for five days, with no harmful
> > > effects to the fish and (bubbletip) anemones?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Dave]

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always consider
your
> equipment and any directions included with the medicine.

Actually I think it would be a good thing for the manufacturer to give some
kind of warning about skimmer-foam with the directions for Melafix. Looking
back on the situation now, I suppose one could say that the extra foam
production should be expected given the function of a skimmer, but, y'know
..... ;-)

[Marc Levenson]

Is Melafix mainly for Freshwater, or for Marine?

Marc


Dave wrote:

> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always consider
> your
> > equipment and any directions included with the medicine.
>
> Actually I think it would be a good thing for the manufacturer to give some
> kind of warning about skimmer-foam with the directions for Melafix. Looking
> back on the situation now, I suppose one could say that the extra foam
> production should be expected given the function of a skimmer, but, y'know
> .... ;-)

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Dave]

It's advertised as being for both.

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Is Melafix mainly for Freshwater, or for Marine?
>
> Marc
>
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always
consider
> > your
> > > equipment and any directions included with the medicine.
> >
> > Actually I think it would be a good thing for the manufacturer to give
some
> > kind of warning about skimmer-foam with the directions for Melafix.
Looking
> > back on the situation now, I suppose one could say that the extra foam
> > production should be expected given the function of a skimmer, but,
y'know
> > .... ;-)
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

Sounds like you were right, they should put a warning in the directions. I was
thinking if it was for freshwater, they might not even know what a protein
skimmer is.

Marc


Dave wrote:

> It's advertised as being for both.
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Is Melafix mainly for Freshwater, or for Marine?
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> > Dave wrote:
> >
> > > "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always
> consider
> > > your
> > > > equipment and any directions included with the medicine.
> > >
> > > Actually I think it would be a good thing for the manufacturer to give
> some
> > > kind of warning about skimmer-foam with the directions for Melafix.
> Looking
> > > back on the situation now, I suppose one could say that the extra foam
> > > production should be expected given the function of a skimmer, but,
> y'know
> > > .... ;-)
> >
> > --
> > Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> > Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> > Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
> >
> >

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Paul Schnettler]

I think the directions say to stop using the skimmer during the dosing
period. I used melafix a couple months ago on a Naso w/ severe ich and
remember having to shut off the skimmer during the process.

Marc Levenson wrote:
> Sounds like you were right, they should put a warning in the directions. I was
> thinking if it was for freshwater, they might not even know what a protein
> skimmer is.
>
> Marc
>
>
> Dave wrote:
>
>
>>It's advertised as being for both.
>>
>>"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>Is Melafix mainly for Freshwater, or for Marine?
>>>
>>>Marc
>>>
>>>
>>>Dave wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
>>>>
>>>>>I'm glad your Tang is better now. Whenever you medicate, always
>>
>>consider
>>
>>>>your
>>>>
>>>>>equipment and any directions included with the medicine.
>>>>
>>>>Actually I think it would be a good thing for the manufacturer to give
>>
>>some
>>
>>>>kind of warning about skimmer-foam with the directions for Melafix.
>>
>>Looking
>>
>>>>back on the situation now, I suppose one could say that the extra foam
>>>>production should be expected given the function of a skimmer, but,
>>
>>y'know
>>
>>>>.... ;-)
>>>
>>>--
>>>Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
>>>Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
>>>Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>>>
>>>
>
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>