Anybody running skimmer only at night?

[Flatlandreefer]

I have a 25 gallon tank that I was struggling with co2/ph issues early in the am when lights would come on and my house heater was running. I decided to fix the issue by installing a cheap skimmer and running the air hose outside. The skimmer solved the issues but I haven't ever been able to completely get rid of the micro bubbles. I am thinking about putting my skimmer on a timer only running when lights are off. Is anybody else doing this?

 

[dmh41532]

I only shut mine down for maintenance. Turning it off for long periods can be problematic but when turned back on, water sets in it and can release ammonia when turned back on. Every skimmer I've used, once broken on, the micro bubbles disappeared. Do you have a bubble trap? Or is it a hang on skimmer?

 

[Flatlandreefer]

I only shut mine down for maintenance. Turning it off for long periods can be problematic but when turned back on, water sets in it and can release ammonia when turned back on. Every skimmer I've used, once broken on, the micro bubbles disappeared. Do you have a bubble trap? Or is it a hang on skimmer?

It's a reef octopus ns80 so it's a hang on type but is in the filter compartment of my Nuvo 25

 

[dmh41532]

I used an ns 80 on a 20 gallon for a while, the only time I had micro bubbles was during the break in, which takes a while, but I'm guessing it just needs a chance to break in. Of all the hang on skimmers I used, that one was by far the most reliable skimmer

 

[Flatlandreefer]

I used an ns 80 on a 20 gallon for a while, the only time I had micro bubbles was during the break in, which takes a while, but I'm guessing it just needs a chance to break in. Of all the hang on skimmers I used, that one was by far the most reliable skimmer

I've had the be 89 for several months but I have never been bubble free, bubble reduced for sure!

Is accumulation of ammonia in a skimmer really a thing? I guess I have never heard of this being an issue.

 

[Bperau]

Anyway to have the discharge water go into a sponge?

 

[nervousmonkey]

I've had the be 89 for several months but I have never been bubble free, bubble reduced for sure!

Is accumulation of ammonia in a skimmer really a thing? I guess I have never heard of this being an issue.

Yeah, it can be a thing. Just thinking about it, skimmers pull out the organics from our tanks. Leave that stuff without any flow where bacteria can break down the organics and you'll have a horrible problem, not just with ammonia but waste byproducts in general.
For you to accumulate enough to cause harm in 12 hours? I don't know that.
Why not run the skimmer all the time?

 

[Flatlandreefer]

Yeah, it can be a thing. Just thinking about it, skimmers pull out the organics from our tanks. Leave that stuff without any flow where bacteria can break down the organics and you'll have a horrible problem, not just with ammonia but waste byproducts in general.
For you to accumulate enough to cause harm in 12 hours? I don't know that.
Why not run the skimmer all the time?

I want to only run it at night so I don't have microbubbles in the tank during the day mainly for visual appeal. I know micro scrubbing bubbles are a thing but I can't help but think having bubbles in the tank 24-7 irritates corals to some extent, but maybe this is a false assumption?

 

[nervousmonkey]

OK gotcha. I don't know if microbubbles irritate corals or not. I have friends who swear by them, but I don't use them either, so I'm not a good person to ask...