Covering a skimmer to reduce salt spray

[Swingline77]

I have a reef octopus 150 int. I posted a thread a while back regarding keeping airborne salt from my tank to a minimum. It was suggested that I cover my skimmer. First, would covering the skimmer do any good at all? If so, I'm guessing that it wouldn't be necessary to cover the collection cup, since it's essentially covered already.

So, what should I cover? Should I cover the area above and around the output pipe? Thanks

 

[Whipples]

I've never heard of this, can you maybe give us more information? My skimmer only gets some salt creep where the venturi has a very small leak allowing a drop or two out per day. I've heard of salt creep in the airline hose feeding the pump, however.

 

[theMeat]

Put a tee on your output with short piece that faces down into water, and a cap with a hole drilled on top on the side that face upward. Helps a bunch, but the water in that chamber has a bunch of micro bubbles too, so it won’t get em all

 

[Swingline77]

I've never heard of this, can you maybe give us more information? My skimmer only gets some salt creep where the venturi has a very small leak allowing a drop or two out per day. I've heard of salt creep in the airline hose feeding the pump, however.

The gist of it is I was very concerned about salt spray landing around the room in which the aquarium will be. I was assured that biggest contributor of spray was popping bubbles. Further down on the list, but still a potential source of spray would be the skimmer. I don't have anything set up yet, so I don't know if this is a valid concern.

 

[Swingline77]

Put a tee on your output with short piece that faces down into water, and a cap with a hole drilled on top on the side that face upward. Helps a bunch, but the water in that chamber has a bunch of micro bubbles too, so it won’t get em all

Would you recommend covering the area around the output then?

 

[Whipples]

I don’t run any cover on my sump or skimmer and so far salt creep/spray has not been an issue there. It does collect for me on the lid of my overflow and on my light mounting arms a bit.

 

[theMeat]

Would recommend covering the entire chamber where skimmer sits, not airtight. Maybe topless, just sides

But maybe not a concern, especially if sides around it are high enough above water level.

FWIW bubbles are good. They help keep tank cool, oxygenated, and help with nitrogen cycle. Def don’t want bubbles in display, they will bother many corals

 

[Swingline77]

Would recommend covering the entire chamber where skimmer sits, not airtight. Maybe topless, just sides

But maybe not a concern, especially if sides around it are high enough above water level.

FWIW bubbles are good. They help keep tank cool, oxygenated, and help with nitrogen cycle. Def don’t want bubbles in display, they will bother many corals

So, you're suggesting building a wall around the skimmer chamber? How high?

 

[theMeat]

Think around 8” above water level would enough to get the majority. Which maybe accomplished without building an addition. Some skimmers release more bubbles through output than others too

 

[Swingline77]

Think around 8” above water level would enough to get the majority. Which maybe accomplished without building an addition. Some skimmers release more bubbles through output than others too

Thanks

 

[Swingline77]

What's the best way to cover a sump? I'd like to put it under the tank, but height is limited. I can get the actual sump and skimmer in, but getting a cover in seems like it would be impossible. Any ideas?

 

[Swingline77]

How advisable would it be to cover the protein skimmer? It would be next to impossible to fit a rigid cover for the skimmer under the tank, though a flexible cover, such as a bag, might work.