Does a skimmer have to always be on?

[Chrizzolla]

Was wondering if I have to keep the skimmer on at all times, or if it doesnt have to be.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I run mine 24/7 but you dont have to. Some reefers will run theirs for a couple hours s day or run theirs for most of the day with a couple hours off.

 

[Waters]

As crabs stated, some don't have a skimmer at all. If you are going to run one though, I would run it 24X7. There are too many pros to not keeping it running...there really aren't any cons. If you are worried about having water that is too clean, feed more

 

[Chrizzolla]

As crabs stated, some don't have a skimmer at all. If you are going to run one though, I would run it 24X7. There are too many pros to not keeping it running...there really aren't any cons. If you are worried about having water that is too clean, feed more

Is there such a thing as "too clean" water??

 

[Velcro]

Is there such a thing as "too clean" water??

Yes, but I doubt a skimmer alone could cause it.

 

[Chrizzolla]

Yes, but I doubt a skimmer alone could cause it.

Didn't know that was possible.

 

[Velcro]

Didn't know that was possible.

I'm taking about the end result of truly zero nutrients.

 

[Chrizzolla]

I'm taking about the end result of truly zero nutrients.

And thats bad?

 

[Velcro]

And thats bad?

Yes, if you want to keep coral.

 

[Bill_Moorman]

Yes, if you want to keep coral.

To expand, corals are like plants. They need nutrients to grow.

 

[CMO]

Is there such a thing as "too clean" water??

Yup. Got an ATI test back on my Triton tank that showed .01 mg/l nitrate. Cheato fuge + skimming can certainly do in my experience and the result was a nasty cyano outbreak. And that's with a good amount of fish and heavy feeding.

 

[mucky1957]

I have my skimmer on a timer...its on from 10.30pm till noon every day. Too noisy when I'm home and I like the quiet. Nitrates are around 2 - 5. Never had an issue doing it this way.

 

[4FordFamily]

I hadn’t thought of turning it off. This is probably because of my overstocking and the oxygen benefits of leaving it on.

They are, in fact, loud though!

 

[mucky1957]

my tank is heavily stocked with coral and fish..but the skimmer does a great job for me..and the skimmer is only small

 

[Chrizzolla]

So. If I put it on a timer, can it be at any point in the day if I were to have corals? Or does the light being on or off have any effect? Sorry for the no on questions.

 

[rainmaker]

I have thought about putting mine on timer also but don't know what I would do about the water fluctuation when skimmer is on or off and the ATO in sump I run a external skimmer so when off water flows back to sump

 

[mucky1957]

So. If I put it on a timer, can it be at any point in the day if I were to have corals? Or does the light being on or off have any effect? Sorry for the no on questions.

mine is off when the whites are full on ( well at 70% ) and my tank is well and truly stocked with corals and fish. There is no water issue and as I said before my nitrates and phosphates are near enough zero

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mine runs full time but not a requirement. I believe continuous run = continuous pull of waste.

 

[SeaJay]

I just got my first tank set up this week and reading through all these threads I’m surprised to see the comments about skimmers being loud. Seems like the quietest part of the system to me.

 

[Chrizzolla]

Thanks for the replies, I'll see how it goes with mine!!