Does anyone auto drain their skimmer?

[Biff0rz]

Wondering the best way to do this - I don't have a drain close to my fish room. I was thinking I could hook up a peristaltic pump and drain it daily. Anyone done something similar?

 

[Ron Reefman]

I use to drain mine into a 7 gallon bucket so I only had to empty it once a month.

 

[rwreef]

I don't because I think the smell would be unbearable in a larger less frequently cleaned container. Maybe a lid would hold it in...but God help the individual who has to open it to clean!

 

[Ron Reefman]

I don't because I think the smell would be unbearable in a larger less frequently cleaned container. Maybe a lid would hold it in...but God help the individual who has to open it to clean!

I kept a lid on my 7g bucket and yes it smelled, but not any worse than a big collection cup on a big skimmer.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I run mine to a skimate unit

 

[ca1ore]

Skimmer drains to a 5 gallon skimmate container. Powerhead inside said container allows me to periodically pump the crud to a slop sink. Thought the powerhead might get gummed up, but it has not so far (2 years).

 

[Futuretotm]

I use to drain mine into a 7 gallon bucket so I only had to empty it once a month.

I run mine to a skimate unit

Skimmer drains to a 5 gallon skimmate container. Powerhead inside said container allows me to periodically pump the crud to a slop sink. Thought the powerhead might get gummed up, but it has not so far (2 years).

Sorry to hijack.
But what happens when the skimmer starts to overflow? ie due to epoxy/changes in tank/etc

 

[ca1ore]

In my case I have a pair of level switches in the skimmate container to cut the skimmer pump when the level gets too high. If both of those fail, I also have a water sensor outside the container to detect any water on the floor.

 

[Futuretotm]

In my case I have a pair of level switches in the skimmate container to cut the skimmer pump when the level gets too high. If both of those fail, I also have a water sensor outside the container to detect any water on the floor.

Same here, float valve in cup and in container, however randomly when it does overflow, the skimmer stops and is dependent on my turning it back on when I get home, plus the ato starts filling as well. Perhaps a max 5-6 gallon waste container.

 

[Biff0rz]

In my case I have a pair of level switches in the skimmate container to cut the skimmer pump when the level gets too high. If both of those fail, I also have a water sensor outside the container to detect any water on the floor.

Do you manually trigger the pump to empty the container or did you automate it with an apex?

 

[ca1ore]

Do you manually trigger the pump to empty the container or did you automate it with an apex?

I have the skimmate container pump on an apex outlet, but I trigger it manually. i don't want automatic emptying just in case I get a major skimmer overflow problem that could affect salinity if uncaught.

 

[Biff0rz]

I have the skimmate container pump on an apex outlet, but I trigger it manually. i don't want automatic emptying just in case I get a major skimmer overflow problem that could affect salinity if uncaught.

Gotcha. I haven't messed with my apex (yet) but if there is programmability to it I assume I could write something that says if it tries to drain it more than once within a window of say 8 hours, turn it off or set an alarm. I suppose I'll have to play with it a bit.

 

[SuncrestReef]

My skimmer drains into the Avast Marine Skimmate Locker, which has a pressure switch connected to my Apex that turns off the skimmer and sends an alert when full. The locker also has a carbon filter at the top to absorb odors. It works great, and I only need to empty it about every 10 - 14 days.

 

[Montiman]

At the LFS I used to work at we had an 8ft tall RK2 unit drain into a barrel with a sump pump and a float valve. The pump would start whenever the float was triggered and pump into a drain. The skimmer also had a water wash down that cleaned the neck. we went years between skimmer cleanings.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Useful info here, thanks for asking this.

 

[csb123]

I let mine drain into a 5 gallon bucket, with a sensor that shuts off my skimmer pump, if it’s full.

Since the skimmate is away from the tank, you can treat it with TOILET BOWL CLEANER.

 

[neiltus]

I have the skimmate container pump on an apex outlet, but I trigger it manually. i don't want automatic emptying just in case I get a major skimmer overflow problem that could affect salinity if uncaught.

This is important, especially if you have kalk in your ato

 

[stacksoner]

I have my skimmer drain connected to an old booster pump that I use to auto drain. It works surprisingly well

 

[Marvollo]

My skimmer drains into the Avast Marine Skimmate Locker, which has a pressure switch connected to my Apex that turns off the skimmer and sends an alert when full. The locker also has a carbon filter at the top to absorb odors. It works great, and I only need to empty it about every 10 - 14 days.

looks like a nice setup for drain. where did you get the pressure switch?

 

[RobB'z Reef]

I have my skimmer drain connected to an old booster pump that I use to auto drain. It works surprisingly well

Where does it go from there?