How do you skim?

[spspirate]

So how do you skim? Do you run a protein skimmer that’s over rated for your system? Under rated? Rated just enough? Do you wet skim? Dry skim? Gravity feed your skimmer? Do you skim 24/7? Do you only skim at night? Or maybe you don’t skim at all!
I’m sure there’s a situation for each of these. For me at the moment it’s over rated skimmer and skimming dry 24/7.

 

[chefjpaul]

24/7
Dry skim
Over rated untill I get Overstocked, then it'll be under rated.

 

[skiergd011013]

Aqua c remora modified so it surface skims. 24.7. Wet skim

 

[WWIII]

I run a Vertex omega 200i in my 240 gallon system, so technically undersized? I skim as dry as I possibly can, mainly because I don't have to empty the cup as often and when I do it's some seriously dense product! I run my skimmer 24/7 besides the weekly cleaning out the cup.

 

[Mal11224]

I skim primarily 24/7. I do turn it off at night for about 30-45 min when I feed the corals. It is overrated for my tank size and I go for dry skim over wet.

 

[ZachR32]

Skim 24/7 oversized 300 rated skimmer for a 125, about as dry as I can because I have a densely populated refugium

 

[DSC reef]

24/7 dry skim, little over sized, 150 gallon skimmer on a 75 tank. Off when feeding.

 

[mtraylor]

24/7
Over rated Skimmer
A little more wet than dry.

 

[Newbireef]

Whats the difference in dry skim or wet skim?

 

[XNavyDiver]

I skim 24/7. SRO-3000SSS, so it's oversized for my 100 gallon system. I skim dry.

 

[DSC reef]

I skim 24/7. SRO-3000SSS, so it's oversized for my 100 gallon system. I skim dry.

Nice skimmer

 

[XNavyDiver]

Whats the difference in dry skim or wet skim?

A dry skim happens when you adjust the bubble level a bit lower in the chamber and skimmate that eventually collects in the cup is thicker and darker (or dryer). A "wet" skim, the bubble level in the chamber is adjusted a bit higher, and the skimmate is more dilute and lighter in color. Folks who skim wet have to empty the cup more often than dry because it fills up quicker.

 

[AlexG]

I would say my skimmer is sized correctly for my system but since my bio load is low for the system volume it can be said the skimmer is over sized in comparison to the bio load. My skimmer is producing a dry skim at this time which is what I prefer. The skimmer is DIY construction and is gravity fed. This skimmer runs 24x7 at this time.

 

[XNavyDiver]

Nice skimmer

It's only the second skimmer I've ever owned. The first was back in the 90's and was a gravity fed wooden airstone thing. Needless to say, this new one is a bit better.

 

[DSC reef]

It's only the second skimmer I've ever owned. The first was back in the 90's and was a gravity fed wooden airstone thing. Needless to say, this new one is a bit better.

The wooden airstone, I remember that. Lol

 

[TheReefNoob]

I run a Octo essence-130 for a Waterbox 75.2 display is 50 gal, it's a start up and I only have 5 fish, plus clean up crew. So I'm in the light to Medium stocked range. Even when I get more fish my skimmer will handle the job.


Filtration Handling

Well Stocked Tank - Rated up to 75 gallons

Medium Stocked Tank - Rated up to 120 gallons

Light Stocked Tank - Rated up to 160 gallons

 

[Rakie]

Most people tend to run a slightly oversized skimmer. It of course can't be too big or it'll not produce anything (although it will still add the benefits a skimmer adds to a tank).

 

[Newbireef]

A dry skim happens when you adjust the bubble level a bit lower in the chamber and skimmate that eventually collects in the cup is thicker and darker (or dryer). A "wet" skim, the bubble level in the chamber is adjusted a bit higher, and the skimmate is more dilute and lighter in color. Folks who skim wet have to empty the cup more often than dry because it fills up quicker.

Thanks for the info Id like to get a constant dry skim but i cant seem to it kinda just does what it wants i fine it goes with the water level, if i top up it will wet skim, if it needs top up it dry skims

 

[Donovan Joannes]

I don't skim at all....

 

[saltyhog]

Not sure about ratings as they vary wildly from company to company. I'm running a Skimz SM203 which is an 8" skimmer, tank size is approx 160 gallons (72x24x21). Skim fairly dry with very dark skimmate.