How often should I run a skimmer

Sman · Feb 18, 2013

I was curious , should my skimmer run 24/7 or just so many hours a day ? I have RedSea Prizm HOB skimmer rated for 100 gallon tank on a 60 gallon acrylic with built in sump. I have 1 Diamond Goby , 1 Perc , 1 Sailfin Tang , Blue Tang a few peppermint shrimp ...emerald crabs and various snails and a bunch of easy to keep coral . I have been getting conflicting advice from different friends .

drxdragon · Feb 18, 2013

mike007 · Feb 18, 2013

Run it 24/7 and make sure you add your supplements and test your water.

mayday610 · Feb 18, 2013

I run mine 24/7.

byronious · Feb 18, 2013

Personally I would turn it off while feeding & leave it off for awhile afterwards. Depending on how heavy you feed, I would leave it off say while not home or something like that.

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Sman · Feb 18, 2013

Thanks everyone ...I sometimes worry its going to over flow ...I work 24 hr. shifts...Firefighter . I usually shut it off when I'am at work . Thanks again . When I start the bigger tank (130 oceanic ) I will have an in sump skimmer , I shouldn't have to worry about that one .

Singlefin · Feb 18, 2013

24/7. Can you set it for a drier skimmate so it wont fill with fluid.

jeremyblu · Feb 18, 2013

Sman · Feb 18, 2013

Thanks again folks ...Yes you can set the flow but I still sweat it Ha.

always reefin · Feb 18, 2013

byronious said:
Personally I would turn it off while feeding & leave it off for awhile afterwards. Depending on how heavy you feed, I would leave it off say while not home or something like that.

Sent from my DROID X2

Agree on turning off before feeding and keeping off for a while after

Sman · Feb 18, 2013

I cannot believe I am getting answers here wow and you guys are not making me feel like a Dumas ... nice folks , thanks .

chort55 · Feb 19, 2013

I'll be the ***** that says.... with that skimmer and your livestock, you should run it 48/7 lol. In all seriousness tho, I run that same skimmer on my 30g with 1 fish and its not very good, but your fish need a bigger tank anyways so hopefully the upgrade isn't to far away

NanaReefer · Feb 19, 2013

I run the Reef Octopus BH-1000 on my 26g, 24hrs. If I'm gonna be gone say for the weekend, I just raise my cup a little

Sman · Feb 19, 2013

In the next few months I wanted to move the fish to the larger tank ...could not make myself pass the fish I got for the price , but everything "now" seems stable ...Is there even drinking water in Flint ? Just kidding . My wife is from Michigan... I'am a RedWing hater sorry . Ha

chort55 · Feb 19, 2013

Sman said:
In the next few months I wanted to move the fish to the larger tank ...could not make myself pass the fish I got for the price , but everything "now" seems stable ...Is there even drinking water in Flint ? Just kidding . My wife is from Michigan... I'am a RedWing hater sorry . Ha

Ok cool just wanted to make sure cuz alot of people say oooh I am going to upgrade but have no real plan to do so other then a pipedream... Understandable I did the same thing a few years ago when I was planning my 180 that I had but didn't have setup yet.

I live outside city limits its not so rough here..... I don't drink water (sure wouldn't swim in any of the public water), but my fish seem fine with it, after being ran through the RO/DI of course lol