Hydrogen Peroxide in Skimmer Cup

[NickK]

I'm sure I'm not the first to do this, but I did a quick search and didn't see it, so I thought I would share.

I've been leaving a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in my skimmer cup everytime I clean it out. The hydrogen peroxide breaks down the skimmate as it's formed, keeps it from sticking to the cup, and it keeps it from stinking. We're not talking about a lot, maybe 10 ml. in the cup.

There's no real risk if your cup overflows and dumps the hydrogen peroxide in your tank. I've dosed HP before trying to get rid of Cyano. I have a mixed reef tank with a bunch of SPS.

Is anybody else doing this?

 

[mcarroll]

Skim wet instead.

Better skimming, same easy cleaning and lack of smell, but no need for the trip to the medicine cabinet for the h2o2. I'm always looking for ways to simplify vs complicate – can ≠ should – so this is how I've learned to do it. Just tune your skimmer so the cup is full, or nearly full, to match your maintenance cycle. I've had my skimmer fill the cup daily so I could empty it with the morning routine. I currently have mine fill about weekly so it's a close match to when my ATO needs to be refilled. YMMV, but cleaning time should be very minimized with any plan like that. (If not, and you think this is important, try another skimmer.)

Still interesting – I'm surprised that little amount of peroxide left in what amounts to a well-ventilated open container would retain any activity for very long. If it seems to be doing something, then it must retain some level of activity.

 

[csb123]

I have a skimmate collector outside the sump. To prevent any smell, I put a toilet bowl puck in it. I works great!

 

[NickK]

Skim wet instead.

Better skimming, same easy cleaning and lack of smell, but no need for the trip to the medicine cabinet for the h2o2. I'm always looking for ways to simplify vs complicate – can ≠ should – so this is how I've learned to do it. Just tune your skimmer so the cup is full, or nearly full, to match your maintenance cycle. I've had my skimmer fill the cup daily so I could empty it with the morning routine. I currently have mine fill about weekly so it's a close match to when my ATO needs to be refilled. YMMV, but cleaning time should be very minimized with any plan like that. (If not, and you think this is important, try another skimmer.)

Still interesting – I'm surprised that little amount of peroxide left in what amounts to a well-ventilated open container would retain any activity for very long. If it seems to be doing something, then it must retain some level of activity.

I skim pretty wet. I empty my cup about every 3 days, and I can tell a definite difference between when I put H2O2 in there and not. I'm kind of supprised it's effective that long too.

Back when I was dosing for cyano, I would dose every 12 hours, because H2O2 would break down in the tank over 12 hours.

 

[NickK]

I have a skimmate collector outside the sump. To prevent any smell, I put a toilet bowl puck in it. I works great!

That's a good idea! I wish I could run a line straight into a sewer line.

 

[sundog101]

I’ll have to try this. I run my skimmer on the dry side.

 

[PSXerholic]

Great idea !!!