Is Skimmer water freash or salt?

[Script_Kitty]

I have fiannly gotten my tank to where i want it (for now), have switched to triton, and have the ato pulling from a rodi system.

I know i need to replace evaporation with freah water and not salt, but what about the water the skimmer is taking out?

Is it taking salt out of the system?

I guess i could always taste it, but somehow that dosnt seem like a good idea

 

[tdileo]

It’s salt. However it’s such a minimal amount it doesn’t really effect your tank. As long as you do a water change every few weeks, it won’t matter

 

[mjlash22]

It’s salt. However it’s such a minimal amount it doesn’t really effect your tank. As long as you do a water change every few weeks, it won’t matter

+1 I can say at least for my situation, the skimmate is lower than my DT's salinity level. And as mentioned above, you're taking out so little as compared to total water volume that if you compensate but upping your water change salinity just a small amount, you will be fine. If you do not do water changes, then you should keep tabs on your salinity level and adjust accordingly.

 

[PatW]

Or you can measure your salinity daily. If the salinity is a bit below your target, add some salt water. There is enough evaporation per day in most systems that adding some salt water is a nice gradual way of bringing salinity back in line. I usually add less than the normal daily evaporative loss.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It almost exactly matches tank salinity, so however much skimmate you remove, its like taking out that much tank water and replacing it with fresh (when you top off for evaporation)

 

[Script_Kitty]

Thanks.

 

[Jeepguy242]

I have fiannly gotten my tank to where i want it (for now), have switched to triton, and have the ato pulling from a rodi system.

I know i need to replace evaporation with freah water and not salt, but what about the water the skimmer is taking out?

Is it taking salt out of the system?

I guess i could always taste it, but somehow that dosnt seem like a good idea

If your gonna taste it. Get a videio

 

[Dana Riddle]

My skimmer's skimmate is practically freshwater.

 

[LadyMac]

You know, I’ve never even thought of the skimmer pulling salt. Lol. I learned something new today.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My skimmer's skimmate is practically freshwater.

How do you know that, and how would that even happen? Separating water from the ions in it?

The best way to measure skimmate salinity is by conductivity. Most people who do that find it is high like tank water. Refractometers and hydrometers won’t work correctly to measure salinity in a high organic environment.

 

[Jeepguy242]

I took my skimmer cup off once and sat it on the floor next to m and my cat came over and sniffed it and started drinking. I almost threw up

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lol

FWIW, while I think the refractometer method is not optimal, Ken Feldman measured skimmate to be 31 ppt in his detailed analysis here:

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature

 

[Dana Riddle]

How do you know that, and how would that even happen? Separating water from the ions in it?

The best way to measure skimmate salinity is by conductivity. Most people who do that find it is high like tank water. Refractometers and hydrometers won’t work correctly to measure salinity in a high organic environment.

My report was based on an observation I made many years ago, and I don't recall how I measured salinity in the skimmate. I was quite puzzled by the low salinity I saw, and asked Craig about it on a public forum. He replied with an explanation, confirming what I saw was possible. However, I checked my skimmer this morning with conductivity meter and the reading was off the scale. So, I stand corrected, but have no explanation for the earlier observation. In retrospect, if desalination was that easy, the world's freshwater problems would be lessened. I appreciate your patience with me!

 

[Jesterrace]

It’s salt. However it’s such a minimal amount it doesn’t really effect your tank. As long as you do a water change every few weeks, it won’t matter

Agreed.