Nitrate and skimmer

[Fishingandreefing]

I am turning on my skimmer on since my nitrate has spiked to 25/50ppm by salifer. I have been dosing vinegar 3ml daily on my 70g for a few days and fed less, now down to around 10.

I don’t want to run my skimmer 24/7, when it’s the best time to run it and for how long?

thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why wouldn't you run a skimmer 24/7?

IMO, it has advantages well beyond nutrients.

 

[X-37B]

Id leave the skimmer on and cut back on your carbon dosing to keep levels at your desired parameters.

 

[mdb_talon]

I hate to answer a question with a question, but why would you not want to run it 24/7? I understand some people dont because they have a low nutrient situation that they dont want to make worse. Personally I still would run 24/7 and accomodate nutrients in other ways, but at least in that situation I understand the logic. In your situation you have a high nutrient situation you are trying to resolve using carbon dosing (which makes a skimmer that much more essential). As 90's reefer stated I would run the skimmer 24/7 and cut back (eventually eliminate if nutrients get too low) the carbon dosing.