Periodically running skimmer - how?

[DanH86]

I run my skimmer 24/7 and I’m pretty sure that is the reason I cannot raise nitrate/phosphate levels. My levels are 2ppm nitrate and 0ppm phosphate, always have been. No amount of overfeeding raises them and as a result of over feeding I’m now getting brown stringy algae build up on rocks.

I’ve read that leaving the skimmer off overnight can help but how do people maintain the correct levels with constantly switching the skimmer off/on? If I turn mine off, the sump level rises by ~1” and the tunze ato alarm sounds. Obviously if I left it off overnight, the ato won’t kick in and then turning it back on the next day would dump a load of RODI in all at once to compensate...

Failing that, can I dose phosphate?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Until a manufacturer develops a self adjusting skimmer, you will most likely need to adjust it when you turn it on.

 

[Bluedore]

Or get a bigger volume setup and that would minimize the fluctuations.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I would just tune the skimmer to skim dry. That should have the same effect without water height fluctuations.

 

[JohnnyTabasco]

I only run mine at night - no problems with overflowing and the production is acceptable.

 

[NanoDJS]

I skim for 2 days every 5 , and skim very dry , I only want to get out excessive bio load, I believe skimming a lot in the beginning of a tanks life is very beneficial ,but at a point becomes detrimental

 

[Mical]

I have my skimmer in my 120 to programmed "off" at night, via my apex. The theory behind that is corals open at night to absorb nutrients. Initially I was concerned w/lower Ph but that hasn't been an issue & visually corals seem to be doing better, but it's only been a few months.

 

[lapin]

MIne's skimmer is external so no sump water level issues. Comes on 3 times during a 24 hour period. 3 hours each time. 120 gallon's in sump. Skimmer prob sucks in 4 or 5 gallons when on. I have about to 3 gallons a day evaporation. I turned off the Tunze alarm. On my old tank, it was annoying when doing water changes.

 

[BoSalman]

I run my skimmer as a "light" on apex, it only turns on at night when my lights are out, and turns off when lights are on..

I guess you could just use a timer as well. No issues with overflowing since i tuned it "normally" prior to setting it up on an on/off schedule.