Skimmer and reactor questions

[Fishingandreefing]

I set my skimmers, reactor and sump light (little bit of Rox .08 carbon and polyfilter on as soon as the lights go off for about 10 hours. I don’t want to run it too much as my nitrate is at around 2-3ppm by salifert.

I know running sump light opposite with the light schedule would gain benefit on PH but what about skimmers and reactors? Any different when I choose to run them? I feed the tanks in the morning.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Skimmers & reactors should run 24/7.
Standing water can go south, not something you need.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Skimmers & reactors should run 24/7.
Standing water can go south, not something you need.

I don’t think “standing” water that has not be agitated for more than 12 hours would be a problem. If so, correct me.

 

[dedragon]

might lower pH from not having the skimmer on (skimmer injects a lot of O2), also overflowing issues when it turns back on, carbon shouldnt effect nitrates much so i would run it 24/7 and the skimmer 24/7. I would turn the skimmer to a dryer skim with less air intake and lower internal water level. Less of an issue for the algae reactor/lighting. IMO

 

[dedragon]

If nitrates keep lowering brightwell neonitrate or seachem florish nitrogen dosing can help keep it stable

 

[Fishingandreefing]

If nitrates keep lowering brightwell neonitrate or seachem florish nitrogen dosing can help keep it stable

But why would I skim to a point when it’s undetectable and then dose nitrate

 

[Dan_P]

I don’t think “standing” water that has not be agitated for more than 12 hours would be a problem. If so, correct me.

Standing water begins to change immediately because it contains living organisms. Oxygen will become depleted and ammonia level will likely to increase.

 

[Dan_P]

But why would I skim to a point when it’s undetectable and then dose nitrate

Skimming may have only a small affect on nitrate level. An illuminated refugium can have a huge affect on nitrate.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Standing water begins to change immediately because it contains living organisms. Oxygen will become depleted and ammonia level will likely to increase.

Standing water begins to change immediately because it contains living organisms. Oxygen will become depleted and ammonia level will likely to increase.

I would say leaving it off for a couple of hours should be good.

 

[dedragon]

But why would I skim to a point when it’s undetectable and then dose nitrate

Not what i meant, I mean to run the air valve closed a little more and water level in the skimmer lower as well to reduce the amount of skimmate produced. The other benefits from running the skimmer 24/7 outweigh shutting it off for a few hours a night

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Not what i meant, I mean to run the air valve closed a little more and water level in the skimmer lower as well to reduce the amount of skimmate produced. The other benefits from running the skimmer 24/7 outweigh shutting it off for a few hours a nights

Not what i meant, I mean to run the air valve closed a little more and water level in the skimmer lower as well to reduce the amount of skimmate produced. The other benefits from running the skimmer 24/7 outweigh shutting it off for a few hours a night

To skim drier, I got you. Perhaps I will reduce the refugium light hours to compensate skimmer being running 24/7.

Reducing sump light hours mean less productive to lower nitrate?

if so, will go that route and only turn off skimmer for couple of hours during and after feeding

 

[dedragon]

Sorry just a bit confused, do you just have lights in the sump area or a refugium? I think we all assumed refugium from the lights on a 12/12 schedule

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Sorry just a bit confused, do you just have lights in the sump area or a refugium? I think we all assumed refugium from the lights on a 12/12 schedule

I have being running a light in the refugium for over 2 years and it’s being great. My question is, will reduce the hours from 12 to 10 hours means the sump will pull less nitrate out if that make sense.

 

[dedragon]

Oh gotcha now, yes reducing the time the light is on over the refugium will help reduce nitrate/phosphate uptake. Also im assuming chaeto or caulerpa in the fuge right?

 

[dedragon]

btw im a bit of a fisherman myself, what have you been going out for lately? Stripers and bluefish by me have been the hot bite

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Oh gotcha now, yes reducing the time the light is on over the refugium will help reduce nitrate/phosphate uptake. Also im assuming chaeto or caulerpa in the fuge right?

Yeah I got mexicana culerpas and grapes.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

btw im a bit of a fisherman myself, what have you been going out for lately? Stripers and bluefish by me have been the hot bite

Oh nice. I am not super hardcore but like fishing with my family. Usually whiting, croakers and spots and occasionally pull a red drum. I don’t think blues are in seasons yet.

 

[dedragon]

cool, by those fish im thinking u gotta be anywhere from nc down to fl most likely. Im over in long island so i dont have reds at all here

 

[Fishingandreefing]

cool, by those fish im thinking u gotta be anywhere from nc down to fl most likely. Im over in long island so i dont have reds at all here

Virginia

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t think “standing” water that has not be agitated for more than 12 hours would be a problem. If so, correct me.

I'd be concerned about water trapped in a skimmer or elsewhere, unaerated, for longer than an hour or so. stagnation and production of hydrogen sulfide is my main concern.

For that reason, and others, I am not a fan of on/off switching of skimmers and reactors.