Skimmer question

[Tbird165]

What would cause my skimmer to skim fine at night but once the tank lights come on it do not want to skim right?

 

[143MPCo]

@twilliard

 

[twilliard]

I believe it comes down to the production of o2 (lights on) and nocturnal waste production (lights off)

 

[Tbird165]

I believe it comes down to the production of o2 (lights on) and nocturnal waste production (lights off)

So this would be normal then I take it

 

[twilliard]

Yes absolutely normal.
Dont run your level too high as during the night you will dump more into the cup.
Have to find that balance

 

[Tbird165]

Thanks for the info. I thought that maybe I didn't have the level set right and that was causing it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When you say it doesn't skim right, do you mean the foam is too low, or overflowing during the day?

When you feed may matter. Many foods cause temporary bubble popping. So do some additives.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I believe it comes down to the production of o2 (lights on) and nocturnal waste production (lights off)

I apologize, but is this for real?

Would oxygen production (or CO2 consumption) cause a change in the surface tension of water....i.e. bubble formation in the skimmer?

And, would a slight change in the amount of waste also cause this change? Actually, if I were to guess I'd say there was more waste production when llights were on....fish swimming about, eating and pooping. At night I'd think with fish sleeping, less poop. Granted, the nocturals are out and about, but I'd still put it on daylight when the most poop is produced.

Again, I apologize if I'm way off base, but I've never heard of these things causing a drastic change with a skimmers production.

What I'd want to know, what do you mean by not wanting to skim right? Is it skimming too wet or not skimming at all?

Also, is anything else happening when you turn on the lights? Feeding the fish; putting your hands in the tank; etc? And finally, what brand of skimmer are we talking about?

 

[twilliard]

I was keeping it simple to understand
For instance my lights are turning on right now. Head height has dropped 1/2" but through the day will rise back to normal (after photosynthesis and feeding)

 

[Tbird165]

When you say it doesn't skim right, do you mean the foam is too low, or overflowing during the day?

When you feed may matter. Many foods cause temporary bubble popping. So do some additives.

It stops foaming during the day

 

[Tbird165]

I feed about 15 to 20 minutes after lights come on but the foam in the skimmer starts going down before that

 

[twilliard]

I feed about 15 to 20 minutes after lights come on but the foam in the skimmer starts going down before that

Yup sounds normal
The head height should rise back up through the day.
Well this also is about available organics too. (Amongst other compounds and elements)

 

[redfishbluefish]

Sorry, I'm struggling with this.....you turn the lights on and there is an immediate collapse of the foam in your skimmer. How about the lights cause a slight drop in line voltage and the pump slows down?

Again, what skimmer are we talking about?

 

[twilliard]

Yes in my tank the surface tension does change with the cycles of lighting
Why exactly, that would be up Randys alley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, O2 and CO2 are not impacting the skimming. Not sure what is in this case, but perhaps the response of some organism releasing chemicals or something else in your home (such as cooking smells, etc.).

Mine goes up and down many times through the day and night with no clear diurnal cycle that I've ever seen (but I have not looked for that either).

 

[Tbird165]

Sorry, I'm struggling with this.....you turn the lights on and there is an immediate collapse of the foam in your skimmer. How about the lights cause a slight drop in line voltage and the pump slows down?

Again, what skimmer are we talking about?

Water level does not drop so I know the pump does not slow down. Lights and pump are on different outlets.


The skimmer is a cheap China skimmer I got for free because the powe read went out on it and the person did not want to replace it because it would cost more then what he had paid for it

 

[twilliard]

Oh the bubble completely stop! Eeks!
Sorry my misunderstanding

 

[twilliard]

FWIW, O2 and CO2 are not impacting the skimming. Not sure what is in this case, but perhaps the response of some organism releasing chemicals or something else in your home (such as cooking smells, etc.).

Mine goes up and down many times through the day and night with no clear diurnal cycle that I've ever seen (but I have not looked for that either).

I was more referring to the available o2, co2 in the water which is in relation to waste production and photosynthesis
Not directing directly to surface tension itself

 

[redfishbluefish]

I think this is your problem:

........cheap China skimmer......

It's a poor quality skimmer that is very finicky.

 

[twilliard]

I think this is your problem:



It's a poor quality skimmer that is very finicky.

Oh Paul my first laugh of the day!