Skimmer Tips

[STL]

How about a thread with skimmer tips & tricks? Here's one to get started:

I recently added a biopellet reactor. My skimmate production increased noticeably, but it also went from about a 7/10 to an 11/10 on the stinky scale. I did some searching for ways to solve this and came up with the following:

- Charcoal pads on the skimmer cup vents - already had those, drat...
- Drain to a collection jug and put soap in there - hmm, don't really want/need a collection jug
- Bleach in the skimmate cup - yikes!
- Hydrogen Peroxide in the skimmate cup - not bad..
- Kalkwasser in the skimmate cup - ah ha!

Here's what I did, it really works and I'm at about a 1/10 now after running this for 2 days:

- Mix up some kalkwasser
- Let it settle out
- Pour the clear liquid into the skimmate cup, just enough to cover the bottom of the cup

Voila! The extremely high pH of the kalkwasser inhibits the bacterial growth in the cup, and, hence, the odor.

The only danger here is putting too much in, as skimmers occasionally flood and mine floods into the sump. The amount needed to cover the bottom of the cup diluted by the water in the sump would not likely impact the tank's pH. But beware of this if you try this at home!

 

[solar]

A collection jug would stop it from overflowing into the sump

 

[Guerry]

- Kalkwasser in the skimmate cup - ah ha!

never thought of that, let know how it is in a week. Might try it myself

 

[STL]

Guerry - I generally clean my skimmer every couple/few days when I change out the filter socks. But it's still remarkably odor free - I'll give it to tomorrow night for a full 3 days. It's got a ton of foam and a good half inch of liquid in there and so far, so good...

Solar - a jug is too much trouble for my particular set up

Anyone have any other skimmer tips?

 

[STL]

Update - cleaned the skimmer last night, that's 4 full days with the kalkwasser in the cup. I'd give it about 3/10 on the stinky scale, which is a vast improvement!