Skimmer

robbrouse · Feb 21, 2014

Question...

I was at a local fish store talking to the owner and he suggested I start turning my skimmer off one day a week and then 2 the next week and 3 the next and so on until I'm just running it two days a week. He tells me it will skim more in two than the whole week..

My question is has anyone else heard this or do this?

mike007 · Feb 21, 2014

That's crazy you should run that thing every day. You don't want to start having a nutrient buildup which will cause you all kinds of issues.

Reefing Madness · Feb 21, 2014

Oh boy, another myth being busted. If you shut it down, then the water is not being cleaned up, ask him what happens to the waste thats being left in the water at that point? What happens to the Nitrate build up thats going to occur?

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

Its actually becoming a trend to "frequently" skim instead of constant skim. I currently have no skimmer on my tank and have no issues at all. What will happen to the waste is exactly what would happen to it without a skimmer. I had 0 nitrate for the first year. I moved my tank 50 miles and the nitrate boosted up to 0.5. About a week later I noticed a difference in my acro. They colored up, and started growing rapidly. About a month.ago my nitrate was back to 0. After feeding my tank (29 gallon) from 6-8 times a day with a 3/4" piece of rods my nitrate went back up to 0.75 after 2 weeks. These photos are of the same coral, one taken with cell phone and 0 nitrate. The other with cell phone and 0.5 nitrate. The change in color took 18 days from the day I moved the tank.

Reefing Madness · Feb 21, 2014

Ok, but are you running a sump? Alage Turf Scrubber? Doing weekly water changes? The Nitrates are not taking care of themselves.

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

No form of nutrient removal other than live rock and 4" sand bed. The only water change I have done in 2 months were during.acclimation if new corals totaling 2.5 gallons. I have a good biosystem that takes care of my nutrient export. I will also give credit to the clean up crew and the several microstars that were in the rock. I also have sponges that popped up everywhere that I'm sure plays a role.
Here's my setup:
29 gallon tank
6x24w t5 fixture
150 gph hob, filter pad and carbon is changed when it becomes so stopped up it overflows
150w heater
4" sandbed
Estimated 30 lbs rock (18lbs purchased from lfs, the remainder I have had sitting dry in a trash can for 7 years)
620 seio superflow
Jebao wp 25
ocellaris clown
Bi color blenny
Randalls shrimp goby
Yellow watchman paired with randalls shrimp
Cleaner shrimp
Too many corals to list, sps, lps, zoa. Two frag racks full of corals.

Bry · Feb 21, 2014

Pete polyp said:
No form of nutrient removal other than live rock and 4" sand bed.

A 4" sand bed is your nutrient removal. Not everyone runs a DSB and for those that don't they need another avenue. Unless you have another type of nutrient removal part time skimming will lead to problems.

reeffirstaid · Feb 21, 2014

I've never heard of "frequent" skimming. The entire point of a protein skimmer is to run it all the time. Other than removing organic waste so that it doesn't have to complete the nitrogen cycle, skimmers don't actually remove any nitrate already in the water.

Pappy · Feb 21, 2014

I would strongly suggest NOT listening to that lfs! As far as 0 nitrates....if you have fish you have nitrates period/exclamation point.! No skimmer also doesn't allow as much aeration in water.

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

I do not remember which sponsor of this site write about this in the past month. It was either unique, sexy or sd. They have started frequent skimming a while back with excellent results. The recommended method of feeding pappone is to remove your collection cup overnight when you feed as well.

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

I found the thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1709944

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

Out of curiosity I just checked my nitrate. For the past week I have fed 2 3/4" squares of rods and fed 1/8 tsp reef roids and coral frenzy daily. I feed reef roids 10 minutes after lights out and coral frenzy 1 hour before lights on

I guess its back to feeding 6-8 times a day....

Pete polyp · Feb 21, 2014

Bry said:
A 4" sand bed is your nutrient removal. Not everyone runs a DSB and for those that don't they need another avenue. Unless you have another type of nutrient removal part time skimming will lead to problems.

I agree that my dsb is my export of nutrient removal. I have never had a skimmer on any tank and have always had a dsb. I'm currently building a barebottom and my method of nutrient removal will be skimming and using biopellets to replace the sandbed. I also intend to remove the collection cup every night and replace it every morning. I believe the science behind frequent skimming is to let the biosystem in your tank to take care of the leftover nitrate.