Tunze skimmer

[Isiah1820]

Anyone have experience with the tunze skimmer? Or used it to surface skim? Trying to figure out the best way to go with it. As of now I have it surface skimming cause its a tight fit in my return chamber on my AIO tank. Also it’s skimming really wet, the skim is a dark color but not the thick muck that I’ve been told you want. It’s been running for a few months now.

 

[Montiman]

It doesn't really look bad to me. These never give exceptionally dry skimmate. If you want it darker try lifting the skimmer up a bit with the magnet.

The main reason small skimmers like the 9001 do not produce very dark skimmate is drying time. Drying time is the amount of time it takes for the bubbles to travel up the skimmer neck. Because small skimmers like yours are so short there just isn't much distance for the bubbles to travel up the neck so less water drys off when compared to a larger skimmers. This isn't really a problem. Wet skimming is perfectly fine. If you want the skimmate darker raising the skimmer in the water will give more distance between the foam head and the top of the skimmer neck so that the foam head can dry out more. This isn't necessarily better as you will also reduce the reaction chamber size slightly which can decrease contact time and reduce performance. So if you are ok with wet skimmate I would just leave it be.

 

[Isiah1820]

Appreciate the info. And it makes a lot of sense, you know how it is in this hobby always worrying or trying to tinker.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

BRS did a video on which is better dry skimming or wet skimming.
Spoiler alert Wet skimming won.