Uses for skimmate

phatduckk · Jan 16, 2020

Joseph Disalvo said:
Interesting idea has anybody run test kits on all the usual tank parameter levels of skim?

seemed like either a good idea or a terrible one so I didn’t do it. I just started dumping in some food after I feed my DT.

Oldsalt · Jan 16, 2020

Artimusclyde1974 said:
I put some water in a clear jar they are every where does any one know how to post a video mine always fail to work

Upload your video to YouTube then post link here. That's worked for me in the past.

ReeferCrabness · Jan 16, 2020

Skimmate straight-shots?

Oldsalt · Jan 16, 2020

An old reefer I knew was feeding dilute skim to rotifers to feed his clown fry. I don't know how much he diluted but he said it was rich in nutrients. If I had a room away from the house I'd try it too. That skim sure stinks

Minireef30 · Jan 16, 2020

My skimmer overflowed when I was at work and dumped a large collection cup into the tank. That cleared my Dino problem in three days. Lol

Artimusclyde1974 · Jan 16, 2020

Oldsalt · Jan 16, 2020

Glad that the YouTube upload solved your problem. How much did you dilute the skim, if any?

Artimusclyde1974 · Jan 16, 2020

I straight poured it in haha 5 gallon bucket and every few days I toss in the skim I dry skim

Scrubber_steve · Jan 16, 2020

fishybizzness said:
A teaspoon in my morning coffee really perks me up!

LOL

Scrubber_steve · Jan 16, 2020

@Lasse

Artimusclyde1974 · Jan 16, 2020

so I took half of that jar (maybe 5% of my culture bucket) and tossed it in my refurgium and it covered my refurgium walls with these bad boys!
I really think skim is a great food source

Irishman · Jan 16, 2020

Rybren said:
I use it as a plant fertilizer. Grows great tomatoes and flowers. A little goes a long way.

did you dilute the skimmate? Have you tried it on any other plants?

Oldsalt · Jan 17, 2020

There's a product here in Australia called Fish Emulsion. 1-2 tablespoons to a gallon. Smells awful but it works wonders.

Lasse · Jan 17, 2020

IMO - solid and semi-solid skimmate is a concentrated bacteria soup. The thick "clay" that you get everywhere in the skimmer - just bacteria, bacteria and bacteria. The water in the skimmer cup is a concentrated nutrient soup including bacteria, bacteria and bacteria. Not surprised at all that it gives good results when you feed copepods - it should be the same for corals IMO.

In periods - i just let the skimmate go down in the sump (using the cup but have a drain into the sump) I have had some idea to collect skimmate during day (in the skimmer cup) and release it again (after a 20 H growth period) into the aquarium for 4 hours during night. For me - it is like the skimmer cup can work as a "green house" for bacteria. I have a small dream to populate my aquarium with NPS corals and this could be a way to do it.

I have an idea (that´s I have start to collect equipment for) to construct a bio filter that will run in a low flow during day (bacteria build up) and periodically run at 100 % speed during night time ("back flush" - cleaning the filter media) It should be a perfect nitrification filter too. But after reading this thread - I probably change my mind in the future and try to figure out how to dose my collected liquid skimmate into the aquarium during night time. To be honest - I have already figure that out - it maybe time to test it

I have also during periods injected my plenum below my RRDSB (RemotedReversedDeepSandBed) as a DOC source - especially in the start of my aquarium

Sincerely Lasse

Scrubber_steve · Jan 17, 2020

Lasse said:
I probably change my mind in the future and try to figure out how to dose my collected liquid skimmate into the aquarium during night time. To be honest - I have already figure that out - it maybe time to test it

Sincerely Lasse

A drain from your skimmer cup, into a bottle connected to a doser ?

Belgian Anthias · Jan 17, 2020

The only good reason I have for to use a skimmer is based on the belief it is good in the removal of bacterial and other marine toxins. A skimmer only removes about +- 30% of DOC and very selective but this 30% may include most toxins, as the neurotoxin Saxitoxin. I think the reuse of skimmate is not a good idea. ref: http://www.baharini.eu/baharini/dok...ater:filtratie:eiwitafschuimer&rev=1579258965

Artimusclyde1974 · Jan 17, 2020

Dosed heavy amount of skim b4 bed. This is the same jar as my first video this is it this morning

Lasse · Jan 17, 2020

Scrubber_steve said:
A drain from your skimmer cup, into a bottle connected to a doser ?

No - more to have a suction tube from a doser into the skimmer cup - it is more safe that way. But your idea rise another idea. A doser that dose skimmate into a gently aerated bottle connected with another dosing head that pump out the same amount that is pumped in (into the bottle) into the display. And seeding the bottle with copepods. Voila - an automatic breeder and feeder of both bacteria and copepods

Belgian Anthias said:
A skimmer only removes about +- 30% of DOC and very selective but this 30% may include most toxins, as the neurotoxin Saxitoxin. I think the reuse of skimmate is not a good idea.

At least not to devour it - it means that the following posts is outdated

Mastiffsrule said:
personally I use it instead of milk in my shakes

fishybizzness said:
A teaspoon in my morning coffee really perks me up!

ReeferCrabness said:
Skimmate straight-shots?

More about Saxitoxin - specially chapter 7 is of interest - and it is produced by Dinoflagellates !!!!

Sincerely Lasse

Jman76 · Jan 17, 2020

I've been diluting skim in 5 gallons of water, and watering my plants. Alternate between front yard and back. They seem to love it. Wonder about the salt tho lol