Do you run skimmer

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Jon.Peak, Jan 16, 2015.

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  1. Jon.Peak

    Jon.Peak Fire Worm

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    I would like to know how often everyone runs their skimmer.

    I never turn mine off.

    What are the benefits of turning it off throughout the day and when should it be turned off?
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    By turning the skimmer off you may gradually see an increase in nitrates and phosphates, both are consider by some (me) to enhance the corals health when present at lower levels.

    When I run a skimmer I never turn it off just because it provides supplemental O2, but that is my personal preference.

    I have run stony coral tanks without a skimmer without issue.
     
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  4. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    I've always run my skimmer full-time - I wouldn't see a need to add in a complication of husbandry by turning it on and off
     
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  5. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    I run my skimmer constantly. I turn it off when I feed certain foods like phytoplankton, ect. I've seen amazing tanks that are skimmer less however. Like Corailline said, I like the extra O2
     
  6. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    Im going with a skimmer on my new setup to help reduce the frequency of larger water changes needed and also to help keep pH mroe stable. I will turn it off when feeding anything such as reef chili, phyto, etc but keep it running while feeding normal mysis, pellets, or whatever you use.

    I ran a tank for awhile skimmerless, was a 46gal. Did a 5-10gal WC weekly and kept nitrates and phosphates at 0. I also put a pH probe on the system for 6 months or so and the pH differences were huge, would go from 7.8 at night to 8.2 during the day. Tried to run the alk at night to help with this but it didnt run long enough to make much of a difference.

    With the new tank going with a sump and skimmer I am hoping that this helps with the pH. I am also probably going to do a reverse period with a refigum light on during the night hours.
     
  7. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    All day and all night. And it's a big one. Can't go wrong with a bigger skimmer.
     
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  9. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    Te real question isn't about to run or not to run but how wet to skim. Some people skim super dry while other skim super wet ad basically use skim mate and replacing it with fresh sw as a means for a water change.
     
  10. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    I maintain a tank that has no skimmer, no GFO, no carbon, one filter sponge from the fuge section to the return pump. It has an older style sump. It (the sponge) also has never been cleaned in two years, FWIW.
    Now, the reason I maintain it, is I do a 20% water change every week. His tank gets better care than mine, and lately it's beginning to show :oops:

    Ok, enough text, people like pictures. I do have some DSLR pictures, but I haven't found time to process them. I'll try and come back and update.

    1 year ago this tank was 75% xenia. Hitchhiking xenia... then it slowly took over. So, I took all the rocks out and gave them the scrubbing of a lifetime. This is what has happened since.

    This was during a water change, It's cool to see these actually above water.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    This one is a little cloudy, it was right after a water change.
    [​IMG]
     
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  11. kstafford003

    kstafford003 Feather Star

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    That tank looks fantastic. Since I haven't been feeding fish my skimmer never pulls anything (I don't have fish right now). It will pull out a wet skim the day after I feed oyster feast though. I would say going skimmerless is doable. If you have an overly stocked tank as far as fish is concerned or if you have lots of nutrients for bacteria I would be worried about low O2 levels without the skimmer running. I personally let mine run 24/7. I'm with oldfishkeeper, I'm not about to add an additional level of difficulty monitoring when the skimmer should be on/off.
     
  12. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    Yeah, I personally run a skimmer 24/7, but I don't perform as many water changes as that tank above gets. I make sure there is good gas exchange at the surface and there is a spot in the sump that also gets some good gas exchange.
     
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