Skimmer gunk

froggy4112 · 07/04/2007, 06:02 PM

Quick Question- what color should the gunk be i collect from the skimmer? it seems i have to empty it once per day and it is a dark yellow or "beer color". with foam and little bits of algae in it. Does that sound about right?

thank you.

BWine · 07/04/2007, 06:16 PM

I usually have a dark green or brown color in my collection cup.

plyle02 · 07/04/2007, 06:16 PM

Sounds like your skimming on the wet side to me. What kind of skimmer, any adjustments on it to dial into your preference? Its ok to skim wet, just keep an eye on salinity, it could lower as you top off for evaporation loss. Good luck...

Justin James · 07/04/2007, 06:33 PM

Yes it sounds very much like your skimming too wet. My Euroreef skims enough to half fill the skimmer cup every 3 days and it is fairly thick with a color of black to a dark brown. If yours is beer colored it's mostly tank water and thats making it look light in color because it's watered down. Your still removing bad stuff but like plyleo2 allready said your removing saltwater so watch your salinity levels.

I suggest adjusting your skimmer. It will then take longer to fill the cup but at least it will be more concentrated and you will be removing the same amount of bad stuff in the long run.

froggy4112 · 07/04/2007, 08:34 PM

ok thanks guys. I read up on how to adjust it and why to adjust it. w'e'll see what happens over the next few days.

am3gross · 07/04/2007, 08:42 PM

i have all mine set to where it is a dark brown in color. if usually takes any where from 2-4 days to fill my cups up.

07/04/2007, 06:02 PM	#1
froggy4112 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 131	Skimmer gunk Quick Question- what color should the gunk be i collect from the skimmer? it seems i have to empty it once per day and it is a dark yellow or "beer color". with foam and little bits of algae in it. Does that sound about right? thank you.

07/04/2007, 06:16 PM	#2
BWine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brandywine, MD Posts: 230	I usually have a dark green or brown color in my collection cup. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 75 gal Sump/Refugium, MSX300a Skimmer, 4 AI SOL Blues

07/04/2007, 06:16 PM	#3
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	Sounds like your skimming on the wet side to me. What kind of skimmer, any adjustments on it to dial into your preference? Its ok to skim wet, just keep an eye on salinity, it could lower as you top off for evaporation loss. Good luck... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

07/04/2007, 08:42 PM	#6
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	i have all mine set to where it is a dark brown in color. if usually takes any where from 2-4 days to fill my cups up. __________________ There are five things that you cannot recover in life: (1) The Stone...........after it's thrown, (2) The Word...............after it's said, (3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and ...(4) The Time.............after it's gone. (5) A person...............after they die Current Tank Info: 210 display, 75 gallon fuge

07/04/2007, 06:33 PM	#4
Justin James Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 510	Yes it sounds very much like your skimming too wet. My Euroreef skims enough to half fill the skimmer cup every 3 days and it is fairly thick with a color of black to a dark brown. If yours is beer colored it's mostly tank water and thats making it look light in color because it's watered down. Your still removing bad stuff but like plyleo2 allready said your removing saltwater so watch your salinity levels. I suggest adjusting your skimmer. It will then take longer to fill the cup but at least it will be more concentrated and you will be removing the same amount of bad stuff in the long run.

07/04/2007, 08:34 PM	#5
froggy4112 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 131	ok thanks guys. I read up on how to adjust it and why to adjust it. w'e'll see what happens over the next few days.