When should I turn on the skimmer?

[RaiderFan in NY]

I just started my tank up about a week ago w/ LR and sand. My ammonnia has dropped, nitries are up and was wondering when I should turn my Protein skimmer on. Any advice is appreciated

[inachu]

I am mind reading all the pros on here but I think quite a few would say keep it running all day.

[Lightsluvr]

Originally posted by inachu
I am mind reading all the pros on here but I think quite a few would say keep it running all day.

...and all night...

JMHO

LL

[RaiderFan in NY]

yeah, but should i get it going while it's still cycling?

[D to the P]

you don't have to. but you can if you want to. I've heard arguments going either way. Some say that the skimmer isn't necessary and it will actually remove any bacteria that are in the water column before they can settle out and it slows down the cycle. Others argue that the bacteria aren't in the water column, it doesn't slow down the cycle, and that you should be keeping your dissolved organics down all the time.
Personally, if you already have a protein skimmer I would just hook it up and run it. That way when it comes time that it's important to have it running you already have a good feel for how your skimmer works. Some of them need some tweaking and tuning in so they work optimally. Also, most skimmers don't do much skimming till they've run for a little, so you mind as well just get it ready for when it will actually be needed.

[Michael]

personally i think a skimmer is essential in the marine aquarium, however this is my opinion, i run mine 24-7 and think this is the best way, of course there is lots of opinions on the skimmer and its probably up to you to decide

[sabadaque]

I am in the same boat, three weeks in and I turned mine on right when I added LR. I had to change it out already so I think that it helped in filtering out all the nasty **** at the begging.

[RaiderFan in NY]

i went home last night and plugged in my skimmmer. Needless to say it sucked out my water from my sump to quick then my return was pushing bubbles through it. how can i post a pic so someone can help me with my problem. i got so freaking frustrated.

[D to the P]

To figure out how to post an image, click the post reply button down at the bottom of the thread. Not the quick post one, but the one on the right that you would use if you wanted to post using smilies and all that fancy stuff. When the new page loads up, look down below the text box, below the options area, in the area that says attach file on the left. You'll see a text box and a browse button. Then to the right of that you'll see a photo gallery hyperlink and below that is the How do I post an image? hyper link. You'll need to either have your picture saved on RC in the photo gallery or use a website that you can save your pictures on like photobucket.com. Just follow the directions that RC gives and you'll get it.

Like I mentioned before, skimmers take some tweaking and tuning in for them to work properly. Just be happy that it happened now, and not when you really needed to have it on. Good luck.

[RaiderFan in NY]

thanks D to the P

[HumanIMDB]

We turned our skimmer on when we added the live rock as well. It has been running for 3 weeks now.

Your skimmer will need a slight "break in" period before it is 100% effective, so best to turn it on now.

Ours is producing only a small amount of dry skimmate daily but we are seeing a gradual increase as time goes on.

As for it sucking all the water out of your sump, you will have to add more salt water to compensate for the volume inside the skimmer. It shouldn't be too much probably a gallon or two. We made sure to do a top up before turning ours on then added salt water to compensate.

Like D to the P mentioned, you will be tweaking your skimmer for a while. I check ours several times a day to make sure it is dialed in correctly. I assume that eventually we will be able to "set it and forget it" to a certain extent; other than regular cleaning of course.

Good luck!

[RaiderFan in NY]

my skimmer has water in the cup on top....there is supposed to be water up there right? i only ask b/c you said it had dry skimmate.

[maluskeeter]

^ ditto..i have the same question

[HumanIMDB]

Yes, you are correct..."Dry" skimmate is still wet. I think it's a fine line between wet and dry skimmate.

What you are trying to do is not over skim and take out more water than gunk.

I can't remember the exact description now, but I believe your skimmate should be the colour of weak coffee, maybe a little darker.

[Lightsluvr]

Originally posted by RaiderFan in NY
i went home last night and plugged in my skimmmer. Needless to say it sucked out my water from my sump to quick then my return was pushing bubbles through it. how can i post a pic so someone can help me with my problem. i got so freaking frustrated.

I assume you are using an external skimmer. (?)

You don't want your skimmer pumping water out of OR into the sump compartment where your return pump is located. The water level in your return chamber is subject to variation based on how clean your bubble trap/foam filter is...the filter gets dirty and your return pump draws water out faster than it can flow into that chamber...

Your skimmer should draw out of a different chamber, and most folks pump the skimmer outflow right back into the same chamber...that way the water level in that chamber is not messed up by the skimmer flow.

JMHO

LL

[HumanIMDB]

Here are some pics of our setup:

(Click for larger image.)

Water comes from the tank into the first chamber. The skimmer is in the first chamber and flows into that chamber before going through the foam into the return chamber. The refugium pump is in the return chamber and also drains into the return chamber.

Hope this helps.