Running Skimmer Wet

Steve71175 · 12/17/2009, 02:00 PM

What are the disadvantages to running your protein skimmer wetter than normal? Aside from having to empty your collection cup more often and potentially needing to top off more often what are the disadvantages?

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/17/2009, 02:06 PM

You'll need to top off with slightly saline water, since the water removed by the skimmer contains salt.

Otherwise, no real disadvantages. IMHO skimming wet can be a useful tool - for instance, to do small water changes, you can skim a few gallons off really wet, then replace with fresh water.

Michael · 12/17/2009, 02:10 PM

i dont think there is a disadvantage to be quite honest, as mentioned wet skimming wil remove salt, however from what ive read from some great reefers it will also remove phosphate as well.

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/17/2009, 02:19 PM

To be fair, a skimmer removes zero inorganic phosphate (PO4 species) - the stuff that shows up on test kits. What a skimmer CAN do though is remove the stuff that might eventually break down into PO4, thus over time helping control PO4 levels.

SWINGRRRR · 12/17/2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

IMHO skimming wet can be a useful tool - for instance, to do small water changes, you can skim a few gallons off really wet, then replace with fresh water.

You replace with fresh salt water right?

Blownsvt · 12/17/2009, 02:50 PM

What i do i think people would condsider to be skimming wet. I still top off with normal RO water and do not see any major drop in salinity unless i go a really long time with no waterchanges. I probably end up removing around a gallon of water a week or so. I don't end up emptying my cup any mor frequently that dry skimming. I probably do so once a week as well. I have a line off the collection cup that empties the water into a large jug. works out pretty well in my limited experience.

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/17/2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWINGRRRR

You replace with fresh salt water right?

Yes, in the case that you're skimming wet to do water changes.

In the end, it's important to simply remember that skimming removes saltwater, and evaporation removes freshwater. If you're skimming out a sizeable volume of water between water changes, you'll need to replace that salt - either through dedicated additions of saltwater, or just topping off with slightly saline water - you can determine the concentration by figuring the ratio between water lost to evaporation and water lost to skimming.

12/17/2009, 02:00 PM	#1
Steve71175 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 47	Running Skimmer Wet What are the disadvantages to running your protein skimmer wetter than normal? Aside from having to empty your collection cup more often and potentially needing to top off more often what are the disadvantages?

12/17/2009, 02:06 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	You'll need to top off with slightly saline water, since the water removed by the skimmer contains salt. Otherwise, no real disadvantages. IMHO skimming wet can be a useful tool - for instance, to do small water changes, you can skim a few gallons off really wet, then replace with fresh water. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

12/17/2009, 02:10 PM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	i dont think there is a disadvantage to be quite honest, as mentioned wet skimming wil remove salt, however from what ive read from some great reefers it will also remove phosphate as well. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

12/17/2009, 02:19 PM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	To be fair, a skimmer removes zero inorganic phosphate (PO4 species) - the stuff that shows up on test kits. What a skimmer CAN do though is remove the stuff that might eventually break down into PO4, thus over time helping control PO4 levels. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

12/17/2009, 02:50 PM	#6
Blownsvt Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 514	What i do i think people would condsider to be skimming wet. I still top off with normal RO water and do not see any major drop in salinity unless i go a really long time with no waterchanges. I probably end up removing around a gallon of water a week or so. I don't end up emptying my cup any mor frequently that dry skimming. I probably do so once a week as well. I have a line off the collection cup that empties the water into a large jug. works out pretty well in my limited experience.