Who else uses their skimmer for water changes

LOTUS50GOD · 08/22/2011, 11:49 AM

My skimmer (Vertex Alpha 300) when it runs wet pulls about 5 gallons of skim from the tank in 36 hours. I replace this water with fresh salt water.

Who else uses this technique?

paal · 08/22/2011, 11:59 AM

Do you have a good way of measuring the amount you skim out so you can replace the correct amount automatically?
Does this interfere with your ATO?

LOTUS50GOD · 08/22/2011, 02:13 PM

The skimmate goes to a 5 gallon bucket.
When the bucket gets to 4.5 gallons (full), a float switch turns off the skimmer and sends me an email. It takes about 75 minutes for my parastalic (sp?) pump to all of the skimmate out of the bucket before it turns the skimmer back on.

With over 400 gallons of water, putting 5 gallons of fresh water doesn't even move the salinity in my tank. I add the salt to a low flow area of my sump till it dissolves, then check the salinity in 20 min.

I have the system down pretty good so I know how much salt to add.

DanEnglish · 08/22/2011, 02:15 PM

I do a similar thing. I think with total water volumes in the hundreds of gallons it is pretty easy.

jeff@zina.com · 08/22/2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOTUS50GOD

Who else uses this technique?

Intentionally? No. Unintentionally though...

Hint: I keep a stack of towels next to the skimmer.

Jeff

reefgeezer · 08/22/2011, 02:39 PM

The salinity in my tank drops due to skimming and other processes. As I don't do regular water changes I add salt to the sump weekly to account for that drop. It typically drops to about 33 ppt in one week. I add salt to bring it back to 35 ppt. It doesn't take much and I've been doing it for so long I know how much to add. I still check salinity before and after just to make sure.

jason2459 · 08/22/2011, 03:27 PM

You may want to check out this long running thread on utilizing your skimmer for a water change.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1534930

Thatgrimguy · 08/22/2011, 10:45 PM

Ha, I am doing something very similar and could use anyone who has been doing this for a while's help
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2060389

When you skim 2-3 gallons in a day, do you find that the skimmer is predictable still in how much it will produce?

tkeracer619 · 08/22/2011, 10:59 PM

Don't mix salt in a tank with life in it. That is not good for the livestock.

LOTUS50GOD · 08/23/2011, 07:37 AM

I have a chamber in the sump that is very low flow. The salt goes in there and gradually dissolves.

psteeleb · 08/23/2011, 07:58 AM

I use to wet skim for part of my water change on my 300g

I'd shut off the ATO and let it run wet for about a half a day and replace with new salt water. It didn't make up my entire water change but figured by skimming wet for some period of time I'd pull out stuff that normal skimming wouldn't get.

08/22/2011, 11:49 AM	#1
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	Who else uses their skimmer for water changes My skimmer (Vertex Alpha 300) when it runs wet pulls about 5 gallons of skim from the tank in 36 hours. I replace this water with fresh salt water. Who else uses this technique? __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/22/2011, 02:13 PM	#3
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	The skimmate goes to a 5 gallon bucket. When the bucket gets to 4.5 gallons (full), a float switch turns off the skimmer and sends me an email. It takes about 75 minutes for my parastalic (sp?) pump to all of the skimmate out of the bucket before it turns the skimmer back on. With over 400 gallons of water, putting 5 gallons of fresh water doesn't even move the salinity in my tank. I add the salt to a low flow area of my sump till it dissolves, then check the salinity in 20 min. I have the system down pretty good so I know how much salt to add. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/22/2011, 02:39 PM	#6
reefgeezer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 2,621	The salinity in my tank drops due to skimming and other processes. As I don't do regular water changes I add salt to the sump weekly to account for that drop. It typically drops to about 33 ppt in one week. I add salt to bring it back to 35 ppt. It doesn't take much and I've been doing it for so long I know how much to add. I still check salinity before and after just to make sure. __________________ John, Current Tank Info: In-process, 90 Gallon SPS Reef

08/22/2011, 03:27 PM	#7
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	You may want to check out this long running thread on utilizing your skimmer for a water change. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1534930 __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

08/22/2011, 10:59 PM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Don't mix salt in a tank with life in it. That is not good for the livestock. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

08/22/2011, 11:59 AM	#2
paal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 368	Do you have a good way of measuring the amount you skim out so you can replace the correct amount automatically? Does this interfere with your ATO?

08/22/2011, 02:15 PM	#4
DanEnglish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 360	I do a similar thing. I think with total water volumes in the hundreds of gallons it is pretty easy.

08/22/2011, 10:45 PM	#8
Thatgrimguy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 371	Ha, I am doing something very similar and could use anyone who has been doing this for a while's help http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2060389 When you skim 2-3 gallons in a day, do you find that the skimmer is predictable still in how much it will produce?

08/23/2011, 07:37 AM	#10
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	I have a chamber in the sump that is very low flow. The salt goes in there and gradually dissolves. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/23/2011, 07:58 AM	#11
psteeleb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 5,249	I use to wet skim for part of my water change on my 300g I'd shut off the ATO and let it run wet for about a half a day and replace with new salt water. It didn't make up my entire water change but figured by skimming wet for some period of time I'd pull out stuff that normal skimming wouldn't get. __________________ A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner Current Tank Info: 110g Mixed Reef, LED's & T5's

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