Skimmer to size of tank

[Emmanuel.dam]

If I put a aqua one 224 skimmer on my 50 L tank, would it skim too much? I'm
Getting alot of algae growth on the glass :-/ which is really annoying me!!


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[MondoBongo]

I have a skimmer rated for a 250G in my setup with is 100G total volume (75G display and 25G sump). Works quite well, and I won't have to buy a larger one when I upgrade my tank size.

[Emmanuel.dam]

Mmm yer but I'm not sure if I'm pushing it that's all it reckons it does 1850L per hour and for a 50L tank maybe a bit much?


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[keithhays]

I don't know who decided to start the idea of skimming too much, but it is a ridiculous concept, so no it won't skim too much. I think it was originally thought to skim out copepods,etc. If you have so many copepods they are being skimmed out, then you probably don't need to worry about them being skimmed in the first place.
What is more likely, if you have algae growing, is that it is not skimming enough and you have high phosphates and/or nitrates.

[Rensmif]

Originally Posted by keithhays

I don't know who decided to start the idea of skimming too much, but it is a ridiculous concept, .

I could not agreee more, skimming is basiclally blowing micro bubbles in the water to float waste to the top and out of the system, hard for me to understand how it can be too much.

[spieszak]

Skimming CAN take too many nutrients from the system. Corals can suffer from lack of nutrients. There is a balance to everything in this hobby. If you have a skimmer drastically overrated for your tank, consider running it 3 days a week, or on a schedule, therefore allowing things that need the nutrients to be able to get them, while not allowing them to build up. But I also agree that over skimming for most of us is a myth because of the size of the tank compared to the productivity/price of skimmer.

[coralsnaked]

Hard to over skim but it is possible to starve your tank of nutrients. I would skim until the skimmate gets thin and stop for a couple of days and repeat. Your not growing SPS corals and those Duncans like to eat. Mazybe think about spot feeding your LPS to ensure they are well fed.

Merry Skerry

[Emmanuel.dam]

So if I put a big skimmer on it and spot feed my corals, that'll be ok?


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[keithhays]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel.dam

So if I put a big skimmer on it and spot feed my corals, that'll be ok?


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Big skimmer, feed what is needed. You have high nitrates and/or phosphates and will need to do something to reduce them. Most likely GFO for phosphates and possible carbon dosing for nitrates. You will want to measure for these because these two can actually starve your system of nutrients, but not until the algae is gone because you will not likely pick them up as the algae will be consume them quickly. If you do read them with the algae in tank, then just multiply the numbers a couple times and that will likely be your real numbers.

[Emmanuel.dam]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1363165941.448576.jpg
My parameters 1.024 salinity


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[keithhays]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel.dam

Attachment 223702
My parameters 1.024 salinity


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I would say you are still cycling because of the nitrite and ammonia readings. You mag and alk a tad low. The most likely reasons you are seeing algae is because you have lights on while still cycling. I would turn off the lights and finish cycling. If you are seeing these readings in an established tank, it is because you have overstocked for a given size biofilter or you have in someway damaged your biofilter. Its hard to go beyond this with ammonia and nitrite above zero. I would go ahead and run GFO for the phosphate since that will not affect the cycling of the tank or the biofilter and will ultimately reduce your algae. btw, your reading in the test results say you are at 1.025. It is not likely that your nitrate is zero because of the algae, I would guess you are in the 10 to 20ppm range in reality. Again, while you are cycling, this is a bit of guessing game.

[klwheat]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel.dam

Attachment 223702
My parameters 1.024 salinity


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Off-topic...What are you using to get your parameters displayed like this? I would LOVE to do something like that. Ok, back to your question, the only issue I've ever seen with "over skimming" is a difficult time maintaining a decent foam head. If you have that much algae, it should not be a problem.

[Portsie]

Originally Posted by klwheat

Off-topic...What are you using to get your parameters displayed like this? I would LOVE to do something like that.

It's not quite the same program the op is using but you should check out aquatic log on line. It's a free website I just started using to track my tank. It also has an iPhone app for quick posting of test results.