Skimmate question

clarityreef · 02/26/2015, 05:33 AM

How much skimmate is my 30L tank suppose to produce?
Its not exactly heavily stocked. 5 corals 1 hermit, 1 starfish and one shrimp. But the skimmer is producing foam occasionally going to the top and popping the bigger bubbles, but it hasnt got any colour. Not dark like it suppose to be. The skimmer is filling with more water.
Is the skimmer functioning?

alexander_ktn · 02/26/2015, 05:50 AM

You should be able to dial in the skimmate production (should be in the skimmer's manual). What you are doing at the moment is "wet skimming" and the resulting skimmate is lighter in color than if you skim more dryly.

If you don't feed the tank much you'll probably not get much skimmate anyway.

gone fishin · 02/26/2015, 06:07 AM

The skimate produced is a direct function organics in the water. I would expect very little with your current stocking. Just my 2 cents and good luck

Guygettnby · 02/26/2015, 06:28 AM

Agreed with above, you probably don't have much in your tank for the skimmer to remove.

tmz · 02/26/2015, 08:55 AM

If it's taking up a lot of water , I'd check the air intake /venturi. Sometimes they clog with precipitated calcium carbonate and let less air in so fewer bubbles form and more water takes up the space.

02/26/2015, 05:33 AM	#1
clarityreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney, AUS Posts: 94	Skimmate question How much skimmate is my 30L tank suppose to produce? Its not exactly heavily stocked. 5 corals 1 hermit, 1 starfish and one shrimp. But the skimmer is producing foam occasionally going to the top and popping the bigger bubbles, but it hasnt got any colour. Not dark like it suppose to be. The skimmer is filling with more water. Is the skimmer functioning?

02/26/2015, 06:07 AM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	The skimate produced is a direct function organics in the water. I would expect very little with your current stocking. Just my 2 cents and good luck __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

02/26/2015, 08:55 AM	#5
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	If it's taking up a lot of water , I'd check the air intake /venturi. Sometimes they clog with precipitated calcium carbonate and let less air in so fewer bubbles form and more water takes up the space. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/26/2015, 05:50 AM	#2
alexander_ktn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austria Posts: 851	You should be able to dial in the skimmate production (should be in the skimmer's manual). What you are doing at the moment is "wet skimming" and the resulting skimmate is lighter in color than if you skim more dryly. If you don't feed the tank much you'll probably not get much skimmate anyway.

02/26/2015, 06:28 AM	#4
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	Agreed with above, you probably don't have much in your tank for the skimmer to remove.