Wet skim vs dry skim?

joshbrookkate · 03/22/2015, 04:58 PM

Can someone explain to me when and why I would wet skim vs dry?

banthonyb71 · 03/22/2015, 07:27 PM

essentially when you wet skim you are turning your skimmer up to produce a thin liquid as oppose to dry foam. you are increasing the water volume and inturn increasing the amount of organics collected.

joshbrookkate · 03/22/2015, 07:36 PM

So should I set mine to wet skim all the time?

joshbrookkate · 03/22/2015, 07:38 PM

So should I set my skimmer to wet skim all the time?

banthonyb71 · 03/22/2015, 07:56 PM

that is a choice. when you are wt skimming, you are removing mostly water, so essentially you are removing more organic waste this way however the water now needs to be replaced. most people that wet skim have an ato. since wet skimming has the same results of a water change and thus raises your sg, you will need to replenish this water with fresh saltwater

joshbrookkate · 03/22/2015, 07:57 PM

Thank you.

banthonyb71 · 03/22/2015, 08:01 PM

their are plenty people here that can answer your question much more detailed than me but myself personally have found no huge benefit of wet skimming over dry and the majority of hobbyists dry skim.

hogfanreefer · 03/22/2015, 08:01 PM

If you have an ATO wouldn't wet skimming lower SG rather than raise it? Evaporation raises it because you're removing water but not the solutes in it. Skimming removes both.

droog · 03/22/2015, 08:08 PM

Tough to answer that question unless you give details about your system.

Generally, I think the answer will be "no, its not necessary or desirable". Skimming wet is generally recommended if you are carbon dosing to help skim out nutrient laden bacteria. Its also a preference thing for some people.

Try it both ways for a month each and stick with the setting that works best for you. I think:

Lower bioload or smaller system volume => dry skimming
High bioload, carbon dosing, larger system volume => wetter skimming

Wetter skimming will export some salt water, so it can cause salinity to drift downwards overt time. I would only consider wet skimming if you are carbon dosing or are experiencing nutrient control problems.

-droog

joshbrookkate · 03/22/2015, 08:14 PM

Thanks all for your help. I just read about wet skimming in certain situations and wondered how I should be setting mine. I'll do the month's test.

LukeV · 03/22/2015, 08:55 PM

I have a wetter skim and find that it does help pull out more nutrients. It does require more top off water throughout the week depending on how wet of a skim it is.

banthonyb71 · 03/22/2015, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogfanreefer

If you have an ATO wouldn't wet skimming lower SG rather than raise it? Evaporation raises it because you're removing water but not the solutes in it. Skimming removes both.

yes u are correct. my apologies i said that backwards.

Big_Boss_77 · 03/23/2015, 01:55 AM

I've found it works best to go as dry as you can and still be considered "wet". What I mean by this is tune your skimmer to where it's pulling foam that's wet enough to collapse to a pea soup consistency. This way you're pulling the most organic matter with the least amount of water loss.

Waters40 · 03/23/2015, 06:59 AM

Unless you have a very small tank and/or are skimming extremely wet (pulling multiple skimmer cups per week), your SG normally won't be affected. I skim wet all the time in a 60 gallon tank and never add additional saltwater (aside from normal water changes)...my SG remains at 1.025.

DavidinGA · 03/23/2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

I've found it works best to go as dry as you can and still be considered "wet". What I mean by this is tune your skimmer to where it's pulling foam that's wet enough to collapse to a pea soup consistency. This way you're pulling the most organic matter with the least amount of water loss.

This is how I presume most people who promote "dry" skimming actually run their skimmer. Most of the work would be dry foam but when it comes time to empty the cup you still have "wet" waste in the cup.

AdamNC · 03/23/2015, 11:10 AM

I normally wet skim due to carbon dosing and never have to replace salt water, just top off.

Breadman03 · 03/23/2015, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamNC

I normally wet skim due to carbon dosing and never have to replace salt water, just top off.

Same. I pull about 1-2 quarts of skim per week and change about 15 gallons of water per week, so the amount of drift is minimal and will hover the tiniest bit lower than I mix to. I bet the margin of error in hobbyist grade equipment is greater than the salinity fluctuation.

Big_Boss_77 · 03/23/2015, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidinGA

This is how I presume most people who promote "dry" skimming actually run their skimmer. Most of the work would be dry foam but when it comes time to empty the cup you still have "wet" waste in the cup.

You're probably right, I've never figured out how to make it any drier so that makes sense lol No day is a waste in which you learn something. Thanks for the correction!

joshbrookkate · 03/23/2015, 07:51 PM

"No day is a waste in which you learn something." This is one of the reasons I love this hobby. And why I spend so much time reading this forum. My thanks to all who are helping us newbies!

Mythicalelf · 03/23/2015, 07:59 PM

I like mine on the dry side but if it skimms more for a day or two I'm ok with that.

Just as long as you get that funk smell when you open the lid. Even though I know it reaks I still smell it.

Big_Boss_77 · 03/23/2015, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mythicalelf

I like mine on the dry side but if it skimms more for a day or two I'm ok with that.

Just as long as you get that funk smell when you open the lid. Even though I know it reaks I still smell it.

This lmao that "low tide, what died, fish wharf" smell... Hate to say it, but I like that smell. Smells like work getting done.

CoralNerd · 03/23/2015, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waters40

Unless you have a very small tank and/or are skimming extremely wet (pulling multiple skimmer cups per week), your SG normally won't be affected. I skim wet all the time in a 60 gallon tank and never add additional saltwater (aside from normal water changes)...my SG remains at 1.025.

I experienced the same thing. Wet skim 90g with ATO, and my SG stays at 1.025.

Perform weekly (Sat.) 10g water changes.

Big_Boss_77 · 03/24/2015, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

I experienced the same thing. Wet skim 90g with ATO, and my SG stays at 1.025.

Perform weekly (Sat.) 10g water changes.

The weekly water changes are what keep your salinity in check. I don't change my water near as often so I have to pay close attention or mine bottoms out. Learned that the hard way a few months ago. Any water loss shy of evaporation is felt in my tank by the end of the month. That's why I skim as thick as possible.

03/22/2015, 04:58 PM	#1
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	Wet skim vs dry skim? Can someone explain to me when and why I would wet skim vs dry?

03/22/2015, 08:01 PM	#8
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	If you have an ATO wouldn't wet skimming lower SG rather than raise it? Evaporation raises it because you're removing water but not the solutes in it. Skimming removes both. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

03/23/2015, 01:55 AM	#13
Big_Boss_77 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Missouri USA Posts: 345	I've found it works best to go as dry as you can and still be considered "wet". What I mean by this is tune your skimmer to where it's pulling foam that's wet enough to collapse to a pea soup consistency. This way you're pulling the most organic matter with the least amount of water loss. __________________ Work smarter, NOT harder. Current Tank Info: 55 gallon with a 5 gallon fuge and 10 gallon sump

03/22/2015, 07:27 PM	#2
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	essentially when you wet skim you are turning your skimmer up to produce a thin liquid as oppose to dry foam. you are increasing the water volume and inturn increasing the amount of organics collected.

03/22/2015, 07:36 PM	#3
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	So should I set mine to wet skim all the time?

03/22/2015, 07:38 PM	#4
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	So should I set my skimmer to wet skim all the time?

03/22/2015, 07:56 PM	#5
banthonyb71 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 635	that is a choice. when you are wt skimming, you are removing mostly water, so essentially you are removing more organic waste this way however the water now needs to be replaced. most people that wet skim have an ato. since wet skimming has the same results of a water change and thus raises your sg, you will need to replenish this water with fresh saltwater

03/22/2015, 07:57 PM	#6
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	Thank you.

03/22/2015, 08:08 PM	#9
droog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 736	Tough to answer that question unless you give details about your system. Generally, I think the answer will be "no, its not necessary or desirable". Skimming wet is generally recommended if you are carbon dosing to help skim out nutrient laden bacteria. Its also a preference thing for some people. Try it both ways for a month each and stick with the setting that works best for you. I think: Lower bioload or smaller system volume => dry skimming High bioload, carbon dosing, larger system volume => wetter skimming Wetter skimming will export some salt water, so it can cause salinity to drift downwards overt time. I would only consider wet skimming if you are carbon dosing or are experiencing nutrient control problems. -droog

03/22/2015, 08:14 PM	#10
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	Thanks all for your help. I just read about wet skimming in certain situations and wondered how I should be setting mine. I'll do the month's test.

03/22/2015, 08:55 PM	#11
LukeV Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 3	I have a wetter skim and find that it does help pull out more nutrients. It does require more top off water throughout the week depending on how wet of a skim it is.

03/23/2015, 06:59 AM	#14
Waters40 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 299	Unless you have a very small tank and/or are skimming extremely wet (pulling multiple skimmer cups per week), your SG normally won't be affected. I skim wet all the time in a 60 gallon tank and never add additional saltwater (aside from normal water changes)...my SG remains at 1.025.

03/23/2015, 11:10 AM	#16
AdamNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 849	I normally wet skim due to carbon dosing and never have to replace salt water, just top off.

03/23/2015, 07:51 PM	#19
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	"No day is a waste in which you learn something." This is one of the reasons I love this hobby. And why I spend so much time reading this forum. My thanks to all who are helping us newbies!

03/23/2015, 07:59 PM	#20
Mythicalelf Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: USA Posts: 315	I like mine on the dry side but if it skimms more for a day or two I'm ok with that. Just as long as you get that funk smell when you open the lid. Even though I know it reaks I still smell it.