Wet skimming vs. dry skimming...?

Salty150 · 02/21/2017, 01:46 PM

Do you get different things out of the tank when wet skimming than you do with dry skimming?

Or do they both take out the exact same things from the tank...?

Elricsfate · 02/21/2017, 01:47 PM

Tagging along

AlSimmons · 02/21/2017, 01:50 PM

They basically do the same thing, but when you skim wet your removing more water along with the nasty stuff.

ReefsandGeeks · 02/21/2017, 01:53 PM

Same things as far as I can tell. Wet skimming may take out more total organics at the cost of more saltwater waste from being less concentrated, and more frequent emptying of the skimmer. I used to skim pretty wet, but now dry skim. Hasn't made a significant impact on my nutrients or anything visible in the tank.

Salty150 · 02/21/2017, 02:07 PM

Hmmm... I would have thought you would have gotten more stuff out of the aquarium by wet skimming...

organism · 02/21/2017, 02:19 PM

I think you lose more trace elements with wetter skimming, but it all depends on the tank. I skim for green tea color if that helps...

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

Hmmm... I would have thought you would have gotten more stuff out of the aquarium by wet skimming...

By volume you do

ca1ore · 02/21/2017, 03:37 PM

This is a question heavy on 'opinion' and light on 'facts'. I could argue, without facts or data, for both dry and wet skimming. I personally prefer dry skimming as it allows me to collect and then remove the thick spackle that builds up on the neck surfaces. Doesn't happen with wet skimming. But that proves nothing as the organics may simply be removed in the skimmate instead.

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 04:09 PM

I thought someone did a study on it somewhere.. can't find the data now..
Most of it just showed how inefficient skimming really is

Salty150 · 02/21/2017, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I thought someone did a study on it somewhere.. can't find the data now..
Most of it just showed how inefficient skimming really is

LOL, and the alternative?

Daily water changes...?

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

LOL, and the alternative?

Daily water changes...?

There are lots of people running "skimmer-less".. Some will swear its one of the best decisions they have made and have only had positive experiences doing so...

I've been running skimmer-less for 4 weeks now (skimmer taken down for cleaning,etc and just got around to it till yesterday).. Everything looks just fine.. No rise in nitrates/phosphates at all..

No one NEEDS a skimmer and like I said they really don't work that well..I want to say only 30% efficient or something like that..

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 04:18 PM

I believe I was thinking of one of these articles..
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-1...ture/index.php

ca1ore · 02/21/2017, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I thought someone did a study on it somewhere.. can't find the data now..
Most of it just showed how inefficient skimming really is

You could be right: brain's getting old chez moi! I do recall that skimming best case is 30% of organics. Makes one wonder what all the 'fuss' is about

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

You could be right: brain's getting old chez moi! I do recall that skimming best case is 30% of organics. Makes one wonder what all the 'fuss' is about

30% is 30%...

How bout a 30% pay increase... I'd happily 'fuss' at that number..

There are just too many not running skimmers and having successful systems to state that a skimmer is a MUST..
Its certainly not.. But every little bit "can" help.. It could also be stripping beneficial things from the water that we don't yet understand I suppose..
And too little true facts/data to really say "wet" is better than "dry" or visa versa..

EdgeN · 02/21/2017, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

There are lots of people running "skimmer-less".. Some will swear its one of the best decisions they have made and have only had positive experiences doing so...

I've been running skimmer-less for 4 weeks now (skimmer taken down for cleaning,etc and just got around to it till yesterday).. Everything looks just fine.. No rise in nitrates/phosphates at all..

No one NEEDS a skimmer and like I said they really don't work that well..I want to say only 30% efficient or something like that..

Were you running anything else on the tank besides the skimmer? Do you have a refugium or an ATS? Are you running any GFO or GAC? Things like that.

mcgyvr · 02/21/2017, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdgeN

Were you running anything else on the tank besides the skimmer? Do you have a refugium or an ATS? Are you running any GFO or GAC? Things like that.

Nope.. Nope.. Nope..

40B tank.. no sump.. 2 jebao PP8 powerheads and a heater..
maybe 40lbs of rock 1-2" sandbed
Nitrates at 2-3ppm.. phosphate .04ppm or so
~5G water change every 2-3 weeks

Mixed reef...

EdgeN · 02/21/2017, 06:08 PM

Picture?

organism · 02/21/2017, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

There are lots of people running "skimmer-less".. Some will swear its one of the best decisions they have made and have only had positive experiences doing so...

I've been running skimmer-less for 4 weeks now (skimmer taken down for cleaning,etc and just got around to it till yesterday).. Everything looks just fine.. No rise in nitrates/phosphates at all..

No one NEEDS a skimmer and like I said they really don't work that well..I want to say only 30% efficient or something like that..

It depends. My 34 gallon display is skimmerless with no carbon/gfo for over a year now with water changes ever 2 weeks and looks amazing with no algae, but it's mostly flower nems, LPS, and has only 2 clownfish. My frag tank is SPS with tons of fish so that one has a big skimmer on it. Also I carbon dose, and for that you for sure NEED a skimmer unless you want a dead tank. I'm not even skimmerless by choice, I just can't find one that fits the tank so I decided meh.

imo blanket statements like "no one needs a skimmer and they really don't work that well like maybe 30%" should be phrased as the questionable opinions they are so that people don't confuse them for facts or real advice, especially when the evidence is "these ancient articles that mention skimmers" and "I haven't used one in 4 whole weeks." The reality and all evidence is some specific tanks do ok without skimmers and the rest don't.

fixingstill · 05/15/2017, 12:23 PM

1 gallon of skimmate out and then refill with 1 gallon of fresh saltwater, isn't that better than a biweekly 25% water change on my 180G tank?

d2mini · 05/15/2017, 12:46 PM

It may not be based on anything substantial, but whenever someone has a serious issue with the tank (OMG, My kid dropped their PB&J sammich in my tank!!) you will always see recommendations to skim wet, along with whatever else was suggested. This would lead me to believe wet skimming, over time, is pulling out more gunk.

sde1500 · 05/15/2017, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fixingstill

1 gallon of skimmate out and then refill with 1 gallon of fresh saltwater, isn't that better than a biweekly 25% water change on my 180G tank?

I mean, its not even close to the same percentage. Besides, water changes do more than just reduce waste, they replenish missing nutrients as well.

Tripod1404 · 05/15/2017, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

It may not be based on anything substantial, but whenever someone has a serious issue with the tank (OMG, My kid dropped their PB&J sammich in my tank!!) you will always see recommendations to skim wet, along with whatever else was suggested. This would lead me to believe wet skimming, over time, is pulling out more gunk.

That is because you want to take out as much as the PB&J sammich as fast as possible. Wet skimming allows you to remove "suddenly introduced" stuff faster. But in terms of organics, the supply within the tank is more or less constant (unless you overfeed at a massive amount and huge amount of uneaten food remains). So it doesn't matter if you remove it faster at a diluted level or remove it slower at a more concentrated state.

ktownhero · 05/15/2017, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

30% is 30%...

How bout a 30% pay increase... I'd happily 'fuss' at that number..

There are just too many not running skimmers and having successful systems to state that a skimmer is a MUST..
Its certainly not.. But every little bit "can" help.. It could also be stripping beneficial things from the water that we don't yet understand I suppose..
And too little true facts/data to really say "wet" is better than "dry" or visa versa..

So, which is it? Is 30% "inefficient" or is it significant? You've stated both.

Rhetorical... don't need an answer

JC Slater · 05/15/2017, 01:37 PM

Hey all I'm curious as I've only used less expensive skimmers, but how do you make your skimmer skim wet as opposed to skim dry? I won a hydor slim skim a few weeks back so that's what I am using now. Thanks!

jason2459 · 05/15/2017, 01:45 PM

Agree with ca1ore.

I much prefer dry skimming especially since I can get more sticky thick dry skimmate now then I was before when skimming toward the wet side.

For the wet part I do a daily 1% water change. Much easier to control then wet skimming with fewer risks.

Wet skimming is ideal for those that want to claim they don't do water changes. lol

02/21/2017, 01:46 PM	#1
Salty150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 1,345	Wet skimming vs. dry skimming...? Do you get different things out of the tank when wet skimming than you do with dry skimming? Or do they both take out the exact same things from the tank...?

02/21/2017, 02:19 PM	#6
organism code monkey Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: south bay Posts: 6,223	I think you lose more trace elements with wetter skimming, but it all depends on the tank. I skim for green tea color if that helps... __________________ I don't always grow frags... but when I do, I prefer Dos Acros

02/21/2017, 03:37 PM	#8
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	This is a question heavy on 'opinion' and light on 'facts'. I could argue, without facts or data, for both dry and wet skimming. I personally prefer dry skimming as it allows me to collect and then remove the thick spackle that builds up on the neck surfaces. Doesn't happen with wet skimming. But that proves nothing as the organics may simply be removed in the skimmate instead. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/21/2017, 04:09 PM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I thought someone did a study on it somewhere.. can't find the data now.. Most of it just showed how inefficient skimming really is __________________ Who me?

02/21/2017, 04:18 PM	#12
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I believe I was thinking of one of these articles.. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-1...ture/index.php __________________ Who me?

02/21/2017, 01:47 PM	#2
Elricsfate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 482	Tagging along

02/21/2017, 01:50 PM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	They basically do the same thing, but when you skim wet your removing more water along with the nasty stuff.

02/21/2017, 01:53 PM	#4
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Same things as far as I can tell. Wet skimming may take out more total organics at the cost of more saltwater waste from being less concentrated, and more frequent emptying of the skimmer. I used to skim pretty wet, but now dry skim. Hasn't made a significant impact on my nutrients or anything visible in the tank.

02/21/2017, 02:07 PM	#5
Salty150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 1,345	Hmmm... I would have thought you would have gotten more stuff out of the aquarium by wet skimming...

02/21/2017, 06:08 PM	#17
EdgeN Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Overlook Hotel, CO Posts: 108	Picture?

05/15/2017, 12:23 PM	#19
fixingstill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 249	1 gallon of skimmate out and then refill with 1 gallon of fresh saltwater, isn't that better than a biweekly 25% water change on my 180G tank?

05/15/2017, 12:46 PM	#20
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	It may not be based on anything substantial, but whenever someone has a serious issue with the tank (OMG, My kid dropped their PB&J sammich in my tank!!) you will always see recommendations to skim wet, along with whatever else was suggested. This would lead me to believe wet skimming, over time, is pulling out more gunk. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

05/15/2017, 01:37 PM	#24
JC Slater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Sac, CA Posts: 28	Hey all I'm curious as I've only used less expensive skimmers, but how do you make your skimmer skim wet as opposed to skim dry? I won a hydor slim skim a few weeks back so that's what I am using now. Thanks!

05/15/2017, 01:45 PM	#25
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Agree with ca1ore. I much prefer dry skimming especially since I can get more sticky thick dry skimmate now then I was before when skimming toward the wet side. For the wet part I do a daily 1% water change. Much easier to control then wet skimming with fewer risks. Wet skimming is ideal for those that want to claim they don't do water changes. lol __________________ 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