Skimming wet vs. dry?

JJ4417 · 12/31/2007, 01:56 PM

What is the difference, benefits, your preference? Why do people not do both?

In a LFS the other day, talked to the guy about his set-ups, and on each and every 'display tank' (6 of them), he was running two skimmers. I forgot to ask...

old salty · 12/31/2007, 02:00 PM

Other than skimming wet keeps the skimmer a bit cleaner (less build up on the neck), I don't notice any difference as far as the tank is concerned. There aren't fewer floating particles, there isn't more algae, corals don't change color, etc...

JJ4417 · 12/31/2007, 03:34 PM

So no reason to use one vs. the other?

What does it actually mean, wet skimming and dry skimming?

doubletap4311 · 12/31/2007, 03:51 PM

wet skimming is produced by allowing more clearish bubbles, skimate to be produced. dry skimming is when you cut back on the adjustment and your skimmer produces more of a dark green skimate than that of a more clearer fluid when skimming wet.

cloak · 12/31/2007, 04:13 PM

I always thought the proteins were attracted to the bubbles. Open the venturi.

Both can work though.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 12/31/2007, 04:37 PM

The answer depends on what you do to cause the two different types, but if all you are doing is allowing a wet foam to drain more to produce a dryer foam, then the wet foam will remove a bit more organic material (because some drains away), but the efficiency is greater with dry foam in terms of organic removed per unit of salt water removed. I try to produce a wet foam and then replace it with new salt water, combining a water change with skimming.

I discuss skimming in detail here:

What is Skimming?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php

JJ4417 · 12/31/2007, 04:46 PM

Cool...thanks Randy...I think I've got about 17 articles of yours on water chemistry to read as well.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 12/31/2007, 08:15 PM

You're welcome.

Good luck.

12/31/2007, 01:56 PM	#1
JJ4417 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 317	Skimming wet vs. dry? What is the difference, benefits, your preference? Why do people not do both? In a LFS the other day, talked to the guy about his set-ups, and on each and every 'display tank' (6 of them), he was running two skimmers. I forgot to ask...

12/31/2007, 02:00 PM	#2
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Other than skimming wet keeps the skimmer a bit cleaner (less build up on the neck), I don't notice any difference as far as the tank is concerned. There aren't fewer floating particles, there isn't more algae, corals don't change color, etc... __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

12/31/2007, 04:37 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The answer depends on what you do to cause the two different types, but if all you are doing is allowing a wet foam to drain more to produce a dryer foam, then the wet foam will remove a bit more organic material (because some drains away), but the efficiency is greater with dry foam in terms of organic removed per unit of salt water removed. I try to produce a wet foam and then replace it with new salt water, combining a water change with skimming. I discuss skimming in detail here: What is Skimming? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

12/31/2007, 08:15 PM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	You're welcome. Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

12/31/2007, 03:34 PM	#3
JJ4417 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 317	So no reason to use one vs. the other? What does it actually mean, wet skimming and dry skimming?

12/31/2007, 03:51 PM	#4
doubletap4311 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Crosby, Tx Posts: 82	wet skimming is produced by allowing more clearish bubbles, skimate to be produced. dry skimming is when you cut back on the adjustment and your skimmer produces more of a dark green skimate than that of a more clearer fluid when skimming wet.

12/31/2007, 04:13 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I always thought the proteins were attracted to the bubbles. Open the venturi. Both can work though.

12/31/2007, 04:46 PM	#7
JJ4417 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 317	Cool...thanks Randy...I think I've got about 17 articles of yours on water chemistry to read as well.