Is it possible to over skim?

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 06:09 PM

I won a Vertex Gen II 180 at my local reef club frag swap last summer. I am planning on setting up a 75 gal mixed reef with a 55 gal sump and a 30 gal fuge. The skimmer is rated for 100 - 180 gallons. I'm guessing it's ok because I will have well over 100 gallons with the sump and fuge, but I wanted to check.

Lateralus · 01/09/2010, 06:24 PM

seadub just opened up a can! I hear you can then I hear you cant over skim so I tend to skim dry vs wet which in the long run tends to be a darker skimmate.

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 06:31 PM

How do you regulate whether you skim dry or wet?
...sorry, newbie

Lateralus · 01/09/2010, 06:50 PM

Is there a height adjustment on the cup? If there is the higher you set the cup the slower it will fill but it'll be darker/dirtier. The lower you have it set the faster it fills but it'll be clearer. Basicly more water than poo vs more poo than water.

From one newb to another the day I know everything in this game is the day I quit playing.

reefscape15 · 01/09/2010, 07:06 PM

There is an adjustable riser tube on the outlet of the skimmer. I think that is actually the perfect skimmer for the system you plan on running. It's always better to go bigger than just big enough. And to answer your question, yes it is possible to overskim. Say you used that skimmer on a 10gal tank, then you would be overskimming, and maybe wiping out too many nutrients to keep your corals happy.

Anyways, congrats on the skimmer win! That's a very awesome freebie that you got. It should keep your tank very clean.

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 08:21 PM

I see...so it's more of a preference thing. I think I'd rather deal with the liquid than the solid. Thanks, for your help Lateralus

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 08:24 PM

Thanks, Reefscape15. Good to know this system will be just right! Yeah, it was a sweet win. I don't usually win raffles so it was a HUGE surprise to me

At the time I was only running a 29 biocube...

theyammieguy · 01/09/2010, 08:30 PM

What does wet vs dry skimming have to do with over skimming?

Lateralus · 01/09/2010, 08:41 PM

Well the way I see it if youre wet skimming youre removing particles at a faster rate.

theyammieguy · 01/09/2010, 08:42 PM

oh.

padi200 · 01/09/2010, 10:15 PM

Remember you are not just removing waste. Skimming removes trace elements too.
You can strip the water of lots of other good things when you remove the bad. Yes I believe you can very much over skim.

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 10:27 PM

But do you concur, padi200, that the vertex 180 skimmer is appropriate for the set up I described?

DC_40gallon · 01/09/2010, 10:29 PM

Back to the root question, no you can't overskim. When buying a skimmer everyone here will tell you to get the biggest and best (within reason) that you can afford because it will pull THAT much more out of you tank plus it allows for future tank upgrading!

padi200 · 01/09/2010, 10:51 PM

It is rated for 100-180 Gallons by Vertex, so I think it should be fine.
I don't agree that you cannot over skim. More importantly, that skimmer should be fine for you.

padi200 · 01/09/2010, 10:54 PM

Some say you cannot over skim because if there is no dissolved nutrients the skimmer will simply stop producing effluent. The question is can it remove enough nutrients to the point were certain corals like LPS and softies and macro-algae be affected ? The answer is yes and I have seen this happen.

padi200 · 01/09/2010, 10:56 PM

One more thing, IMO, Vertex makes very high quality equipment. I own some and love it!

seadub1 · 01/09/2010, 11:16 PM

Thanks for the detailed response, padi200!

padi200 · 01/09/2010, 11:40 PM

You are very welcome!

marjar · 01/10/2010, 12:26 AM

wet or dry skim will it pull a almost white foam or is something wrong with my skimmer?

DC_40gallon · 01/10/2010, 01:23 AM

It will until it builds up the junk that needs disguarded, that junk will build up in the collection cup neck (which coats the sides of the neck) and then ultimately overflow into the collection cup. This is what we refer to as a dry skim.

Wet skim is not allowing the skimmate to coat the inside of the collection cup all that much and allow it to flow into the collection cup quicker. This creates a thinner skimmate and wetter from more water collection and thus makes you change the collection cup more often and do more water top offs.

This can get confusing because you will need to replace the water in the collection cup with salt water top off, but evaporation water will require that you replace it with just ro/di water. It can get confusing fast because before you know it, you've accidently raised or decreased your salinity without knowing it unless you stay on top of things with a few days a week salinity test.

Lateralus · 01/10/2010, 01:28 AM

Either way the foam pretty much appears white but what collects in the cup should resemble anything from light brown to coffee color.

padi200 · 01/10/2010, 11:28 AM

and it usually smells pretty bad too!

01/09/2010, 06:09 PM	#1
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	Is it possible to over skim? I won a Vertex Gen II 180 at my local reef club frag swap last summer. I am planning on setting up a 75 gal mixed reef with a 55 gal sump and a 30 gal fuge. The skimmer is rated for 100 - 180 gallons. I'm guessing it's ok because I will have well over 100 gallons with the sump and fuge, but I wanted to check.

01/09/2010, 06:24 PM	#2
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	seadub just opened up a can! I hear you can then I hear you cant over skim so I tend to skim dry vs wet which in the long run tends to be a darker skimmate. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

01/09/2010, 06:50 PM	#4
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Is there a height adjustment on the cup? If there is the higher you set the cup the slower it will fill but it'll be darker/dirtier. The lower you have it set the faster it fills but it'll be clearer. Basicly more water than poo vs more poo than water. From one newb to another the day I know everything in this game is the day I quit playing. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

01/09/2010, 07:06 PM	#5
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	There is an adjustable riser tube on the outlet of the skimmer. I think that is actually the perfect skimmer for the system you plan on running. It's always better to go bigger than just big enough. And to answer your question, yes it is possible to overskim. Say you used that skimmer on a 10gal tank, then you would be overskimming, and maybe wiping out too many nutrients to keep your corals happy. Anyways, congrats on the skimmer win! That's a very awesome freebie that you got. It should keep your tank very clean. __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

01/09/2010, 08:30 PM	#8
theyammieguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,691	What does wet vs dry skimming have to do with over skimming? __________________ "Ya'll can go to hell, I'm going to Texas". David Crockett. 12g JBJ deluxe JBJ viper 70w, maxi jet 900, Koralia nano, two false percs, softies, LPS, and SPS, about 25# LR and 2"-3" SB. Running since 3/22/07. Soon to add sump with skimmer Click my home page for pictures. 40g breeder upgrade in progress. Planning a 60g cube FOWLR.

01/09/2010, 06:31 PM	#3
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	How do you regulate whether you skim dry or wet? ...sorry, newbie

01/09/2010, 08:21 PM	#6
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	I see...so it's more of a preference thing. I think I'd rather deal with the liquid than the solid. Thanks, for your help Lateralus

01/09/2010, 08:24 PM	#7
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	Thanks, Reefscape15. Good to know this system will be just right! Yeah, it was a sweet win. I don't usually win raffles so it was a HUGE surprise to me At the time I was only running a 29 biocube...

01/09/2010, 08:41 PM	#9
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Well the way I see it if youre wet skimming youre removing particles at a faster rate. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

01/09/2010, 08:42 PM	#10
theyammieguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,691	oh. __________________ "Ya'll can go to hell, I'm going to Texas". David Crockett. 12g JBJ deluxe JBJ viper 70w, maxi jet 900, Koralia nano, two false percs, softies, LPS, and SPS, about 25# LR and 2"-3" SB. Running since 3/22/07. Soon to add sump with skimmer Click my home page for pictures. 40g breeder upgrade in progress. Planning a 60g cube FOWLR.

01/09/2010, 10:15 PM	#11
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	Remember you are not just removing waste. Skimming removes trace elements too. You can strip the water of lots of other good things when you remove the bad. Yes I believe you can very much over skim.

01/09/2010, 10:27 PM	#12
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	But do you concur, padi200, that the vertex 180 skimmer is appropriate for the set up I described?

01/09/2010, 10:29 PM	#13
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	Back to the root question, no you can't overskim. When buying a skimmer everyone here will tell you to get the biggest and best (within reason) that you can afford because it will pull THAT much more out of you tank plus it allows for future tank upgrading!

01/09/2010, 10:51 PM	#14
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	It is rated for 100-180 Gallons by Vertex, so I think it should be fine. I don't agree that you cannot over skim. More importantly, that skimmer should be fine for you.

01/09/2010, 10:54 PM	#15
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	Some say you cannot over skim because if there is no dissolved nutrients the skimmer will simply stop producing effluent. The question is can it remove enough nutrients to the point were certain corals like LPS and softies and macro-algae be affected ? The answer is yes and I have seen this happen.

01/09/2010, 10:56 PM	#16
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	One more thing, IMO, Vertex makes very high quality equipment. I own some and love it!

01/09/2010, 11:16 PM	#17
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	Thanks for the detailed response, padi200!

01/09/2010, 11:40 PM	#18
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	You are very welcome!

01/10/2010, 12:26 AM	#19
marjar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tulsa Posts: 40	wet or dry skim will it pull a almost white foam or is something wrong with my skimmer?

01/10/2010, 01:23 AM	#20
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	It will until it builds up the junk that needs disguarded, that junk will build up in the collection cup neck (which coats the sides of the neck) and then ultimately overflow into the collection cup. This is what we refer to as a dry skim. Wet skim is not allowing the skimmate to coat the inside of the collection cup all that much and allow it to flow into the collection cup quicker. This creates a thinner skimmate and wetter from more water collection and thus makes you change the collection cup more often and do more water top offs. This can get confusing because you will need to replace the water in the collection cup with salt water top off, but evaporation water will require that you replace it with just ro/di water. It can get confusing fast because before you know it, you've accidently raised or decreased your salinity without knowing it unless you stay on top of things with a few days a week salinity test.

01/10/2010, 01:28 AM	#21
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	Either way the foam pretty much appears white but what collects in the cup should resemble anything from light brown to coffee color. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

01/10/2010, 11:28 AM	#22
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	Smells bad to and it usually smells pretty bad too!