Vodka, Vinegar, and a Skimmer

codemannc · 05/02/2012, 08:27 PM

I have seen many posts taunting the pros and cons of vodka and/or vinegar dosing. In each post, someone always makes a statement similar to the following: a "good" skimmer is a must. Well I have the $64,000 question....What defines a good skimmer? What parameters most one have in a skimmer for it to be considered good enough for vodka dosing?

Palting · 05/02/2012, 08:39 PM

LOL!! That's actually a good question. There is a tendency to equate "good" with "pricey", especially if the poster forked out a bunch of dough

.

You can read into a whole bunch of stuff, such as the bubble per second production capability, made from fancy materials with fancy names, etc, etc. I myself like it simple. I would define a "good" skimmer as one that is consistent in skim production, creates a good head of foam, and has a proven tract record of reliability. Why pay for anything more?

Here is what my skimmer produces in 5 days. I would call this a "good" skimmer because it produces this skim consistently and has been reliably doing this continuously for over 2 years now.

tkeracer619 · 05/02/2012, 08:54 PM

^^^

This.

If your skimmer isn't working well or is severely undersized carbon dosing can make things worse.

solitude127 · 05/03/2012, 09:08 AM

I wouldn't dose a carbon source using a Seaclone skimmer.

05/02/2012, 08:27 PM	#1
codemannc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 35	Vodka, Vinegar, and a Skimmer I have seen many posts taunting the pros and cons of vodka and/or vinegar dosing. In each post, someone always makes a statement similar to the following: a "good" skimmer is a must. Well I have the $64,000 question....What defines a good skimmer? What parameters most one have in a skimmer for it to be considered good enough for vodka dosing?

05/02/2012, 08:39 PM	#2
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	LOL!! That's actually a good question. There is a tendency to equate "good" with "pricey", especially if the poster forked out a bunch of dough . You can read into a whole bunch of stuff, such as the bubble per second production capability, made from fancy materials with fancy names, etc, etc. I myself like it simple. I would define a "good" skimmer as one that is consistent in skim production, creates a good head of foam, and has a proven tract record of reliability. Why pay for anything more? Here is what my skimmer produces in 5 days. I would call this a "good" skimmer because it produces this skim consistently and has been reliably doing this continuously for over 2 years now. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

05/02/2012, 08:54 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	^^^ This. If your skimmer isn't working well or is severely undersized carbon dosing can make things worse. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/03/2012, 09:08 AM	#4
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	I wouldn't dose a carbon source using a Seaclone skimmer. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1