Is there some kind of massive release of nutrients at night?

psimitry · 02/01/2007, 12:15 PM

I ask because I'm trying to figure out why my skimmer overflows at night.

Granted, the Coralife Needlewheel skimmers are notorious for overflowing. However, I'm noticing that it only overflows overnight (usually between 3-7 am). I keep the skimmer at a ridiculously dry level overnight, so I'm trying to figure out why it can go all day, not produce squat for skimmate then suddenly at like 4 am it goes nuts and overflows.

Advice? Thoughts? Random insults?

akaatomic · 02/01/2007, 12:35 PM

Are you dosing anything? I noticed that if add essential elements or any similar type of suppliment, mine overflows. I stopped dosing and I haven't had an overflow since.

psimitry · 02/01/2007, 12:43 PM

Haven't dosed anything in weeks. I was planning to start again, but I haven't done anything recently.

I just can't for the life of me figure out why it doesn't skim crap from 9 am till 3 am and then from 4-7 it goes BOOM!!!!!

cdangel0 · 02/01/2007, 12:49 PM

Change in barometric pressure? Maybe due to the temperature of the hosue? Do you turn your heat (for the house) to a lower temp at night?

psimitry · 02/01/2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cdangel0
Change in barometric pressure? Maybe due to the temperature of the hosue? Do you turn your heat (for the house) to a lower temp at night?

Nope. The only reason the temperature might change would be because of the lights going off.

jacmyoung · 02/01/2007, 02:10 PM

My speculation is change in surface tension. I noticed every time I feed the tank or clean it, the skimmer (CCS65) stops skimming, nighttime is the most productive period probably because there is little activity in the tank to disturb the surface tension of the liquid/protein mix. Which means I adjust the skimmer according to the nighttime condition, most time during the day no skimmate is produced so the skimmer only aerates the tank.

With that arrangement, I still get a cup full every three days.

rustybucket145 · 02/01/2007, 03:07 PM

Do you use RO/DI or do you use tap with the stress zyme or de-chlor?

psimitry · 02/01/2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rustybucket145
Do you use RO/DI or do you use tap with the stress zyme or de-chlor?

I just started using RO/DI. I had previously been using straight RO.

sjm817 · 02/01/2007, 03:29 PM

PH typically drops at night, but I dont see why that would affect a skimmer.

Reeses · 02/02/2007, 09:41 AM

If jacmyoung's theory is correct, then you could test it easily by adding a powerhead near the top of the water to keep the surface agitated. If it doesn't go nuts overnight, then you've got your answer. It does make sense, and it has been proven that by having too much surface agitation, your skimmate production will be reduced.

jtreath · 02/02/2007, 10:00 AM

Do you have a lot of macro in a fuge anywhere?

What about a change in CO2 concentrations when the lights go off and your macro changes its respiration levels?

I am really not sure, but maybe that is it? Are your Lights in your fuge (if you have one) timed to be opposite your display?

Just my 2 cents worth.. but I would be interested in the findings.

wrassie86 · 02/02/2007, 10:07 AM

I think the problem just comes from general movement, smoking
,cooking ,arisol sprays. ECT.when i brought my basement sump up for the winter i ran into this problem again.plumbing my air line back to the basement fixed it.
Also you could build your self sort of a filter with carbon and floss if you cant plumb your air line to another place.

psimitry · 02/02/2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jtreath
Do you have a lot of macro in a fuge anywhere?

Yes. The fuge is in the sump chamber right next door to the skimmer, actually. The odd thing is though, that the chaeto algae that is in there is small, and I have a really, REALLY tough time keeping it alive in there. And yet it grows like crazy in the main tank (where I keep a small backup culture)

Quote:

I am really not sure, but maybe that is it? Are your Lights in your fuge (if you have one) timed to be opposite your display?

Yes. Well, close anyway. There is a 45 minute overlap between the two on both sides of the cycle.

Quote:

when i brought my basement sump up for the winter i ran into this problem again.

Actually, it's interesting you mention that. The entire tank and sump is in my basement.

02/01/2007, 12:15 PM	#1
psimitry Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,560	Is there some kind of massive release of nutrients at night? I ask because I'm trying to figure out why my skimmer overflows at night. Granted, the Coralife Needlewheel skimmers are notorious for overflowing. However, I'm noticing that it only overflows overnight (usually between 3-7 am). I keep the skimmer at a ridiculously dry level overnight, so I'm trying to figure out why it can go all day, not produce squat for skimmate then suddenly at like 4 am it goes nuts and overflows. Advice? Thoughts? Random insults?

02/01/2007, 02:10 PM	#6
jacmyoung Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,421	My speculation is change in surface tension. I noticed every time I feed the tank or clean it, the skimmer (CCS65) stops skimming, nighttime is the most productive period probably because there is little activity in the tank to disturb the surface tension of the liquid/protein mix. Which means I adjust the skimmer according to the nighttime condition, most time during the day no skimmate is produced so the skimmer only aerates the tank. With that arrangement, I still get a cup full every three days. Last edited by jacmyoung; 02/01/2007 at 02:16 PM.

02/01/2007, 03:07 PM	#7
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Do you use RO/DI or do you use tap with the stress zyme or de-chlor? __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

02/01/2007, 03:29 PM	#9
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	PH typically drops at night, but I dont see why that would affect a skimmer. __________________ - Scott

02/02/2007, 09:41 AM	#10
Reeses Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 606	If jacmyoung's theory is correct, then you could test it easily by adding a powerhead near the top of the water to keep the surface agitated. If it doesn't go nuts overnight, then you've got your answer. It does make sense, and it has been proven that by having too much surface agitation, your skimmate production will be reduced. __________________ There are two systems at work in every tank. There's the system you created and the system IT created. Current Tank Info: Just left :0(

02/01/2007, 12:35 PM	#2
akaatomic Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 155	Are you dosing anything? I noticed that if add essential elements or any similar type of suppliment, mine overflows. I stopped dosing and I haven't had an overflow since.

02/01/2007, 12:43 PM	#3
psimitry Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,560	Haven't dosed anything in weeks. I was planning to start again, but I haven't done anything recently. I just can't for the life of me figure out why it doesn't skim crap from 9 am till 3 am and then from 4-7 it goes BOOM!!!!!

02/01/2007, 12:49 PM	#4
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	Change in barometric pressure? Maybe due to the temperature of the hosue? Do you turn your heat (for the house) to a lower temp at night?

02/02/2007, 10:00 AM	#11
jtreath Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Moncton, NB Canada Posts: 309	Do you have a lot of macro in a fuge anywhere? What about a change in CO2 concentrations when the lights go off and your macro changes its respiration levels? I am really not sure, but maybe that is it? Are your Lights in your fuge (if you have one) timed to be opposite your display? Just my 2 cents worth.. but I would be interested in the findings.

02/02/2007, 10:07 AM	#12
wrassie86 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Thonotosassa,FL Posts: 1,836	I think the problem just comes from general movement, smoking ,cooking ,arisol sprays. ECT.when i brought my basement sump up for the winter i ran into this problem again.plumbing my air line back to the basement fixed it. Also you could build your self sort of a filter with carbon and floss if you cant plumb your air line to another place. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: None, On a baby and moving break.