Wet VS. Dry

ed102475 · 04/08/2009, 10:30 PM

What is the better way to skim wet or dry and why?

davewbush · 04/08/2009, 10:39 PM

I don't think one is better than the other. If you run dry and have to empty your cup once a week or if you run wet and have to empty it every day, you are still pulling out the same amount of bad things from the water.

ed102475 · 04/08/2009, 10:44 PM

So your saying 7 wet cups = 1 dry cup?

Anemonebuff · 04/08/2009, 10:48 PM

I prefer it on the wet sideI think it will remove the waste a little faster. I just do not want it too wet because it sometimes causes a full dump/overflow of the cup.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/09/2009, 05:59 AM

Wet skimming may pull out more organics than dry, depending on what you do to adjust it from dry to wet.

But it is less efficient in terms of salt water consumption, if that is a concern.

i try to change 1% of the tank volume daily, and I strive to do that by skimming, when possible.

This has more on skimming:

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

from it:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php#21

Wet vs. Dry Skimming

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foam draining is a critical stage for most skimmers. One problem with drainage is that some organics are washed away with the draining water. There is always an equilibrium between organics in solution, and those actually attached to the interface. As water continues to drain, some of the organics are lost. Further, as some bubbles pop and their organics are redistributed into the nearby water, the local concentration of organics in the water between the bubbles in the foam can rise to concentrations far higher than are present in the aquarium. For this reason, the most effective skimming, in terms of total organic removal, comes from removing somewhat wet foam, rather than waiting for this same wet foam to drain prior to removal. The primary difference between wet foam, and drained dry foam, is that additional water and some organics have drained away. A dry form is more efficient in terms of the amount of organic removed in relation to the water volume, and all skimmers and their potential adjustments strike some balance between removing more water and slightly more organics, or less water and slightly fewer organics. Perhaps a careful analysis of different types of skimming will, in the future, show this expected result experimentally.

i

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 07:39 AM

Thank you Randy I just bought a CSS 65 used and cheap for my 55 gal tank and I am running it in my sump.It skims wet for the most part and comes out looking like that last glass off tea in the pitcher with the tea particles in it.After about three days i have a half a cup or so not bad I would say.It might skim more after i get the hang of it.

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 08:23 AM

Wet has it by a mile.

Creade · 04/09/2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

i try to change 1% of the tank volume daily, and I strive to do that by skimming, when possible.

Randy, are you saying you skimmer collects over a gallon per day?

Even when im wet skimming i dont take that much out in a single day. Interesting.

tatuvaaj · 04/09/2009, 08:49 AM

I'm still not sure about the definition of these terms (dry vs. wet)

It would be great if someone could provide photos of both.

TIA!

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 10:49 AM

Dry has less water,salt and more concentrated than Wet.Wet pulls it out faster and might pull more over time.Best i can do far explaining it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/09/2009, 10:58 AM

Randy, are you saying you skimmer collects over a gallon per day?

Even when im wet skimming i dont take that much out in a single day. Interesting.

For a period of time when first cleaned, it easily skims out over 3 gallons per day, which is about 1% daily on my system. In order to limit it to about 3 gal per day, I throttle back the Iwaki 55 RLT that supplies the ETS 800 Gemini skimmer. Over a few weeks it skims less and less liquid as it gets dirty, and I increase the flow. Eventually, when it can't keep up to 3 gpd at full pumping, I clean it and start over again.

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 11:02 AM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a period of time when first cleaned, it easily skims out over 3 gallons per day, which is about 1% daily on my system. In order to limit it to about 3 gal per day, I throttle back the Iwaki 55 RLT that supplies the ETS 800 Gemini skimmer. Over a few weeks it skims less and less liquid as it gets dirty, and I increase the flow. Eventually, when it can't keep up to 3 gpd at full pumping, I clean it and start over again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice!

Anemonebuff · 04/09/2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ed102475
Thank you Randy I just bought a CSS 65 used and cheap for my 55 gal tank and I am running it in my sump.It skims wet for the most part and comes out looking like that last glass off tea in the pitcher with the tea particles in it.After about three days i have a half a cup or so not bad I would say.It might skim more after i get the hang of it.

I used to skim so that it looked like Chinese Green Tea, now when I skim it looks more like wet guacamole.

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 12:25 PM

Wet guacamole yummy pass me the soggy tortilla chips.

Waterobert · 04/09/2009, 01:02 PM

I don't want to take a chance of overfeling the cup so I skim on the dry side

jenglish · 04/09/2009, 01:25 PM

I skim dry because I have an oversized skimmer on a lagoonal setup where I don't want "too clean" of water, or at least don't really need it. If I had a reeftop style tank I would probably skim much wetter.

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 03:35 PM

Just got back from a buddies house and his skimmer was half or more full of some black/dark green skim.He said it was about a weeks worth.I think he has the turboflotor 1000,hooked up outside sump behind the tank.

Anemonebuff · 04/09/2009, 04:58 PM

Have some Nog!

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 05:04 PM

Thats what mine looks like maybe a little lighter.

Anemonebuff · 04/09/2009, 05:13 PM

That is two days,maybe a little less, on my G3 skimmer.

justdoit · 04/09/2009, 05:47 PM

Anemonebuff i see you a ASM G-3 on you 125. I run a G-2 on my 125 it is one bada$$ skimmer love it. And two weeks ago i got a G-4. i don't think it is doing a good job like my G-2 would you no anything about them?

tatuvaaj · 04/09/2009, 05:48 PM

Anemonebuff,

And that would be categorized as... wet?

jenglish · 04/09/2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tatuvaaj
Anemonebuff,

And that would be categorized as... wet?

I would call his wet... it is kind of a subjective term. There isn't an exact definition of wet or dry. Mine is much harder to see through and pretty chunky, I consider it dry.

Anemonebuff · 04/09/2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tatuvaaj
Anemonebuff,

And that would be categorized as... wet?

Somewhat wet. When it is dry the skimmate is almost black and much thicker. When I skim wet, the hue is much lighter like green tea.

ed102475 · 04/09/2009, 06:03 PM

I think that Anemonebuff's picture shows skim on the wet side. When its that light tea color its wet.Dark brown/green would be dry I think?

04/08/2009, 10:30 PM	#1
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Wet VS. Dry What is the better way to skim wet or dry and why? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/08/2009, 10:44 PM	#3
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	So your saying 7 wet cups = 1 dry cup? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 05:59 AM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Wet skimming may pull out more organics than dry, depending on what you do to adjust it from dry to wet. But it is less efficient in terms of salt water consumption, if that is a concern. i try to change 1% of the tank volume daily, and I strive to do that by skimming, when possible. This has more on skimming: What is Skimming? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php from it: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php#21 Wet vs. Dry Skimming -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foam draining is a critical stage for most skimmers. One problem with drainage is that some organics are washed away with the draining water. There is always an equilibrium between organics in solution, and those actually attached to the interface. As water continues to drain, some of the organics are lost. Further, as some bubbles pop and their organics are redistributed into the nearby water, the local concentration of organics in the water between the bubbles in the foam can rise to concentrations far higher than are present in the aquarium. For this reason, the most effective skimming, in terms of total organic removal, comes from removing somewhat wet foam, rather than waiting for this same wet foam to drain prior to removal. The primary difference between wet foam, and drained dry foam, is that additional water and some organics have drained away. A dry form is more efficient in terms of the amount of organic removed in relation to the water volume, and all skimmers and their potential adjustments strike some balance between removing more water and slightly more organics, or less water and slightly fewer organics. Perhaps a careful analysis of different types of skimming will, in the future, show this expected result experimentally. i __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/09/2009, 07:39 AM	#6
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Thank you Randy I just bought a CSS 65 used and cheap for my 55 gal tank and I am running it in my sump.It skims wet for the most part and comes out looking like that last glass off tea in the pitcher with the tea particles in it.After about three days i have a half a cup or so not bad I would say.It might skim more after i get the hang of it. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 08:23 AM	#7
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Wet has it by a mile. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

View Poll Results: How do you skim?
Wet	47	67.14%
Dry	23	32.86%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll

04/08/2009, 10:39 PM	#2
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	I don't think one is better than the other. If you run dry and have to empty your cup once a week or if you run wet and have to empty it every day, you are still pulling out the same amount of bad things from the water.

04/08/2009, 10:48 PM	#4
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	I prefer it on the wet sideI think it will remove the waste a little faster. I just do not want it too wet because it sometimes causes a full dump/overflow of the cup.

04/09/2009, 08:49 AM	#9
tatuvaaj Pro-Protozoa Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 1,228	I'm still not sure about the definition of these terms (dry vs. wet) It would be great if someone could provide photos of both. TIA! __________________ Tatu Vaajalahti Tampere, Finland Current Tank Info: 240 gal + 50 gal sump,SDSB,LR,ATB Medium, 2x250W HQI + actinic,Balling

04/09/2009, 10:49 AM	#10
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Dry has less water,salt and more concentrated than Wet.Wet pulls it out faster and might pull more over time.Best i can do far explaining it. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 10:58 AM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Randy, are you saying you skimmer collects over a gallon per day? Even when im wet skimming i dont take that much out in a single day. Interesting. For a period of time when first cleaned, it easily skims out over 3 gallons per day, which is about 1% daily on my system. In order to limit it to about 3 gal per day, I throttle back the Iwaki 55 RLT that supplies the ETS 800 Gemini skimmer. Over a few weeks it skims less and less liquid as it gets dirty, and I increase the flow. Eventually, when it can't keep up to 3 gpd at full pumping, I clean it and start over again. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/09/2009, 11:02 AM	#12
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For a period of time when first cleaned, it easily skims out over 3 gallons per day, which is about 1% daily on my system. In order to limit it to about 3 gal per day, I throttle back the Iwaki 55 RLT that supplies the ETS 800 Gemini skimmer. Over a few weeks it skims less and less liquid as it gets dirty, and I increase the flow. Eventually, when it can't keep up to 3 gpd at full pumping, I clean it and start over again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nice! __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 12:25 PM	#14
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Wet guacamole yummy pass me the soggy tortilla chips. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 01:02 PM	#15
Waterobert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel ,Ca Posts: 437	I don't want to take a chance of overfeling the cup so I skim on the dry side __________________ Robert Current Tank Info: 91 gallon reef tank, 26 gallon custom sump, ATB 840, 2 250 MH,mostly LPS with few SPS

04/09/2009, 01:25 PM	#16
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	I skim dry because I have an oversized skimmer on a lagoonal setup where I don't want "too clean" of water, or at least don't really need it. If I had a reeftop style tank I would probably skim much wetter. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

04/09/2009, 03:35 PM	#17
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Just got back from a buddies house and his skimmer was half or more full of some black/dark green skim.He said it was about a weeks worth.I think he has the turboflotor 1000,hooked up outside sump behind the tank. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 04:58 PM	#18
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Have some Nog!

04/09/2009, 05:04 PM	#19
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	Thats what mine looks like maybe a little lighter. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

04/09/2009, 05:13 PM	#20
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	That is two days,maybe a little less, on my G3 skimmer.

04/09/2009, 05:47 PM	#21
justdoit Moved On Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: FL. Posts: 63	Anemonebuff i see you a ASM G-3 on you 125. I run a G-2 on my 125 it is one bada$$ skimmer love it. And two weeks ago i got a G-4. i don't think it is doing a good job like my G-2 would you no anything about them?

04/09/2009, 05:48 PM	#22
tatuvaaj Pro-Protozoa Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 1,228	Anemonebuff, And that would be categorized as... wet? __________________ Tatu Vaajalahti Tampere, Finland Current Tank Info: 240 gal + 50 gal sump,SDSB,LR,ATB Medium, 2x250W HQI + actinic,Balling

04/09/2009, 06:03 PM	#25
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	I think that Anemonebuff's picture shows skim on the wet side. When its that light tea color its wet.Dark brown/green would be dry I think? __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.