Skimmer on a timer

ruvtfan · 10/18/2010, 06:43 PM

Is it possible to run a skimmer on a timer rather than continuously? Was hoping to run it when asleep rather (say 10 pm until 8 am) than having to listen to the hissing all day. Assume would have to watch water quality more diligently but what else would be the concerns?

Agu · 10/18/2010, 06:56 PM

" Assume would have to watch water quality more diligently but what else would be the concerns?"

All that waste in the skimmer sitting there with no flow and decomposing would concern me.

Gary Majchrzak · 10/18/2010, 06:59 PM

the foam head collapses into it's body.

The resulting stagnant ambrosia quickly fouls. (We're talking vibrio bacteria and possibly worse.) When the skimmer starts up again all of the stagnant crap gets pumped back into the display aquarium.

You can visually see corals react negatively as the gunk hits the display water.

In extremely long power outages it's this foul skimmer discharge that often does the most damage to aquarium inhabitants.

Needless to say, a skimmer on a timer is a bad idea.

Agu · 10/18/2010, 07:07 PM

I tried to point out what Gary posted, but he was much more eloquent. I esp liked "stagnant ambrosia".

aleonn · 10/18/2010, 07:12 PM

If the skimmer is your primary source of oxygenation, that would have the greatest effect at night. From what I understand, algae and other things release more CO2 into the water column at night.

neoalchemist74 · 10/18/2010, 07:25 PM

Don't do it.

zachfishman · 10/18/2010, 07:48 PM

You can do it if you have a non-venturi model, aka one that relies on separate water and air sources, whereby you could just turn the air pump on/off whenever.

ruvtfan · 10/19/2010, 03:45 PM

Dang not what I was hoping to hear but you don't know unless you ask. Never thought of "backwash" as down side to the in sump model. Will try to dimish the hissing as something must be loose.

thanks for all the help.

Neogenocide · 10/19/2010, 04:04 PM

What is doing all the hissing? I made a simple pvc silencer that took care of the air intake on my skimmer. It uses a venturi for the air intake which absolutely drove me nuts. Can't even hear it now.

Scott

aleonn · 10/19/2010, 04:06 PM

What skimmer do you use btw? I have an AquaC Remora and there's a simple mod to decrease the noise.

ruvtfan · 10/20/2010, 07:56 AM

I bought my skimmer second hand it is a DAS in sump,and really wish I had the user manual with it, as I am not much of the handy woman. There is a small plastic tube on the side that I believes helps with air flow as when I place my finger over it the bubble stop. It is causing the hissing noise. Can't reall figure out why.

ahenson · 10/20/2010, 08:17 AM

Is it the air inlet that's noisy? That's a easy fix if so. What kind of skimmer?

ruvtfan · 10/20/2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahenson

Is it the air inlet that's noisy? That's a easy fix if so. What kind of skimmer?

Yes the air inlet. It is a used DAS. Not sure of the exact model.

lordofthereef · 10/20/2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruvtfan

Yes the air inlet. It is a used DAS. Not sure of the exact model.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...t=air+silencer

DustinB · 10/20/2010, 08:57 AM

Buy an air intake silencer. You can find them from a variety of manufacturers.

njudson · 10/20/2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

What skimmer do you use btw? I have an AquaC Remora and there's a simple mod to decrease the noise.

How do I mod my skimmer? Would be nice if it was quieter.

streak · 10/20/2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

If the skimmer is your primary source of oxygenation, that would have the greatest effect at night. From what I understand, algae and other things release more CO2 into the water column at night.

Very untrue just becuse it produces bubbles it displaces very little co2 in the water coloum you get way way more o2/co2 exchange from surface water agitation via powerhead/airstone (by breaking up the surface not the bubbles themselves) displacing water... in the main tank.. i havent read up on the exact about but i belive DO of saltwater is alot lower than freshwater so the turnover rate has to be much much higher at the water surface.. the skimmers bubbling in a chamber with 2"-3" diameter neck isnt squat for airating.

The other part about the plants relising CO2 at night is correct and they also lower ph somewhat in doing that. by producing carbonic acid. But with good surface flow its easily countered..

ahenson · 10/20/2010, 10:49 AM

Just look up "air intake silencer", I use a pill bottle and drill a hole into the top and bottom, then run seperate air lines into each hole. One from skimmer and another, they don't connect. It is super quiet then. A piece of pvc with 2 encaps works well and can just be zip tied to your skimmer.

ruvtfan · 10/20/2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...t=air+silencer

Thanks so much! That thread makes it simple enough that even I, the mechanically challenged, can do it. Will try it tonight.

aleonn · 10/20/2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njudson

How do I mod my skimmer? Would be nice if it was quieter.

From: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...uac+remora+mod

"Cut a rectangular piece of plastic to cover the top spray injector baffles- this is where most of the noise is being produced. It doesn't have to be permanent - just solid enough to stay in place. I did this and cut down the noise from my skimmer by at least 50%."

* I tied a piece of bubble wrap around that spray injector pipe and worked like a charm. You can also use vinyl tubing as well.

10/18/2010, 06:43 PM	#1
ruvtfan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bloomsburg, PA Posts: 87	Skimmer on a timer Is it possible to run a skimmer on a timer rather than continuously? Was hoping to run it when asleep rather (say 10 pm until 8 am) than having to listen to the hissing all day. Assume would have to watch water quality more diligently but what else would be the concerns?

10/18/2010, 06:56 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	" Assume would have to watch water quality more diligently but what else would be the concerns?" All that waste in the skimmer sitting there with no flow and decomposing would concern me. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

10/18/2010, 06:59 PM	#3
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	when a skimmer turns off the foam head collapses into it's body. The resulting stagnant ambrosia quickly fouls. (We're talking vibrio bacteria and possibly worse.) When the skimmer starts up again all of the stagnant crap gets pumped back into the display aquarium. You can visually see corals react negatively as the gunk hits the display water. In extremely long power outages it's this foul skimmer discharge that often does the most damage to aquarium inhabitants. Needless to say, a skimmer on a timer is a bad idea. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

10/18/2010, 07:07 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I tried to point out what Gary posted, but he was much more eloquent. I esp liked "stagnant ambrosia". __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

10/18/2010, 07:25 PM	#6
neoalchemist74 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Longmont Colorado Posts: 627	Don't do it. __________________ You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk. Current Tank Info: in progress

10/18/2010, 07:12 PM	#5
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	If the skimmer is your primary source of oxygenation, that would have the greatest effect at night. From what I understand, algae and other things release more CO2 into the water column at night.

10/18/2010, 07:48 PM	#7
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	You can do it if you have a non-venturi model, aka one that relies on separate water and air sources, whereby you could just turn the air pump on/off whenever. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

10/19/2010, 03:45 PM	#8
ruvtfan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bloomsburg, PA Posts: 87	Dang not what I was hoping to hear but you don't know unless you ask. Never thought of "backwash" as down side to the in sump model. Will try to dimish the hissing as something must be loose. thanks for all the help.

10/19/2010, 04:04 PM	#9
Neogenocide Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Findlay, OH Posts: 851	What is doing all the hissing? I made a simple pvc silencer that took care of the air intake on my skimmer. It uses a venturi for the air intake which absolutely drove me nuts. Can't even hear it now. Scott

10/19/2010, 04:06 PM	#10
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	What skimmer do you use btw? I have an AquaC Remora and there's a simple mod to decrease the noise.

10/20/2010, 07:56 AM	#11
ruvtfan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bloomsburg, PA Posts: 87	I bought my skimmer second hand it is a DAS in sump,and really wish I had the user manual with it, as I am not much of the handy woman. There is a small plastic tube on the side that I believes helps with air flow as when I place my finger over it the bubble stop. It is causing the hissing noise. Can't reall figure out why.

10/20/2010, 08:17 AM	#12
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	Is it the air inlet that's noisy? That's a easy fix if so. What kind of skimmer?

10/20/2010, 08:57 AM	#15
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	Buy an air intake silencer. You can find them from a variety of manufacturers.

10/20/2010, 10:49 AM	#18
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	Just look up "air intake silencer", I use a pill bottle and drill a hole into the top and bottom, then run seperate air lines into each hole. One from skimmer and another, they don't connect. It is super quiet then. A piece of pvc with 2 encaps works well and can just be zip tied to your skimmer.

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