Skimmer on timer?

trigger gta · 11/02/2010, 08:57 PM

Can you run a skimmer on a timer? are there any pros or cons in doing so?

cajunreefer · 11/02/2010, 09:33 PM

I've heard of it

Steve Wright2 · 11/02/2010, 09:35 PM

Im new here triggergta

The only pros might be noise reduction if your tank is in the room you sleep in
and some energy saving costs

cons , in my opinion once you have a skimmer dialed in and producing foam/ skimmate
I always want to leave it doing its thing until such a time that I am forced to switch it off (remove for cleaning or relocating etc)

Steve

dots · 11/02/2010, 09:39 PM

Yes you could, but why have it in the first place if your not going to use it?

Pro, it is quieter in the room if it is in the living room
Pro, less heat from motor
Pro, less energy consumption (slight compared to total tank consumption)
Good auditory reminder that the power is on and the tank is not in peril.

Con, less overall skimmer production, faster buildup of wastes and shorter elapsed time between WC's and perhaps larger volumes required during such.
Con, less oxygenation of the water

Potential shortened life of Pump due to multiple starts and stops.

FYI, some recent studies have shown skimmers to be about 30% effective. Put it on a timer and it will cut that number farther.

Leaving it on constantly will provide the most consitent performance and parameters within the tank.....

dots · 11/02/2010, 09:43 PM

Welcome to Reef Central by the way!!

aleonn · 11/02/2010, 09:51 PM

Is there a particular reason you want to put it on a timer? I'm guessing maybe the tank is in the bedroom. I would say most people run their skimmer 24/7. If you turned it off at night, I'd be concerned about the drop in oxygenation. Combined with the natural increase of CO2 at night, the pH may be even lower if you had your skimmer off (someone please double check my water chemistry).

jeff@zina.com · 11/03/2010, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trigger gta

Can you run a skimmer on a timer? are there any pros or cons in doing so?

The only reason I would think would be valid would be if you also shut down the circulation pumps during a feeding schedule. The con to any skimmer start/stop process is that some skimmers are notorious for not restarting, locking the impellers or other issues.

Jeff

Pickupman66 · 11/03/2010, 07:52 AM

I would think it is not a good idea. when you shut the skimmer down, all the build up foam that has not made its way intot he cup will dissolve back into the water. YUCK!!!

Other than to not skim out during feeding, I dont see enough pro's to outweigh leaving it running full time.

bertoni · 11/03/2010, 11:12 AM

I shut my skimmer down for an hour when feeding. I used a countdown timer to turn it back on.

If the tank has plenty of aeration, running a skimmer part time would be okay. I'd check the pH to make sure it doesn't get too low. Also, I'd watch the animals carefully. Oxygen depletion can cause a lot of problems. The tank's maximum safe food input might drop a fair amount, too.

That said, a lot of tanks probably might be okay with part time skimming.

trigger gta · 11/03/2010, 03:12 PM

thanks for all the replys. as of now i have been running it 24/7 with only shutting it now for cleaning.

my questions was based on mostly just wanting to know if it can be done and if people are doing it.

i do understand about the pump locking up mine will do it from time to time on start up

humuhumupukapuka · 11/03/2010, 03:40 PM

I only run my skimmer periodically after a cyclopeeze/reef chili feeding or if I haven't turned it on for a week... seems to be working out for me.

Wolverine · 11/03/2010, 05:01 PM

The people I know who have done this usually leave it on at night, to keep the oxygenation up, and turn it off during the day. Most of them ultimately went back to just leaving it on full time.

fote03 · 12/01/2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I used a countdown timer to turn it back on.

What timer are u using?

bertoni · 12/01/2010, 02:28 PM

It's from LabSafety.com:

http://www.labsafety.com/Traceable-C...sredirect=true

streak · 12/01/2010, 03:43 PM

Other than removing the Dissoved organics.. and falling PH thats associates with this..
Unless your running Ozone into your Skimmer your not adding O2 into your system by any siginfiacant amount.. just look at the surface area at the top of the skimmer compared to top of the tank and water movement.. for exchange of gasses.. Just becuse your bubbling water at a high rate in the skimmer at lets say 4-5 inches across theres no way that can compete with say a 60x2x2 tank top surface area with 4 tunzes.. In fact if you covered the top of the tank and tried to provid all the o2 they need with skimmer the fish would die

bertoni · 12/01/2010, 04:16 PM

Both water movement and a skimmer can provide a lot of aeration. That depends on the size of the skimmer, and the size of the bubbles. A skimmer can provide a lot of surface area with very fine bubbles. This effect can be seen in a lot of tanks that run low in pH without a skimmer.

PaulieReef · 12/01/2010, 04:26 PM

I would never put my skimmer on a timer, everyone already mentioned the reasons.

Dustin1300 · 12/01/2010, 10:27 PM

As others mentioned very few actually don't run 100% of time outside of cleaning pump and skimmer cup. I'd guess that 99.9% of RCers run skimmer 24X7.

11/02/2010, 08:57 PM	#1
trigger gta Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 34	Skimmer on timer? Can you run a skimmer on a timer? are there any pros or cons in doing so?

11/02/2010, 09:35 PM	#3
Steve Wright2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shenzhen PRC Posts: 454	Im new here triggergta The only pros might be noise reduction if your tank is in the room you sleep in and some energy saving costs cons , in my opinion once you have a skimmer dialed in and producing foam/ skimmate I always want to leave it doing its thing until such a time that I am forced to switch it off (remove for cleaning or relocating etc) Steve __________________ Turbo snails are you kidding me, even I can catch and remove them from my reef tank

11/02/2010, 09:39 PM	#4
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Yes you could, but why have it in the first place if your not going to use it? Pro, it is quieter in the room if it is in the living room Pro, less heat from motor Pro, less energy consumption (slight compared to total tank consumption) Good auditory reminder that the power is on and the tank is not in peril. Con, less overall skimmer production, faster buildup of wastes and shorter elapsed time between WC's and perhaps larger volumes required during such. Con, less oxygenation of the water Potential shortened life of Pump due to multiple starts and stops. FYI, some recent studies have shown skimmers to be about 30% effective. Put it on a timer and it will cut that number farther. Leaving it on constantly will provide the most consitent performance and parameters within the tank..... __________________ ~Doug

11/02/2010, 09:43 PM	#5
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Welcome to Reef Central by the way!! __________________ ~Doug

11/03/2010, 07:52 AM	#8
Pickupman66 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 3,714	I would think it is not a good idea. when you shut the skimmer down, all the build up foam that has not made its way intot he cup will dissolve back into the water. YUCK!!! Other than to not skim out during feeding, I dont see enough pro's to outweigh leaving it running full time. __________________ What a Pretty day to stick your head in your tank and stare at your corals. 15 years reef keeping experience in old school simplistic ways. /><{{{{"> Archon BETA Current Tank Info: 66 Gallon SCA Rimless, Custom 40 Breeder sump, DC pumps, Lumentek Pro 240 controlled by my Archon

11/02/2010, 09:33 PM	#2
cajunreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 15	I've heard of it

11/02/2010, 09:51 PM	#6
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Is there a particular reason you want to put it on a timer? I'm guessing maybe the tank is in the bedroom. I would say most people run their skimmer 24/7. If you turned it off at night, I'd be concerned about the drop in oxygenation. Combined with the natural increase of CO2 at night, the pH may be even lower if you had your skimmer off (someone please double check my water chemistry).

11/03/2010, 11:12 AM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I shut my skimmer down for an hour when feeding. I used a countdown timer to turn it back on. If the tank has plenty of aeration, running a skimmer part time would be okay. I'd check the pH to make sure it doesn't get too low. Also, I'd watch the animals carefully. Oxygen depletion can cause a lot of problems. The tank's maximum safe food input might drop a fair amount, too. That said, a lot of tanks probably might be okay with part time skimming. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/03/2010, 03:12 PM	#10
trigger gta Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 34	thanks for all the replys. as of now i have been running it 24/7 with only shutting it now for cleaning. my questions was based on mostly just wanting to know if it can be done and if people are doing it. i do understand about the pump locking up mine will do it from time to time on start up

11/03/2010, 03:40 PM	#11
humuhumupukapuka Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Alameda Posts: 284	I only run my skimmer periodically after a cyclopeeze/reef chili feeding or if I haven't turned it on for a week... seems to be working out for me.

11/03/2010, 05:01 PM	#12
Wolverine RC Mod Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 17,732	The people I know who have done this usually leave it on at night, to keep the oxygenation up, and turn it off during the day. Most of them ultimately went back to just leaving it on full time. __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 14g, 29g nano reefs

12/01/2010, 02:28 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	It's from LabSafety.com: http://www.labsafety.com/Traceable-C...sredirect=true __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2010, 03:43 PM	#15
streak Reef Madness! Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perryville, Missouri Posts: 616	Other than removing the Dissoved organics.. and falling PH thats associates with this.. Unless your running Ozone into your Skimmer your not adding O2 into your system by any siginfiacant amount.. just look at the surface area at the top of the skimmer compared to top of the tank and water movement.. for exchange of gasses.. Just becuse your bubbling water at a high rate in the skimmer at lets say 4-5 inches across theres no way that can compete with say a 60x2x2 tank top surface area with 4 tunzes.. In fact if you covered the top of the tank and tried to provid all the o2 they need with skimmer the fish would die __________________ The Shoe String Budget Reef Aquarium. Possible?? Compared to 7 55 breeding Discus days well we see and try! :P Current Tank Info: 10g nano with 2 clowns 1 Royal Gorama 1 RBTA!

12/01/2010, 04:16 PM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Both water movement and a skimmer can provide a lot of aeration. That depends on the size of the skimmer, and the size of the bubbles. A skimmer can provide a lot of surface area with very fine bubbles. This effect can be seen in a lot of tanks that run low in pH without a skimmer. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2010, 04:26 PM	#17
PaulieReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 291	I would never put my skimmer on a timer, everyone already mentioned the reasons.

12/01/2010, 10:27 PM	#18
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	As others mentioned very few actually don't run 100% of time outside of cleaning pump and skimmer cup. I'd guess that 99.9% of RCers run skimmer 24X7. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

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