skimmer/skimmate question

roughhouse · 09/22/2011, 02:10 PM

Hi everyone,

Newbie here with possibly a newbie question. I've got a 75 gallon tank with an SWC 160 skimmer, both of which have been up and running for about 6 months.

I've seen several threads debating on whether dry or wet skimmate is better, but I haven't really seen anywhere that says how you choose between the two. My skimmer some days runs dry and sometimes runs wet, without me adjusting the levels. And it doesn't seem to have anything to do with whether it's after a water change, etc. Am I missing something?

ryeguyy84 · 09/22/2011, 02:15 PM

do you have an auto top off? if not the level in you sump is fluctuating due to evaporation causing it to skim dry, then when you top off it runs wet.

brycerb · 09/22/2011, 02:52 PM

If you are wet skimming you are pulling every "bad thing" out of the water. Some of that stuff is useful to corals/inverts. Plus you are pulling out more saltwater and the cup needs to be empted more often. Dry skimming is only pulling out some of the really bad stuff, leaving some stuff for the corals/inverts. IMHO

Habu · 09/22/2011, 02:56 PM

If your water level varies in the skimmer area this can cause it to vary quite a bit.

Habu · 09/22/2011, 02:58 PM

Sorry I didn't see the above posts until after I posted.

roughhouse · 09/22/2011, 03:03 PM

I have an auto top off so water level in the sump isnt a problem.

I get what the differences are between wet and dry skimmate. What i want to know is how do i set my skimmer to do one or the other. My skimmer seems to change between the two on it's own.

aleonn · 09/22/2011, 03:12 PM

The skimmate change could possibly be attributed to something you're dosing, feeding, or placing your hands in the tank. At least for me, I've found it to be the case.

ryeguyy84 · 09/22/2011, 03:15 PM

Is this a new issue? Could the pump be dirty and it's fluctuating flow? Not sure if that's possible

ryeguyy84 · 09/22/2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

The skimmate change could possibly be attributed to something you're dosing, feeding, or placing your hands in the tank. At least for me, I've found it to be the case.

This is true

roughhouse · 09/22/2011, 03:29 PM

I've been wondering if it could be the pump. The skimmer does change when i feed the fish, etc but sometimes it seems to change on its own. I'll have nice dry foam about 2" below the top of the cup in the morning but when i come home the skimmer is going nuts and totally overflowing.

roughhouse · 09/22/2011, 03:32 PM

I have a calcium reactor so it doses throughout the day. Do skimmers normally fluctuate durring the day? Is this at least partly normal?

aleonn · 09/22/2011, 05:00 PM

I haven't sat down and looked at my skimmer foam head consistently, but it seems to fluctuate throughout the day. It probably depends on when fish, corals, and other livestock expel their wastes, and when that contacts the skimmer. My skimmer foam head has its peaks and valleys, but the key is tuning it so that it doesn't overflow while the foam head is peaking.

snorvich · 09/22/2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habu

If your water level varies in the skimmer area this can cause it to vary quite a bit.

Absolutely correct. Skimmers are tuned to a specific water level and work best if that is maintained.

falconut · 09/22/2011, 06:07 PM

My skimmer is sensitive to various things. The foam will be right at the top of the cup, but just after my hands go in, it drops to the bottom. From my experience, it sounds like it culd be normal. Like it was said above, it should be adjusted so it doesn't overflow into the cup.

09/22/2011, 02:10 PM	#1
roughhouse Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: socal Posts: 4	skimmer/skimmate question Hi everyone, Newbie here with possibly a newbie question. I've got a 75 gallon tank with an SWC 160 skimmer, both of which have been up and running for about 6 months. I've seen several threads debating on whether dry or wet skimmate is better, but I haven't really seen anywhere that says how you choose between the two. My skimmer some days runs dry and sometimes runs wet, without me adjusting the levels. And it doesn't seem to have anything to do with whether it's after a water change, etc. Am I missing something?

09/22/2011, 02:52 PM	#3
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	If you are wet skimming you are pulling every "bad thing" out of the water. Some of that stuff is useful to corals/inverts. Plus you are pulling out more saltwater and the cup needs to be empted more often. Dry skimming is only pulling out some of the really bad stuff, leaving some stuff for the corals/inverts. IMHO __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

09/22/2011, 02:56 PM	#4
Habu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma Posts: 232	If your water level varies in the skimmer area this can cause it to vary quite a bit. __________________ 180g gallon mixed reef Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

09/22/2011, 02:58 PM	#5
Habu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma Posts: 232	Sorry I didn't see the above posts until after I posted. __________________ 180g gallon mixed reef Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

09/22/2011, 03:15 PM	#8
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	Is this a new issue? Could the pump be dirty and it's fluctuating flow? Not sure if that's possible __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/22/2011, 02:15 PM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	do you have an auto top off? if not the level in you sump is fluctuating due to evaporation causing it to skim dry, then when you top off it runs wet.

09/22/2011, 03:03 PM	#6
roughhouse Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: socal Posts: 4	I have an auto top off so water level in the sump isnt a problem. I get what the differences are between wet and dry skimmate. What i want to know is how do i set my skimmer to do one or the other. My skimmer seems to change between the two on it's own.

09/22/2011, 03:12 PM	#7
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	The skimmate change could possibly be attributed to something you're dosing, feeding, or placing your hands in the tank. At least for me, I've found it to be the case.

09/22/2011, 03:29 PM	#10
roughhouse Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: socal Posts: 4	I've been wondering if it could be the pump. The skimmer does change when i feed the fish, etc but sometimes it seems to change on its own. I'll have nice dry foam about 2" below the top of the cup in the morning but when i come home the skimmer is going nuts and totally overflowing.

09/22/2011, 03:32 PM	#11
roughhouse Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: socal Posts: 4	I have a calcium reactor so it doses throughout the day. Do skimmers normally fluctuate durring the day? Is this at least partly normal?

09/22/2011, 05:00 PM	#12
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I haven't sat down and looked at my skimmer foam head consistently, but it seems to fluctuate throughout the day. It probably depends on when fish, corals, and other livestock expel their wastes, and when that contacts the skimmer. My skimmer foam head has its peaks and valleys, but the key is tuning it so that it doesn't overflow while the foam head is peaking.

09/22/2011, 06:07 PM	#14
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	My skimmer is sensitive to various things. The foam will be right at the top of the cup, but just after my hands go in, it drops to the bottom. From my experience, it sounds like it culd be normal. Like it was said above, it should be adjusted so it doesn't overflow into the cup.

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