Should I turn my skimmer off?

benjc · 01/26/2013, 09:55 AM

I recently setup a 120 gallon tank which is currently stocked with 2 clowns, a melanurus wrasse, CUC, and LPS and softies. Should I shut my skimmer off (an SRO xp2000) until my bioload increases since I'm getting no skimmate? I'm also changing 5 gallons of water every 3 days and am running both carbon and uv. My nitrates are at 2.5 ppm. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

nanoreef heaven · 01/26/2013, 09:57 AM

Skimmer could still be breaking in. Can I ask why are you changing water every few days?

*Sent from my little corner of the reef. Nano nano!*

keithhays · 01/26/2013, 10:41 AM

It looks like he's calculated a 20% water change per month.
Keep the skimmer on; its still breaking in and/or quit starving your fish.

benjc · 01/26/2013, 10:59 AM

Thanks for the quick responses. Water changes were happening every 3 days because as I moved the fish from the old tank to the new one, I was using the tank transfer method using 5-gal buckets to treat for ich (present in old tank) and opted to use water from the new tank for the transfers. As for the skimmer still breaking in; it is almost there...it has been running for approximately 5 weeks now and while excess air used to build up in the pump volute, that rarely happens now.

benjc · 01/27/2013, 01:00 PM

Any other opinions? I feel like I'm wasting electricity and won't be able to produce a consistent foam head until the bioload increases, but I'm concerned that shutting down the skimmer may have some effect on the dissolved oxygen or other water chemistry.

shaginwagon13 · 01/27/2013, 01:05 PM

You absolutely should not turn your skimmer off. A part from skimming the water, your skimmer also adds oxygen to the water.

The only time you should IMO ever turn your skimmer off is during feedings and water changes. Other than that, it should always remain on.

keithhays · 01/27/2013, 01:18 PM

It will affect oxygen and co2 content negatively. If you want to start producing more skimmate you start dosing carbon, it will for certain start it producing a lot of skimmate.

benjc · 01/27/2013, 03:37 PM

Thanks; I'll keep the skimmer running and just not expect to produce significant amounts of skimmate for a couple months.

gbru316 · 01/27/2013, 03:45 PM

If you want skimmate, lower the collection cup and/or raise the water level.

01/26/2013, 09:55 AM	#1
benjc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 636	Should I turn my skimmer off? I recently setup a 120 gallon tank which is currently stocked with 2 clowns, a melanurus wrasse, CUC, and LPS and softies. Should I shut my skimmer off (an SRO xp2000) until my bioload increases since I'm getting no skimmate? I'm also changing 5 gallons of water every 3 days and am running both carbon and uv. My nitrates are at 2.5 ppm. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

01/27/2013, 01:05 PM	#6
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	You absolutely should not turn your skimmer off. A part from skimming the water, your skimmer also adds oxygen to the water. The only time you should IMO ever turn your skimmer off is during feedings and water changes. Other than that, it should always remain on. __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

01/26/2013, 09:57 AM	#2
nanoreef heaven Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Houston/westchase district Posts: 325	Skimmer could still be breaking in. Can I ask why are you changing water every few days? Sent from my little corner of the reef. Nano nano!

01/26/2013, 10:41 AM	#3
keithhays Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,259	It looks like he's calculated a 20% water change per month. Keep the skimmer on; its still breaking in and/or quit starving your fish.

01/26/2013, 10:59 AM	#4
benjc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 636	Thanks for the quick responses. Water changes were happening every 3 days because as I moved the fish from the old tank to the new one, I was using the tank transfer method using 5-gal buckets to treat for ich (present in old tank) and opted to use water from the new tank for the transfers. As for the skimmer still breaking in; it is almost there...it has been running for approximately 5 weeks now and while excess air used to build up in the pump volute, that rarely happens now.

01/27/2013, 01:00 PM	#5
benjc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 636	Any other opinions? I feel like I'm wasting electricity and won't be able to produce a consistent foam head until the bioload increases, but I'm concerned that shutting down the skimmer may have some effect on the dissolved oxygen or other water chemistry.

01/27/2013, 01:18 PM	#7
keithhays Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,259	It will affect oxygen and co2 content negatively. If you want to start producing more skimmate you start dosing carbon, it will for certain start it producing a lot of skimmate.

01/27/2013, 03:37 PM	#8
benjc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 636	Thanks; I'll keep the skimmer running and just not expect to produce significant amounts of skimmate for a couple months.

01/27/2013, 03:45 PM	#9
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	If you want skimmate, lower the collection cup and/or raise the water level.