What causes a skimmer to go crazy when feeding?

Avast Marine · 07/26/2006, 11:26 PM

Just wondering.

I notice in particular when I feed Formula One frozen or silversides.

deep6er · 07/27/2006, 12:06 AM

What do you mean by going crazy?

Billybeau1 · 07/27/2006, 08:31 AM

If its the kind I think it is, they use a gel binder in their food. That is what is making your skimmer go nuts for a little while. Look at the ingredients and see if this is the case.

Avast Marine · 07/27/2006, 08:59 AM

Yep, lot's of gel binder. So the gel (I am assuming agar but, it doesn't say) is disolved into the water column, then enters the skimmer body this makes the water in the skimmer viscous. As a result the more viscous bubbles create back pressure and push the bubbles either down in the body creating microbubble madness out the bottom or/and the back pressure causes the water to overflow the collection cup.
Is that correct?

Billybeau1 · 07/27/2006, 09:04 AM

I'll defer to the experts on that one.

I just know when I feed any food with gel binder my skimmer goes nuts for a couple of hours.

Hobster · 07/27/2006, 09:05 AM

I think pretty much any kind of dissolved organic will make the skimmer go crazy. Epoxy will also drive it nuts. As to the exact reason why I leave that to the CHemists

Boomer · 07/27/2006, 01:31 PM

The organics in the food change the surface tension of the water. It is surface tension that makes a skimmer do what it does for the most part. In a few weeks Randy will have a new article out on how skimmers work. In the mean time here is his old article.

Think of surface tension like in terms of washing clothes and why you put soap in. What controls those soap suds, water hardness and x, y or z soap change the surface tension. If you add more soap, more bubbles in washer, if you add certain substances to a tank, it is like adding more soap.

Protein Skimming: How It Works
http://web.archive.org/web/200103090...skimmers2.html

07/26/2006, 11:26 PM	#1
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	What causes a skimmer to go crazy when feeding? Just wondering. I notice in particular when I feed Formula One frozen or silversides. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

07/27/2006, 08:59 AM	#4
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	Yep, lot's of gel binder. So the gel (I am assuming agar but, it doesn't say) is disolved into the water column, then enters the skimmer body this makes the water in the skimmer viscous. As a result the more viscous bubbles create back pressure and push the bubbles either down in the body creating microbubble madness out the bottom or/and the back pressure causes the water to overflow the collection cup. Is that correct? __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

07/27/2006, 09:05 AM	#6
Hobster Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,444	I think pretty much any kind of dissolved organic will make the skimmer go crazy. Epoxy will also drive it nuts. As to the exact reason why I leave that to the CHemists __________________ "You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye" The Last Resort, The Eagles Current Tank Info: Downsized, took down the 75 g SPS and going with a 20L and 10g softy nanos.

07/27/2006, 01:31 PM	#7
Boomer Bomb Technician (EOD) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 11,842	The organics in the food change the surface tension of the water. It is surface tension that makes a skimmer do what it does for the most part. In a few weeks Randy will have a new article out on how skimmers work. In the mean time here is his old article. Think of surface tension like in terms of washing clothes and why you put soap in. What controls those soap suds, water hardness and x, y or z soap change the surface tension. If you add more soap, more bubbles in washer, if you add certain substances to a tank, it is like adding more soap. Protein Skimming: How It Works http://web.archive.org/web/200103090...skimmers2.html __________________ If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up Seawater Chemistry, Geology, ID Marine Life, Collecting Science Books, Explosives Technology, Audiophile An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

07/27/2006, 12:06 AM	#2
deep6er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: B.C Posts: 691	What do you mean by going crazy?

07/27/2006, 08:31 AM	#3
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	If its the kind I think it is, they use a gel binder in their food. That is what is making your skimmer go nuts for a little while. Look at the ingredients and see if this is the case.

07/27/2006, 09:04 AM	#5
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	I'll defer to the experts on that one. I just know when I feed any food with gel binder my skimmer goes nuts for a couple of hours.