wet v. dry skimming

latazyo · 09/16/2006, 12:14 PM

what is the difference? I know that one means the skimmate is more foamy, but is there a difference in performance between running it wet or dry

also, how do you adjust it to make it wetter or dryer?

Andrew · 09/16/2006, 12:15 PM

Many people think dry skimming is better but doesn't really matter. Which ever way you want to skim. I myself skim both ways.

sir_dudeguy · 09/16/2006, 12:27 PM

i've read that skimming wet will take out more stuff out of the water (and it may have been faster too, cant remember) but it pulls out a lot of water too. Dry skimming pulls out very little water, so the stuff looks really nasty, but it doesnt pull out as much. I'm kinda in between wet and dry lol. when i had it dry there was very little water in the cup. Now i get about an inch of water and then its just really dry foam on top.

serpentman · 09/16/2006, 01:33 PM

I am not really sure it makes a difference. By dry skimming, the skimmate is more concentrated. Wet skimming removes a lot of water with the protein skimmate so its more dillute.

I personally don't recommend wet-skimming if you have an auto-top off system. You will remove saltwater which your ATO will replace with freshwater and will cause salinity issues. If you do choose this method, you will have to keep a close eye on your specific gravity.

sir_dudeguy · 09/16/2006, 01:49 PM

ooo good point. I dont have a top off unit, but i completely didnt even take that into consideration. I only empty mine like...idk..every 5 days to a week? I know that over a long time that would lower the sg by pulling out a cupfull of water every week and topping off w/fresh...but whenever i do weekly water changes its still the same (1.025-6) as the new water i put in...after i add the water its still the same...but ya...just watch that like serpent said. Depending on how wet you skim, it could cause an issue.

latazyo · 09/16/2006, 03:08 PM

thanks for the input guys

how do you make your skimmer dryer or wetter?

what kind of snakes do you keep serpentman? I have a 2 yr old female BCI het for albino

Andrew · 09/16/2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by latazyo
thanks for the input guys

how do you make your skimmer dryer or wetter?

what kind of snakes do you keep serpentman? I have a 2 yr old female BCI het for albino

Adjust the water height in the skimmer body.

09/16/2006, 12:14 PM	#1
latazyo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,972	wet v. dry skimming what is the difference? I know that one means the skimmate is more foamy, but is there a difference in performance between running it wet or dry also, how do you adjust it to make it wetter or dryer? __________________ Friends dont let friends use HOB overflows.

09/16/2006, 12:27 PM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	i've read that skimming wet will take out more stuff out of the water (and it may have been faster too, cant remember) but it pulls out a lot of water too. Dry skimming pulls out very little water, so the stuff looks really nasty, but it doesnt pull out as much. I'm kinda in between wet and dry lol. when i had it dry there was very little water in the cup. Now i get about an inch of water and then its just really dry foam on top. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/16/2006, 01:33 PM	#4
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	I am not really sure it makes a difference. By dry skimming, the skimmate is more concentrated. Wet skimming removes a lot of water with the protein skimmate so its more dillute. I personally don't recommend wet-skimming if you have an auto-top off system. You will remove saltwater which your ATO will replace with freshwater and will cause salinity issues. If you do choose this method, you will have to keep a close eye on your specific gravity. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

09/16/2006, 01:49 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ooo good point. I dont have a top off unit, but i completely didnt even take that into consideration. I only empty mine like...idk..every 5 days to a week? I know that over a long time that would lower the sg by pulling out a cupfull of water every week and topping off w/fresh...but whenever i do weekly water changes its still the same (1.025-6) as the new water i put in...after i add the water its still the same...but ya...just watch that like serpent said. Depending on how wet you skim, it could cause an issue. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/16/2006, 03:08 PM	#6
latazyo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,972	thanks for the input guys how do you make your skimmer dryer or wetter? what kind of snakes do you keep serpentman? I have a 2 yr old female BCI het for albino __________________ Friends dont let friends use HOB overflows.

09/16/2006, 12:15 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Many people think dry skimming is better but doesn't really matter. Which ever way you want to skim. I myself skim both ways.