Do you like it dry or wet?

[dannieboiz]

I mean the SKIMMER

I'm running my skimmer extremely dry, I get .5-.75g of skimmate a week. When I run it wet, I get double that. Just wondering what would be better for a mix tank.

 

[fishnfst]

I dunno whats better but I run mine pretty wet.. I empty the collection cup every other day and its about .75 full...

 

[jedininja]

It really depends on the efficiency of the skimmer. If you run wet, you will surely take out gunk quickly, but then you'll be taking out a lot of saltwater as well and that will have to be monitored. Running dry, you dont take out much saltwater, but you might not be getting out as much gunk as you can and not as quickly as wet.

This is still one of those debated items. I try to find a balance between wet and dry.

 

[Vincerama2]

My skimmer works better wet (AquaC EV-120), the reason is that the wetter skimmate doesn't gunk up the neck, it's SORT OF self cleaning (as far as skimmers go). If I let it run really dry, gunk really cakes up on the neck instead of in the collection cup.

V

 

[sfsuphysics]

Being as I hate protein skimmers with a passion, I like to run it a tad on the dry side. Why do I hate them? Why dry? Simply put because some "thing" always tend to happen to something on the skimmer which causes it to overfoam and literally dump all that skimate back into my tank.. and I've noticed it happens less frequently with dry skim being done.

 

[dannieboiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400320#post10400320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
Being as I hate protein skimmers with a passion, I like to run it a tad on the dry side. Why do I hate them? Why dry? Simply put because some "thing" always tend to happen to something on the skimmer which causes it to overfoam and literally dump all that skimate back into my tank.. and I've noticed it happens less frequently with dry skim being done.

That's y u run your skimmer external. problem solved.

 

[Elite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400979#post10400979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dannieboiz
That's y u run your skimmer external. problem solved.

Better way to empty your sump if not setup correctly

 

[sfsuphysics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400979#post10400979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dannieboiz
That's y u run your skimmer external. problem solved.

Yeah problem solved.. when the thing over foams as deep as the pump onto the floor, then runs the pump dry until you figure it out!

At least with the in sump skimmer the worst case is you dirty the water up a bit.

 

[juaninsac]

There are waste containers that address this problem fellas...

 

[happyface888]

Hmm where would a cpr sit??? I think wet. Man this sounds werid......

 

[sfsuphysics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10401275#post10401275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by juaninsac
There are waste containers that address this problem fellas...

How so? Eventually a waste container will overflow as well and same issue over again. Wasn't this one of the, non-conspiracy, theories behind Borneman's tank crash was his skimmer overflowed and drained the tank (while the top off filled it up)

 

[Thales]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10402915#post10402915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
How so? Eventually a waste container will overflow as well and same issue over again. Wasn't this one of the, non-conspiracy, theories behind Borneman's tank crash was his skimmer overflowed and drained the tank (while the top off filled it up)

Its an easy and inexpensive fix. The skimmer plugs into a float switch, and the float switch is in the external collection container. When the external collection container fills to the float switch it turns the skimmer off. I run three skimmers this way and couldn't imagine doing it any other way for the reasons cited in this thread.

For a mixed tank I run wet (I run wet everywhere, but in a mixed tank it seems even more important) and I would run carbon too.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10401275#post10401275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by juaninsac
There are waste containers that address this problem fellas...

You mean the ones with the float balls that shuf off when full by blocking the exit? They only work on skimmers that are totally sealed and have everything bolted down (won't work on most needle and mesh wheels).

 

[sfsuphysics]

Rich I'm guessing the external container ( an old salt bucket or something??) needs to be large enough to fit the float switch into. When people say external container my mind goes to a jug or something with a thin mouth compared to the size of it's body...

Don't know if I'd want a 5-7 gallon bucket full of skimate... I'd probably add some of my own fluid to it simply from the smell.

 

[GreshamH]

Jusdt keep some kalwasser in it and you'll be fine

 

[Vincerama2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400320#post10400320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
Being as I hate protein skimmers with a passion, I like to run it a tad on the dry side. Why do I hate them? Why dry? Simply put because some "thing" always tend to happen to something on the skimmer which causes it to overfoam and literally dump all that skimate back into my tank.. and I've noticed it happens less frequently with dry skim being done.

It used to bug me too when a skimmer went nuts and dumped the crap back into the tank ... but it came from the tank in the first place, so no big deal if you clean empty the skimmer the same time you do water changes!

V

 

[sfsuphysics]

Yeah I know Vince, problem is it seems whenever it dumps it back in, it's in that "ooh it's almost full I'll get to it soon...." part, so it dumps some nasty stank into the tank!

Although I supposes the simplest solution (read:lazy) would be to tap the cup for a drain, then tube it to a large container (sealed so the smell doesn't run away), then put on a John Guest valve or something and simply turn it let the cup drain, then close it back up. Best of both worlds... hmmm good Idea Mike, you need to do that!