How long do you run your protein skimmer?

[xmas_one]

+1, only off for cleaning.

Well, one exception, since my ATO pumps into the a tee inserted between the skimmer venturi and my co2 scrubber, Apex will shut in down if the ATO is on more then 15 minutes. I do this to prevent the water level from rising too high and potentially causing a small overflow. The ATO has never run that long though.

I run the ATO that way so that it cleans the venturi

That's a great idea for the ATO, I'm going to add that to my Apex program too, thanks!

 

[dendrite]

Wow! In a reefing world filled with controversy and 1001 opinions on any given topic , this seems to be pretty unanimous, 24/7

 

[karimwassef]

It depends on the size (capacity) of the skimmer vs the tank volume. I think a massive skimmer could outstrip a small tank of necessary nutrients. It could also remove planktonic life.

If the concern is to inject air at night, run a stone in the sump's first stage?

 

[Tweaked]

24/7 with ANC. Only shut it down once a year for cleaning, and twice a year I clean the collection cup and neck cleaner.

 

[hkgar]

24/7 with ANC. Only shut it down once a year for cleaning, and twice a year I clean the collection cup and neck cleaner.

I clean the collection cup every week. Too much? Why?

 

[d2mini]

It depends on the size (capacity) of the skimmer vs the tank volume. I think a massive skimmer could outstrip a small tank of necessary nutrients. It could also remove planktonic life.

If a skimmer is too large it doesn't run efficiently. There will be too much downtime where the skimmer isn't producing at all.
If your skimmer is constantly skimming with zero downtime, then it's probably too small.

In my experience, I don't think it's possible for a skimmer to strip the tank of all nutrients.

 

[Tweaked]

I clean the collection cup every week. Too much? Why?

As mentioned I have an ANC so I run a external waste container which shuts down the skimmer if ever overflowed via an apex float. This eliminates my need to clean the cup.

 

[Wazzel]

24/7, except when servicing.

 

[karimwassef]

My skimmer generates both solid and liquid waste at a pretty significant level even when running 'dry'. I'll have to start weighing my solid input vs. output to get better data.

Water changes, kalk additions, photoperiod, additives, etc... All factor in of course.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/150E3439-8215-4489-A1B9-3D625F319C26_zpske5ttiv1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/150E3439-8215-4489-A1B9-3D625F319C26_zpske5ttiv1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 150E3439-8215-4489-A1B9-3D625F319C26_zpske5ttiv1.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/BBC3548B-3CF2-44DF-9B5C-65B388EAFB33_zpshpfnzb51.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/BBC3548B-3CF2-44DF-9B5C-65B388EAFB33_zpshpfnzb51.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo BBC3548B-3CF2-44DF-9B5C-65B388EAFB33_zpshpfnzb51.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/320F8392-4BE8-4695-B1E9-F0C67309ABDC_zpstpgbvfnu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/320F8392-4BE8-4695-B1E9-F0C67309ABDC_zpstpgbvfnu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 320F8392-4BE8-4695-B1E9-F0C67309ABDC_zpstpgbvfnu.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/FC19F6E3-4EDC-4186-9971-A607076A04BE_zpsfppdvfbp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/FC19F6E3-4EDC-4186-9971-A607076A04BE_zpsfppdvfbp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo FC19F6E3-4EDC-4186-9971-A607076A04BE_zpsfppdvfbp.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/AC19F7BA-DBD7-4CAD-91A0-B59E0A57C9F3_zpsdvvjmtqs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/AC19F7BA-DBD7-4CAD-91A0-B59E0A57C9F3_zpsdvvjmtqs.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo AC19F7BA-DBD7-4CAD-91A0-B59E0A57C9F3_zpsdvvjmtqs.jpg"/></a>

Liquid waste (solid stays in the cup)
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/1348F12E-96C0-4A4D-AEAF-7470DABE230B_zpsajua2ixa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/1348F12E-96C0-4A4D-AEAF-7470DABE230B_zpsajua2ixa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1348F12E-96C0-4A4D-AEAF-7470DABE230B_zpsajua2ixa.jpg"/></a>

 

[Xxero]

24/7 - Except for cleaning of course.

(My little dog gags whenever I clean the cup out!)

 

[hkgar]

That's a great idea for the ATO, I'm going to add that to my Apex program too, thanks!

If it is the idea of the ATO running into the skimmer, here is a picture of how I hooked it up



The tube going to the right is in from the ATO storage tank. The tube coming ito the top is from the CO2 scrubber.

 

[Paul B]

I turned it on when Ford was President and haven't turned it off yet. Don't even remember how to turn it off

 

[hkgar]

I turned it on when Ford was President and haven't turned it off yet. Don't even remember how to turn it off

Find the black round cord that is coming out of the water pump that is feeding the water to the skimmer. Follow that black cord (it will be between a quarter and half inch in diameter) away from the pump and it will come to a point were it seems wall or other termination point. Gently pull and it should disconnect from the termination point and skimmer will be off.

 

[vhuang168]

24/7 except to feed and clean

 

[909_Reefer]

SPS dominated 65 gallon w/ some non-photo gorgs and LPS.. Skimmerless for a year now I run it 2 hours on 6 hours off. I turned it on to get better color out of my acros. Growth is phenomenal with everything in the aquarium I attribute this to the abundance of organics in the water column. I also utilize a massive refugium.

EDIT: I should also mention that I pay very close attention to nitrate, and phosphate. I adjust my skimmer, and media reactor accordingly.

 

[LifeReef4Life]

It depends on the size (capacity) of the skimmer vs the tank volume. I think a massive skimmer could outstrip a small tank of necessary nutrients. It could also remove planktonic life.

If the concern is to inject air at night, run a stone in the sump's first stage?

+1 which brings me to my 1st point here...

If a skimmer is too large it doesn't run efficiently. There will be too much downtime where the skimmer isn't producing at all.
If your skimmer is constantly skimming with zero downtime, then it's probably too small.

In my experience, I don't think it's possible for a skimmer to strip the tank of all nutrients.

So my first input here is your 1st statement, over sized skimmer
as karimwassef eluded to.
If your skimmer is oversized for a tank, why not run it at night
and possibly stabilize the pH shift a little?

I've heard Iodine is removed some with skimming, but don't have any
numbers to back this up. Maybe something J. Turcheck mentioned once IDK.

The way I see it, a skimmer is not pulling out 100% of the nutrients.
I think I read the most it can pull is around 30%?
It's just one tool we use to keep nutrients in check.
So I really don't see any nutrient benefit in shutting it down for a few hours.

Yes 30% is a best case scenario I've also read.

I'm thinking about putting the only skimmer I have on my 40B tank.
It will be BB, with daily 1-2g WCs. The skimmer is a '94 VS2-48
rated at 500g"¦it's all I have, and just considering it ATM.

Last run on this tank I had a VS2-24, that was bored to death with nothing to do.
The skim mate if you could call it that, was like brown chalk on the inside of the cup.
This was from what nutrients were there, becoming airborne on top of the
bored wet bubbles popping with little foam occasionally.
So my drain on the cup bled off pale water, and the cup had a dark
chalky residue, almost like a powder.

So my question other than trying to balance the pH at night
is, in such an instance, would it no be a fair reason to run part time?

I never have, have always ran 24/7.

I've considered adding the wet/dry back in and or sand.
Either should bring more to the table for the skimmer I would think.
I ran my last DT at 0ppm NO3, using Berlin method, and 15-20ppm wet/dry
with sand and heavy skimming.

Any thoughts?

 

[Paul B]

Follow that black cord (it will be between a quarter and half inch in diameter) away from the pump and it will come to a point were it seems wall or other termination point. Gently pull and it should disconnect from the termination point and skimmer will be off.

I think it runs by steam

 

[Mark426]

LifeReef4life.....not being a smart a$$ but why not just keep it simple and get an appropriate sized skimmer.

 

[LifeReef4Life]

LifeReef4life.....not being a smart a$$ but why not just keep it simple and get an appropriate sized skimmer.

Because I've already got one maybe?
I like the luxury of using the type skimmer I use.
I started a new thread on that.

I've looked at many, and nothing turns my head after using this skimmer for 21 years.
Heck, the Little Giant 4 MDQX-SC that came with it I just fired up yesterday
after being in storage for 4 years, and it still works

 

[LifeReef4Life]

Also, nothing is as simplistic as a Lifereef skimmer. They just work.
So really I am keeping the user end as simple as possible.