Rate my skimmer's performance

[romanr]

It's 150G prop system with a 50G sump. About 150lb of live rock in the sump. Some Caeto(recently introduced) and about 40 frags. Skimmer is an Octopus Dual Recirculating. Attached are a few pics. The skimmate is 2 cups for 3 24-hour periods. Color is dark tan (I can't see through the skimmate). I know there are many variables involved but I'm looking for some general comments.

 

[OnoIgotICH]

it could be better, the waste is every watery. you really want a thick sludge up there

 

[romanr]

I can get a nice thick sludge if I drop the water level but then production is cut in half. Are we basically debating the wet vs. dry discussion?

 

[Hop]

How do you feel about it? Do you think there should be more? Have you tried skimming wetter and dryer and monitored the tank?

Just asking as I don't think that anyone can really judge skimmer performance over the net. I get about a gallon of skimmate every two days and yet I feel I should get a little bit more:lol:

 

[romanr]

I feel I should get more and I've been battling a dino outbreak. Bio load is pretty low considering the volume of water. Only 2 small fish that are fed sparingly. I'm also using UV, Carbon and GFO so I would think that overall filtration is adequate for the tank. I'm happy with the quality of the skimmate which I feel is a compromise between wet and dry but the quantity seems disappointing. Maybe I'll mod the skimmer and see if I get better results.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

If you only have 2 small fish and feed very little then I think you're right on track. Also how old is the tank setup?

 

[scaryperson27]

what does your testing read?

As long as the water quality is good, I wouldn't worry.

 

[cashman95]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12367873#post12367873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OnoIgotICH
it could be better, the waste is every watery. you really want a thick sludge up there

be careful...
wet is actually taking more out, so thick sludge would mean a dryer skimmate, hence less!


Try adding more flow to your prop tank. It looks as if you have a good bit of settlement in it. The skimmer cant skim what it never gets run thru it....

I think that skimmer for that bio-load should be very effeceint at keeping your waste in check, I just think you need to process more waste by getting all the settlement to the skimmer.

Hope this helps!

 

[edwing206]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12368510#post12368510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cashman95
be careful...
wet is actually taking more out, so thick sludge would mean a dryer skimmate, hence less!

Hope this helps!

Wet is taking out less organics(that's what you we're talking about here right?) faster vs dry taking out more slower.

 

[downhillbiker]

i get less skimmate out of my tank and i would say it is on the heavier side as far as stocking. i do however have a little thicker skimmate. i get about 1 1/2 cups a day, and it is thick enough that you cant see through it. i am thinking about making it a little "wetter" and seeing how that goes, i know it pulls more, but with as much evaporation as i get having a little salt in my topoff is no problem.

 

[edwing206]

DP

 

[edwing206]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12368510#post12368510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cashman95
be careful...
wet is actually taking more out, so thick sludge would mean a dryer skimmate, hence less!

Hope this helps!

Wet is taking out less faster vs dry taking out more slower.

 

[cashman95]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12368605#post12368605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edwing206
Wet is taking out less organics(that's what you we're talking about here right?) faster vs dry taking out more slower.

I dont think wet is taking out less faster, it just takes out more water which makes it look diluted. The water has a percentage of waste as well, so that would all together mean more!!!!