Skimate wet/dry and mine is thicker than yours.....

[septicdeath]

So, I have a decent skimmer, a Cadlight's 1150, I can open up the outflow just perfect and it will create some REALLY thick nasty skimate, needing to be dumped every week or so (maybe even 12 days without needing to be cleaned).

My question is, If I dont mind dumping it twice a week, why wouldn't I decrease the flow, and dump it twice a week, this allows the ability to clean the throat more often, and keep the skimmer from staining as fast.

Has anyone confirmed that extra thick skimate contains anything more than a wet skimate would contain? Or is it purely a only needing to clean it once a week vs twice a week? I guess I am asking, at the end of a month, does the thicker skimate solution pull anything different or more than a wetter skimmate?
I just see people bragging about a thick as pudding skimate, and people who dont have it that thick, trying to achieve it? I just dont know if it means its pulling more or different stuff out after its all said and done?

Care to comment?

Thanks

-John

 

[randomfishguy85]

wet skimmate contains more salt, thus affecting salinity. many people do water changes this way. I personally skim dry because i feel thicker is better. hopefully someone more qualified will amswer.

 

[septicdeath]

More salt compared to evap? or compared to the tank water? If I read you right, are you saying that the skimate can pull more salt resulting in causing the entire system to drop specific gravity?

Thanks for the answer, Im hope and sure some others will chime in, I read your response, and you say you feel thicker is better, but again? is this because you read that a good skimmer skims thicker, or because at the end of a month, its actually has pulled more out or done a better job?

.....

 

[dread240]

salt doesn't evaporate, so as you top of with fresh your SG stays the same... if you skim wet, you're removing salt that way, so your SG lowers

 

[scarface70706]

yea wetter skim means your just pulling more water then gunk. thicker the skim means less water and more crap you dont want in your tank. just keep the sludge skim going. theres no point of having a skimmer cup full of salt water and a little bit of poo. lol