Skimming Part-Time

[NMC]

If the concern is a decrease in oxygenation at night d/t lack of photosynthesis, what about running the skimmer at night and turning it off during the day?

 

[wildman926]

Many skimmerless tanks have better polyp extension and growth rates.

How do you know that?

As noted earlier oxygenation particularly at night when photsynthesis stops would be a concern . Why remove a source of oxygenation when nightime hypoxia is most likely. I'm not clear on why you think corals feed at night more than during the day, either.

Have you ever looked at your tank at night or when the lights are off, and see the polyp extension? I never see the polyp extension when the lights are on. Plankton, pods, etc. and other small creatures come out at night.

 

[mess7777]

tagging along, interesting thread.

 

[Darth Vedder]

Here is just a thought, but if origination is a concern, why not have an air pump with air stone in the sump with the skimmer and when the skimmer is off at night, have the controller turn on the air pump?

 

[wildman926]

Here is just a thought, but if origination is a concern, why not have an air pump with air stone in the sump with the skimmer and when the skimmer is off at night, have the controller turn on the air pump?

That is a good idea for those that are concerned about the oxygenation issue.

Oxygen exchange occurs at the WATER SURFACE, NOT in the water body. Overflow water movement, sump water movement, return water movement, all affecting WATER SURFACE area, is a constant varialble that addresses oxygen levels if it has the proper flow rate. If it is not properly sized, you have other issues, and will not be a successful thriving setup. How do you explain the oxygen issues with tanks that are skimmerless?

In this hobby, we tend to overthink things, and forget that mother nature is very forgiving and adaptable.

 

[Darth Vedder]

I meant oxigination, but got autocorrected! At least it appears you translated my sloppy late night posting though

 

[jsw810]

This is an idea I have considered. Any updates?

 

[wildman926]

I personally have seen no ill affects running 12 hours a day since I started 11/2011. Now I run it a straight 12 hours instead of 6 hour stints.

 

[Guillaume]

Great thread! Interested in following on.

 

[Thepopo]

I run no skimmer at all. But I oxygenate the tank directly with an air pump. Ph fluctuates between 8 and 8.3. Did have a bit of a problem with Cyano at one point ,but adding live phytoplankton out competed the suckers. I think in skimmerless system as long as the phyto population is high everything else will keep in check. Once a while I add a little Vodka for carbon dosing depending on poly extension. I keep Mandarins and Gorgonians and they all seem pretty happy. When I skimmed at night i saw a drastic change in the bacterial balance of the tank. Live Phyto weekly really does keep everything in check in these kind of tank setups.