To skim or not to skim?

[FriendToNemo]

OK, I'm running a skimmer and a sump/fuge. My question of the morning... is there a test I can run that will determine that I'm over/under skimming? Do I really need the ugly skimmer (actually my diy system is not all that ugly), I'd just rather put it in storage than have to deal with it. My DIY system is very meticulous about balancing the flow... are the storeboughts the same?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[WaterKeeper]

Ok, Close that Book as we are going to have a test.

Actually Nemo, as far as I've seen, the best way is to check nitrate levels with and without a skimmer. If nitrate is near zero without the skimmer then you probably can run without it. If, after it has been off for awhile, they start to rise then use it.

 

[dchao]

If you have a refugium with good macroalgae growth. I am guessing that, if when you remove the skimmer, your fuge is going to grow wild, absorbing the extra nutrient otherwise would have been extract by the skimmer. My guess is that when the system goes to equilibrium again, your NO3 level is going to go back to zero.

 

[Avi]

You don't mention the size of your tank and, IMO, that may well have a bearing on whether or not you should use the skimmer, whether or not your water tests well now...or later.

 

[Avi]

The size of your tank may well have a bearing on whether or not you should use the skimmer, whether or not your water tests well now...or later. A 90-gallon tank isn't a small tank and will be fairly stable. But, if it's got a heavy bio-load, particularly, a lot of fish, the balance can get upset and without a skimmer operating on it, adventitious algaes can get a grip on certain coral..like zoanthids, clavularias, etc. and cause them serious problems in a fairly short time. I'd recommend using the skimmer even if your water is fine without it in the short run.

 

[FriendToNemo]

Thank guys!!!

It's unanimous... it stays. Now, I guess I'll have to build a closet around the thing so we don't have to keep looking at it.