turning off skimmer at night?

[Byronc]

I have a tunze 9002 skimmer in my 20 gallon nano in my room, but it makes a bunch of noise which is bothersome at night when I'm trying to sleep.

Is it ok to turn the skimmer off 8 hours a day?

 

[redfishsc]

That depends.


If you are running a refugium with a reverse photoperiod, then you might be fine--- something to offset the pH drop that would normally occur.


Also, just know that the foam generation that happens in the reaction chamber sometimes takes while to build up. Shutting it off for 8 hours might well mean that it's actually down for 10-12-14 hours or so, depending on how long it takes it to generate foam and skimmate.

 

[jerryz]

A Tunze 9002 is too loud? They're one of the quietest skimmers around.

 

[gsxunv04]

Is it ok to cut your skimmer off at night for 8 hours??
Is it ok to lose 33% of your skimming capabilities, that is the real question...I say leave it on and close your bedroom door so you dont hear it.

 

[jayk198030]

Turn it off you will be fine. I use to do the same with my skimmer. I would let it skim for 12hrs and be off for 12hrs. Never had a problem.

 

[Byronc]

Yeah Tunze 9002, loud...weird i know.

I tried it last night and I turned it on when I woke up. It takes about 30 minutes or so to "prime" itself, but I am fine with that as of right now.

My bioload is very light for my tank as well. I only have one clown fish in there right now so I am not worried about that.

Can someone explain what you're talking about with the Ph drop at night to counterbalance this? I didn't know skimmers did this too. Sorry I'm totally in a box on this concept.

 

[shaneh]

PH drop is from the oxygen levels being used up at night by the tank so the levels drop when more crbon dioxide is in the tank making the PH go downa nda swing in PH is bad for coral and fish if it drops below 8.0 you could start loosing things. keep it between 8.2 and 8.4 for best results.

 

[tpdpercula]

As long as your not having any other issues it should be fine. Is it the motor vibrating against the glass or what?

 

[t4zalews]

my skimmer is most effective at night time

 

[96p993]

Why not figure out the problem?? what part is loud? Where is the noise coming from?

This just seems like a bandaid not a real solution

 

[Byronc]

I've taken the whole skimmer apart and cleaned everything. The construction on the skimmer is kind of shotty so my guess is that either the bottom or the top piece that comes on and off is vibrating because they don't fit together very well. I would like to glue the pieces on, but they would not allow for maintenance of the pump.

 

[gsxunv04]

i have not heard of tunze ro be shotty construction, maybe send it back and try another. You may have gotten a "lemon"

 

[james3370]

have you tried using rubberbands top to bottom to pull those panels tight??? might be enough to silence the vibration....

 

[bradbmbj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14991360#post14991360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t4zalews
my skimmer is most effective at night time

I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

 

[username in use]

Mine seems to produce more skimate at night too. No idea why.

 

[96p993]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14991845#post14991845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Byronc
I've taken the whole skimmer apart and cleaned everything. The construction on the skimmer is kind of shotty so my guess is that either the bottom or the top piece that comes on and off is vibrating because they don't fit together very well. I would like to glue the pieces on, but they would not allow for maintenance of the pump.

Have you posted your problem in the Tunze forum?? They might be able to help you better then we could

 

[nikon187]

Skimmers work better at night because you aren't feeding the tank, and putting your hands in the tank which doesn't cause your foam head to crash due to protiens and oils

 

[noboddi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14993664#post14993664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bradbmbj
I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

Night is when there is the most stuff in the water to skim. Your tank has a daily rhythm and the organics peak at night

 

[username in use]

good to know, thanks.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14993664#post14993664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bradbmbj
I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

unless you feed the fish 3-4 times during the day.


the whole idea of turning of the skimmer at night is silly, would you turn off your lungs for the night?:lol: