Water Changes Via Wet Skimming

[lordofthereef]

So I had been reading about wet skimming and doing water changes going that route. Basically, collecting a gallon or two of skimmate per day (150g tank) and replenishing each day with the same amount of salt water. I just was curious who has been doing this and whether or not you are happy with your results. I am considering it strongly. I think I would rather go this route and have an extra minute or two per day maintenance than have to sit down and do larger water changes, which always seem to be a drag.

 

[goldenboy]

tagging along. been considering the same thing.

 

[jacksonpt]

I've been doing it off and on for 6 months or so now. I'm not sure the results are visibly better (i.e. I don't see a difference in my coral health), but logically it makes sense so I'm happy to do it.

The only problem I've had is that it's a nussiance to get my skimmer set properly to skim a few gallons over the course of a day or 2 without constant fussing. Maybe it's me, maybe it's my skimmer, but FWIW...

 

[sterling18]

Why don't you just put a pump in your sump on a timer and have it run for (X) minutes to pull out (Y) gallons into your drain?

If you're running a controller it's even easier.

Just setup a second top off that provides SW to compensate.

 

[lucidheights]

i have my skimmer set to skim about 5 gallons every week on my 240. My ato adds fresh water to keep up with the skimate and evaporation, and i add 5 scoops of salt to my sump every time i empty out the 5 gallon collection cup. I wouldn't recommend adding the salt just like that, i do it because my system is about 340 gal total. Dunno if this is considered a water change, if it isn't then i haven't done a water change in about 5 years.

 

[cpittmx]

Why don't you just put a pump in your sump on a timer and have it run for (X) minutes to pull out (Y) gallons into your drain?

If you're running a controller it's even easier.

Just setup a second top off that provides SW to compensate.

I think the idea is that they are skimming off dirty water not just pumping out water.

 

[lordofthereef]

I think the idea is that they are skimming off dirty water not just pumping out water.

Exactly. No matter what, your skimmer water is going to have more nutrients in it than just pulling raw water out of your system to begin with. Plus, this way I know exactly how much salt water to add in. I frequently forget to add back the skimmer water in salt water. Let's face it, how many of us actually do that every time we dump our skimmer cup?

 

[lordofthereef]

I've been doing it off and on for 6 months or so now. I'm not sure the results are visibly better (i.e. I don't see a difference in my coral health), but logically it makes sense so I'm happy to do it.

The only problem I've had is that it's a nussiance to get my skimmer set properly to skim a few gallons over the course of a day or 2 without constant fussing. Maybe it's me, maybe it's my skimmer, but FWIW...

What kind of skimmer do you have? I just added the gate valve mod (about the easiest mod of anything I have ever done) and it works wonder. Never been easier to dial in my skimmer!

 

[lordofthereef]

Kind of surprised that I haven't heard any real opinions on the matter yet. I remember reading about this months back. Will try and find those threads. Figured someone who has been practicing this might have chimed in by now.

 

[A sea K]

This does sound interesting and something I too would consider. My monthly water changes are (as mentioned) a real drag and not always monthly as a result of the hassle. Always seems to be something better going on.
Strange thing is I will skim somewhat wet for periods of time, never replaceing with mixed water always just R/O top off and my salinity always climbs higher, never gets lower.

 

[jacksonpt]

What kind of skimmer do you have? I just added the gate valve mod (about the easiest mod of anything I have ever done) and it works wonder. Never been easier to dial in my skimmer!

I've got an SWC 120.

 

[lordofthereef]

This does sound interesting and something I too would consider. My monthly water changes are (as mentioned) a real drag and not always monthly as a result of the hassle. Always seems to be something better going on.
Strange thing is I will skim somewhat wet for periods of time, never replaceing with mixed water always just R/O top off and my salinity always climbs higher, never gets lower.

That is strange. If you are not adding salt, this shouldn't be the case no matter how you look at it. What are you using to measure your salinity?

As far as the hassle goes, part of me definitely wants to make things a little easier (or I guess perceived easier) on my part. The other part figures that I have a system large enough to do this with and essentially eliminate any stress on my livestock this way. Granted I had never had too many issues with larger water changes, but I figure that smaller more frequent changes can potentially cause even fewer issues.

 

[lordofthereef]

I've got an SWC 120.

By the looks of that skimmer, it has a gate valve for tuning to begin with? Am I wrong about this? I am using a euroreef with gate valve and have had no such issues. Granted I have been only running it this way for about two weeks. My skimmer did go a little "crazy" for a few minutes when I added an unwashed filter sock but otherwise I have really seen no fluctuation.

 

[lordofthereef]

WOW still nothing? Am I asking this in the wrong place?

 

[RVANANO]

The only drawback I see is combining the evap with salt H2O loss and not knowing exactly how much fresh/salt water to add each time. Not a major drawback but still...

 

[LoyalConvict]

There was a discussion on this subject a year or 2 ago. and fwiw doing it myself, was even collecting 5 gallons of water over a 2-2.5 hour period (via "wet skimming") produced a very light brown colour water, as oposed to crystal clear. it was my assumption that it was pulling out some disolved organics more so than a regular water change. i still use this method on and off. i'll try and find the thread and post the link

 

[meenamjah]

there was somebody who had this type of setup, with his collection cup modded with a drain, which led directly to his drainpipe. coupled with saltwater ato, he never really had to do water changes.

 

[lordofthereef]

The only drawback I see is combining the evap with salt H2O loss and not knowing exactly how much fresh/salt water to add each time. Not a major drawback but still...

This is a non-issue really. Pretty easy to figure it out even if you have an ATO for the freshwater. All you do is replace the volume of saltwater that you are skimming each day. Even if you are above your fill line due to the ATO filling too much fresh water, the amount of sea water you add in will kick your ratios right back where they are. Depending on your skimming and evap, you may have to adjust your max fill line in case of a power outage. My max fill line is already far below what my system can truly hold in a power outage for this very reason.

 

[lordofthereef]

there was somebody who had this type of setup, with his collection cup modded with a drain, which led directly to his drainpipe. coupled with saltwater ato, he never really had to do water changes.

This is how I have mine setup, minus the saltwater ATO. How was the saltwater ATO achieved? I am not sure how one could automate a saltwater ATO and an evaporation ATO at the same time. Would be very interested in doing this though!

 

[lordofthereef]

There was a discussion on this subject a year or 2 ago. and fwiw doing it myself, was even collecting 5 gallons of water over a 2-2.5 hour period (via "wet skimming") produced a very light brown colour water, as oposed to crystal clear. it was my assumption that it was pulling out some disolved organics more so than a regular water change. i still use this method on and off. i'll try and find the thread and post the link

WOw, 5 gallons over 2 hours. What is the total size of your system? Do you feel that skimming so much over so little time was really any different than just doing a water change? I am not saying your methods didn't work, but I am proposing doing something much less. I am pulling about 1-1.5 gallon per day. The water is actually much darker than I expected, but I am also dosing vodka. Prior to this I would say I was getting a tenth of a gallon of dark, thick skimmate, so I am roughly skimming ten times what I was before.