Wet skimming

[Travis]

Dang! I didn't realize that needle wheel skimmers had the same flooding potential as becketts.

So is there such thing as a skimmer that is very "unlikely" to overflow? I wonder if those $5000-$30000 BK's will overflow. Actually, I suppose with the amount of air running through them they could have the highest potential to overflow. Maybe some day, as technology advances, we will be running skimmers that we don't have to worry about overflowing.

 

[brentp]

You could design a collection cup that shut off the skimmer if it started to overflow...

 

[joefish]

I think when you run wet skimmate , it's at a high risk level .

That's why I havn't upgraded the skimmate container to a larger one . This way it can only take out a gallon at a time if overflowed .

 

[Travis]

You could design a collection cup that shut off the skimmer if it started to overflow...

But I want my skimmer to keep skimming so it shouldn't overflow in the first place.

 

[Travis]

I think when you run wet skimmate , it's at a high risk level .

That's why I havn't upgraded the skimmate container to a larger one . This way it can only take out a gallon at a time if overflowed .

Agreed.

That is a good idea. The only problem is when I leave town I like to leave as few "chores" as possible for my tank sitter to do. Too small of a container and it needs to be dumped daily. Too large and it can empty a lot of water from the tank. Decisions... Decisions...

 

[joefish]

Agreed.

That is a good idea. The only problem is when I leave town I like to leave as few "chores" as possible for my tank sitter to do. Too small of a container and it needs to be dumped daily. Too large and it can empty a lot of water from the tank. Decisions... Decisions...

Or you can just dry the foam out for a week . I know when I leave I turn the air down a tad , and I have the tank sitter feed a little less anyway .

For a week this should work , unless you have sensitive fish that need heavy feeding all the time .

 

[Travis]

Excellent idea Joe. Now why didn't I think of that before?

 

[Todd March]

Or you can just dry the foam out for a week . I know when I leave I turn the air down a tad , and I have the tank sitter feed a little less anyway .

For a week this should work , unless you have sensitive fish that need heavy feeding all the time .

This is what I do as well, asjust to skim dry for when you are to be gone... Just turn the level much wetter when you get home..!

 

[Kimo]

Bump for a great thread.

I have just started skimming semi-wet, and my tank is already looking better. It's amazing how the amount you have to clean your glass changes once you have the skimmer set up right!

Thanks for the info guys.

Travis - How did you seal off the overflow prevention tube? I am building a similar waste bucket and I am using silicone to seal it. Also, was the silicone around the toilet flapper seat necessary? The one I have looks similar to yours but it has a rubber gasket around the seat. I figure if I dril a 2.5"hole in the lit, the rubber should seal it pretty well, like a bulkhead.

Thanks!

Jamie

 

[Travis]

Hi Kimo,
I used silicone to seal. Yes, I do think it is necessary besides the gasket. Even the silicone did not bond well with the plastic so when the bucket would fill all the way there would be a slight mist that would spray out the seams. Might try to find a silicone that is meant for bonding to plastic or others may have something better that they have used.