How many hours do you run your skimmer?

[oh207]

24/7.
Although recently I turned it off for a few days when the temperature went above 95 degrees. I figure one less pump to heat up the water. I had a fan over my DT and another over the sump and felt that I could manage the temperature better by turning the skimmer off.
So I turned the skimmer off for the first heat wave in NYC a few weeks ago and noticed that my clowns stopped eating after the first week. Before they were eating mysis, pellets, and flakes. I became worried and tested all my parameters and also did a 30% water change and nothing seem to help. They were still ignoring whatever I put in the tank. All other fishes were happily eating.
I then got a window AC that is now running during the day and the skimmer is now back on 24/7 and the clowns are happily eating again like pigs. The temp had spiked to 81, I usually keep the tank at 79.
I don't know whether it was the temp or the skimmer being off that cause my clowns to stop eating or something else. But I definitely won't be turning the skimmer off again for an extended period of time. I was so worried.

 

[reefer4eva]

Everyone runs there system differently as obviously noted.different equipment different size tanks,different results.as far as my experience I never had a fish,coral or invert loss since day one of only running my skimmer 8 hours.and by no means am I here to argue about how others have there systems running.im just giving my opinion and result of my 34 gallon reeftank which is mostly sps.

 

[beastium]

What if u have corals and no fish just 2 hermits in a 3g tank

 

[jaBX1]

To those who turn the skimmer off. Im interested in the skimmer schedule.

I saw some said on at night and others said on with lights.

 

[Gracias]

Everyone runs there system differently as obviously noted.different equipment different size tanks,different results.as far as my experience I never had a fish,coral or invert loss since day one of only running my skimmer 8 hours.and by no means am I here to argue about how others have there systems running.im just giving my opinion and result of my 34 gallon reeftank which is mostly sps.

Do you run your skimmer during the day or evening??

 

[reefer4eva]

24/7.
Although recently I turned it off for a few days when the temperature went above 95 degrees. I figure one less pump to heat up the water. I had a fan over my DT and another over the sump and felt that I could manage the temperature better by turning the skimmer off.
So I turned the skimmer off for the first heat wave in NYC a few weeks ago and noticed that my clowns stopped eating after the first week. Before they were eating mysis, pellets, and flakes. I became worried and tested all my parameters and also did a 30% water change and nothing seem to help. They were still ignoring whatever I put in the tank. All other fishes were happily eating.
I then got a window AC that is now running during the day and the skimmer is now back on 24/7 and the clowns are happily eating again like pigs. The temp had spiked to 81, I usually keep the tank at 79.
I don't know whether it was the temp or the skimmer being off that cause my clowns to stop eating or something else. But I definitely won't be turning the skimmer off again for an extended period of time. I was so worried.

1-Well to start I never said running your system without a skimmer(specially not for a few days)
2-as this was addressed in another thread about having or not having a chiller,the problem your trying to avoid when temperatures rise in your reeftank (besides evaporation)is the rise in your salinity as well as other paremeters.when salinity rises in your tank the ph will fluctuate,in turn will stress fish out as well as corals and just about everything living in your tank.and I'm sure there will be die off that will only add to the organic waste build up and without a skimmer running to export that.
This is to blame for your clownfish not eating..

 

[reefer4eva]

Do you run your skimmer during the day or evening??

I run my skimmer for 8 hours during the day.most corals feed at night.

 

[beastium]

Stupid question: Is a skimmer necessary if you only have corals and never feed

 

[lnevo]

Stupid question: Is a skimmer necessary if you only have corals and never feed

You ever see the slime some corals produce. I would say a big huge YES

 

[beastium]

Yes sir

 

[vio]

24/7
O2 24/7
all the bad stuff to be remove 24/7
all the veterans, "Tank of the months" run 24/7.