How many hours do you run your skimmer?
- Thread starter Gracias
- Start date
- Location
- 10022
I run mine 24/7
but I will like to hear more results and try out 6 hours a day
but I will like to hear more results and try out 6 hours a day
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
24/7 - as far as removing food the skimmer removes dissolved organic compounds. Exactly what you don't want in high levels in an sps heavy system. A mixed reef/softie tank is far more tolerant of a higher DOC level. There are 100's of tanks out there that don't run a skimmer and do very well. Personally wouldn't do it, even w my mixed/softie tank.
I would think it has a lot to do with the tank also, my skimmer does not foam 24/7..I dont being off a few hours a day will hurt much.Some one else system might not like that so much.Im just curious to see if it makes a difference..There has to be some organic in the water in a natural reef thats what the tides do bring in and out food and oxygen and everything else it carries. I am going to leave skimmer off a few hrs at night ill test nitrate in morning and night every other day for a week and see.In reality coral reefs are one big filter they suck up all kinds of stuff from the water.I guess the tricky part is finding that balance where the water is not too steril and not too dirty.
- Location
- Long island
Tagging along. I was thinking of doing this since I've had 0 nitrates for months(3 different test kits) and feel my colors should be better. I have to agree with Baam though I would run it at night and shut off for maybe 8 hours during the day to keep too many parameters from swinging.
- Location
- Suffolk county, NY
Interested in finding out as well, would save on electric too from thinking outside the box.
- Location
- Glendale,Queens.
If you think about this how much organic matter is produced a day in a reeftank to have in running 24 hours a day?
Lets look at it this way what are the pro's and con's ?
The PRO'Sof having it on 24-7:
1- it is removing organic matter in the water column
2- full oxygen saturation 24/7
3-greater gas exchange between water and air
4-removes nitrogen compounds before they're oxidized to nitrate
The CONSof having it on for 24/7
1-all those trace elements that are added thru water changes(or dosing)are also being exported thru 24-7 skimming.calcium,magnesium,iron for macros,iodine strontium(which are needed for growth and the health of all living organisms in your tank)
2-the plankton that is produced daily in your reeftank is being exported thru
24-7 skimming.(plankton is also very important for the growth and health of all living organisms in your tank)
And I know as the list above shows more pros than cons but...
1- gas exchange happens regardless just from water being circulated thru your sump or refugium.
2- nitrogen compounds can be avoided before nitrates just from weekly water changes.
So to my conclusion(just from my studies,research and opinions)I think the cons out way the pros of running a skimmer 24/7.
I don't know everything I only learn from trial and error as many here have so take my opinions if you wish.
And don't forget shark week starts this Sunday!!!lol
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Finally DOC's this is the key to sps and the reason I do not use Macro algea or any other for of turf skimmer ect.
The real key in my minds eye is to picture where your reef tank would be in the wild. be realistic, you wont find elegance corals and reef crest acro's in the same place. learn about the habitat you are trying to provide and what animals do best in it.
"reef" keeping is a very broad topic. I think its time as a community we recognize the variety of habitats we represent. There are many types of "reef" and its time we respect that.
:bablefish
- Location
- Mount Vernon
25/8
That is a good vid,I am gonna shut my skimmer for 6 hrs a day just to see.I feed the fish 2x a day or else they start chasing each other.Ill post the results.I also wonder how much the miracle mud has a affect on this vs sand in the fuge.I cant really judge how good my fuge is doing just sand and cheato havent needed to trim it since I had the tank almost 6 months I am starting to think its just a box with sand.
- Location
- Glendale,Queens.
The benefits from using miracle mud over sand is:
Miracle mud has a lot of trace elements that promote macro algae growth as well as corals(so they say)it also will harvest nitrifying bacteria to lower your nitrates.
Sand will only harvest nitrifying bacteria that lowers nitrates(same concept as a deep sand bed)
- Location
- manhattan
I run mine 24/7. But would be interested in the results of a 6 or 12 hour on off set up. I would think though that the practice of 24/7 running is in part a laziness in the hobby that is largely due to the fact that we "mess" with our systems 24/7 and have a tendency to overfeed, overdose, and overextend the habitat we create with fish and coral from different biospheres within the ocean largely because we like this fish or that coral.
This is not to say that its irresponsible. We are all megalomaniacs after all. Playing God with our little pieces of artificial ocean.
This is not to say that its irresponsible. We are all megalomaniacs after all. Playing God with our little pieces of artificial ocean.
- Location
- Queens
Interesting theory. But whats "shark week"?... LOL
- Location
- Glendale,Queens.
? 0:25? 0:25
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Azx3-OPrE
Jun 28, 2013 - Uploaded by CutterNarf
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A JOKE. NO SEAL WAS HARMED. IT'S A CGI EFFECT. ( apparently ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Azx3-OPrE
Jun 28, 2013 - Uploaded by CutterNarf
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A JOKE. NO SEAL WAS HARMED. IT'S A CGI EFFECT. ( apparently ...
- Location
- Glendale,Queens.
True ..but the ocean is bigger than the shores.
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