Wet vs. Dry Skimmate
- Thread starter NaH2O
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Get it out of the way now!!!!!! Keep your head up, it's gotta get better
Schottman
Well-known member
thanks for your input Nicki!!!!
I can tell you guys one thing that will make a skimmer go totally nuts, a filter sock, that is brand new and unrinsed. I guess it was another dumbass thing I did, but last night at around 1 in the morning, I decided to install a filtersock that I finally got, I have never used one of these before, and it seemed soo clean I just stuck it onto the drain pipe. Well almost instantly my skimmer started foaming like crazy, it literally filled up the cup in about 20 seconds w/ clear water. So I just turned it off and added a bag of carbon. In the afternoon today I started up the skimmer again, and even on the lowest setting it foamed like a mad thing. I am hoping by tomorrow it will be back to normal, and all my corals will be no worse for wear, I did notice about 2 mins after adding the sock and quickly removing it, that most all my corals had retracted all the polyps and were sliming quite a bit. They all looked fine today tho.
So the moral of the story is, go ahead and thoroughly rinse off those new fliter bags
So the moral of the story is, go ahead and thoroughly rinse off those new fliter bags
Well Nikki, that makes me feel a little better I could hardly believe how fast it all happened. My skimmer was going crazy within about 5 seconds, and it almost blew the lid right off my cup. How long did it take for your water to return to normal Nikki?
I could hardly believe how fast it all happened. My skimmer was going crazy within about 5 seconds, and it almost blew the lid right off my cup. How long did it take for your water to return to normal Nikki?
Schottman
Well-known member
Strange but true stories....sounds like Ripley's!! This is something to remember though!
WaterDogs
Well-known member
If you soak the new sock in a mild solution of bleach and hot water it will remove the chemicals so they are not released into your tank causing skimmer and livestock to react.
Curtswearing
Mantisfreak
For a skimmer to function maximally, the following things must take place:
1. A large amount of air/water interface must be generated.
2. Organic molecules must be driven to and/or allowed to collect at the air/water interface.
3. The bubbles forming this air/water interface must come together to form a foam.
4. The water in the foam must drain without the bubbles popping prematurely.
5. The drained foam must be separated from the bulk water, collected, and discarded.
Protein Skimming: How It Works
We've just discussed a couple of things that cause problems with number 4 in both directions.....stopping proper bubble formation and causing too many bubbles.
Proper bubble formation is important and I think this is where this topic needs to head. The bubbles typically keep collecting in the top of the riser tube and the water falls back down and goes back to the tank.
A lot of non-organic items are not bound to the bubbles by chemical reaction and those go back to the tank. Also heavier items like detritus are going to fall back down the riser tube and head back to the tank.
Wouldn't running a wet skimmate allow for mechanical filtration as well as chemical filtration? IMO, this is the best mechanical filtration available because there isn't a filter pad collecting rotting detritus that will raise phosphates and Nitrates.
1. A large amount of air/water interface must be generated.
2. Organic molecules must be driven to and/or allowed to collect at the air/water interface.
3. The bubbles forming this air/water interface must come together to form a foam.
4. The water in the foam must drain without the bubbles popping prematurely.
5. The drained foam must be separated from the bulk water, collected, and discarded.
Protein Skimming: How It Works
We've just discussed a couple of things that cause problems with number 4 in both directions.....stopping proper bubble formation and causing too many bubbles.
Proper bubble formation is important and I think this is where this topic needs to head. The bubbles typically keep collecting in the top of the riser tube and the water falls back down and goes back to the tank.
A lot of non-organic items are not bound to the bubbles by chemical reaction and those go back to the tank. Also heavier items like detritus are going to fall back down the riser tube and head back to the tank.
Wouldn't running a wet skimmate allow for mechanical filtration as well as chemical filtration? IMO, this is the best mechanical filtration available because there isn't a filter pad collecting rotting detritus that will raise phosphates and Nitrates.
Scooterman
Well-known member
I think even running a wet skimmer, you still need some mechanical removal. When I blast rocks etc.. I use a sock to catch as much loose stuff as I can get, when I clean the sock I then wash in a bleach & water mixture, then rinse again thoroughly, then I let hang dry, before going into the tank, I rinse with some RO/DI.
Curtswearing
Mantisfreak
Good point Scott. Running wet isn't going to remove all of the particulate matter. It will remove more than dry skimming but not all of it.
As a result, we need to incorporate any method we can to get that detritus out of the tank before it breaks down and turkey basting with a filter sock is a great method.
As a result, we need to incorporate any method we can to get that detritus out of the tank before it breaks down and turkey basting with a filter sock is a great method.
Woodstock
I <3 clown fish!
I like my skimmate wet
With my Remora-Pro w/mag3, I sometimes get a full gallon of skimmate per week (gotta love the built-in overflow!). It's helped me get my nitrates to zero.
I once tested the skimmate; the parameters were very close to the main tank param. I'd like to test it with a TDS meter... I just ordered one, so I'll be testing with it soon
With my Remora-Pro w/mag3, I sometimes get a full gallon of skimmate per week (gotta love the built-in overflow!). It's helped me get my nitrates to zero.
I once tested the skimmate; the parameters were very close to the main tank param. I'd like to test it with a TDS meter... I just ordered one, so I'll be testing with it soon
Curtswearing
Mantisfreak
Howdy Woodstock!!! Good to see you.
However, don't put TDS meters in saltwater. It ruins them.
However, don't put TDS meters in saltwater. It ruins them.
Woodstock
I <3 clown fish!
LOL Thanks Curt! I would hope the instructions would have kept me from ruining it..hehe.
sherm71tank
Well-known member
OK, I'm new here to RF. I have owned a few skimmers in my day and I am curious just exactly what defines a DRY skimmate?
NaH2O
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
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sherm71tank - Welcome to Reef Frontiers! What I noticed when my skimmer was running dry....less skimmate, and the foam/bubbles held their form in the collection cup. They would slowly burst as they sat in the cup, but for the most part they kept their shape for awhile. When I run wet (which I like) it foams up to the top of the cup/lid and when there is enough foam built up, it runs down into the collection area.
NaH2O
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
- 8,568
Dr B, mine didn't take too long - I'd say an hour or two. I pulled the tube out of my ER skimmer, so it was dialed as far down (as dry) as it could go. I chalk this one up to one of the dumbest mistakes I have made with this tank....not only did I do it once, but several times (didn't even think about the sock having sizing on it). DOH! And I'm such a rinse freak, too....
