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ultraXR
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Post subject: How long do you guys run your protein skimmer for?  Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 12:13 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 392
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Status: Offline
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Just wondering if you guys run your skimmers 24/7 or do you guys turn them off from time to time. if so, for how long and why? I had mine running for a week straight. Got some thick and dark skimmate. It was nearly full today so i cleaned the collection cup out and then i kept it off. I know one of the reasons my tank is having such high temp problems is due to the skimmer. the pump does put out some heat.
so... start putting your 2 cents in please. thanks. |
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msnajkowski
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| Post subject: RE: How long do you guys run your protein skimmer for? Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 05:44 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 178
Location: Cumming, GA
Status: Offline
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| The only time mine is not running is when I clean it. |
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m.wignall2
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 06:09 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: May 04, 2006
Posts: 146
Status: Offline
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Ditto on msnajkowski's comment . .
only time mine is off is when i'm emptying the collection cup or cleaning it. I also switch it for for a couple minutes whilst feeding the fish.
Regards,
Mark |
_________________
60 UK Gal Reef, 30UK Gal sump, 55lbs Coral Sand, 85 lbs LR
Breeding Clowns - Male-2.5" Ocellaris, Female-3" Black/White percula
2 Saffron Gobies, 1 Scooter Blenny, 1 Flame Angel, a 6 Line Wrasse, a 3"yellow tang
20 assorted snails 60 assorted crabs, 2 Blood Red shrimp, 2 Cleaner shrimp
1 Red Fingered Gorgonian, 1 Euphyllia Tree, 3 Ricordea Mushrooms, 1 Xenia colony, 1 Pipe Organ, 1 Galaxia Tooth Coral, 1 toadstool, 1 trumpet coral, 1 bubble coral, 1 tree coral
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gallan
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 06:29 AM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Feb 14, 2005
Posts: 3302
Location: carelton michigan
Status: Offline
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| ditto, only off when cleaning it. |
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flyin-mike
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 06:41 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Aug 21, 2003
Posts: 1635
Location: Ft. Worth, TEXAS
Status: Offline
 
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I'm not running one on my display. I thought I might try something a little more basic like regular weekly water changes. 
I did have one running on the Q tank while I was curing LR. It ran 24/7. I didn't turn it off, I just adjusted it down to where the level was below the cup so I could empty and clean. It seemed to be easier to re-adjust if not turned off.
HTH, Mike |
_________________
See my picsHERE B.o.D./V.P. DFWMAS
75g mixed reef w/22g prop tank plumbed in.
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ultraXR
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 12:10 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 392
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Status: Offline
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| i turned my skimmer back on. theres really no difference in temp changes to my tank. its probably just my house. afterall it is 87 degrees inside! AC guy coming sometime this week.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh |
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lngh
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 07:07 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2006
Posts: 1307
Status: Offline
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Generally, the more skimming the better. Also, you can make a chiller with a styrofoam cooler, some rock salt, an extra long cannister filter return hose, and some frozen 2 liter pop bottles. Make a few inches of salt-slush in the bottom of the cooler, coil the "extra" length of tube in the slush, hold down with one, or two, frozen pop bottles. It works, kinda, like an ice cream maker. Experiment with number of coils, number of bottle changes etc.
I recently upgraded to a luval 204 in a,hand cut, styrofoam block holder. Just enough volume for a horizontal pop bottle, said Fluval which I run with no "guts", and about four inches of slush. I only need it when my A/C gets overwhelmed, but then one frozen bottle every twelve hours keeps the heater clicking on.
Good luck an' have fun! |
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Clarkii
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 08:46 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jul 01, 2003
Posts: 1707
Location: Berkshire/England
Status: Offline
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I cant believe the pump in the skimmer is adding much heat, not noticable anyway.
I leave it on 24/7 unless cleaning it, helps aerate the water and helps break the waters surface in the tank as the o/p of the skimmer is above the water level, this helps oxygen exchange and evaporation which aids cooling. I do regular water changes to so the trace elements are replenished, I think the skimmer is essential on most systems which helps in removing DOC's before they break down and pollute the water, if you have nothing else in place to use these or certainly eat up the nitrates, phosphates etc generated then simple water changes may not be enough to combat this. I would not be without a skimmer, its vital to my system which is based on the Berlin system, LR, lots of water Flow, DSB, Skimmer and MH lighting. |
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kingfish62
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 05, 2006 - 09:03 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jan 21, 2004
Posts: 1587
Location: hopedale,massachusetts
Status: Offline
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Oh ! you finally got that skimmer setup, it is about time ! lol
I had a heck of a time fine tuning my skimmer the first week, lots of micro bubbles in the tank at first . It made the tank look cloudy! it seemed to settle down a bit after the first week.
my tank has been running a little hot lately but it has been hot in the house! i did not notice any raise in temp when i added the skimmer. |
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55g FOWLR
Royal Gramma
tomato clown
Foxface
Yellow tailed damsel
coral banded shrimp
14g Biocube reef w/ assorted corals
yellow watchman goby
2 perc. clown
pepp. shrimp
2 emarald crabs
blue hermit crabs
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gallan
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| Post subject: Posted: Jul 06, 2006 - 06:58 AM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Feb 14, 2005
Posts: 3302
Location: carelton michigan
Status: Offline
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| th e pump on the skimmer should be adding that much heat if any. more likely t he house temp. in case of emergencies like the ac quitting, i keep frozen large baggies in the freezer and float them in my sump. |
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