How many days to fill a proper skimmer cup?

[Sean Clark]

Thanks. I suppose I should look into it. Emptying the cup allows me to get a feel for the rate and type of skimmate it’s pulling. I just wonder if I had a 5 gallon container to fill on auto whether I’d notice something wrong like if the skimmer goes crazy and pulls 5 gallons of water out in a day which by ato will just replenish and screw my salinity.

Anyone make any cheap flow meters? I suppose multiple level sensors would do the trick too.

You could use something as simple as this for a plug and play solution. If your system is smaller you could use a smaller container like a 1 or 2 gallon bucket to avoid the salinity swing while still reducing your maintenance interval.

Smart Temp Security - AutoAqua (DISCONTINUED)

Simple Security for your Heaters or Chillers! Pre-Set Temperature Range - 72°F to 84°F Using a tiny temperature sensor AutoAqua's Smart Temp Security system will keep your aquarium safe from temperature dips or spikes. The plug & play design requires no difficult programming with the preset...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[workhz]

You could use something as simple as this for a plug and play solution. If your system is smaller you could use a smaller container like a 1 or 2 gallon bucket to avoid the salinity swing while still reducing your maintenance interval.

Smart Temp Security - AutoAqua (DISCONTINUED)

Simple Security for your Heaters or Chillers! Pre-Set Temperature Range - 72°F to 84°F Using a tiny temperature sensor AutoAqua's Smart Temp Security system will keep your aquarium safe from temperature dips or spikes. The plug & play design requires no difficult programming with the preset...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

this one?

Smart Skimmer Security - AutoAqua (DISCONTINUED)

Simple Security for your Protein Skimmer! Keep your skimmer from overflowing with the AutoAqua Smart Skimmer Security sensor and outlet. The easy to clean optical sensor will magnetically couple to any skimmer collection cup (up to 1/4" thick), and when the cup gets full it will shut down your...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Sean Clark]

this one?

Smart Skimmer Security - AutoAqua (DISCONTINUED)

Simple Security for your Protein Skimmer! Keep your skimmer from overflowing with the AutoAqua Smart Skimmer Security sensor and outlet. The easy to clean optical sensor will magnetically couple to any skimmer collection cup (up to 1/4" thick), and when the cup gets full it will shut down your...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Yes that one... Sorry I posted the wrong link.

 

[workhz]

Yes that one... Sorry I posted the wrong link.

It got me close which is appreciated. I'll have to look into doing this for sure. Just seems like the kind of thing where a switched outlet off a sensor shouldn't cost $60.

 

[Rmckoy]

This would depend on too many factors skimmer size ,
External collection cup such as my Mrc MR2 skimmer .

 

[RSnodgrass]

This would depend on too many factors skimmer size ,
External collection cup such as my Mrc MR2 skimmer .

Agreed, that's why I did the survey. Much easier for someone to say 'am I in the ballpark'. If 56 people (so far) respond with their experience it starts to show some semblance of a pattern inevitably.

*not counting external cups though.

 

[Dan_P]

I've always heard organics break down into phosphates, nitrates, & ammonia. Curious on your perspective as to why you say that then.

Yes, the statement is basically correct. Organic molecules like protein and amino acids break down to give ammonia while cellular membranes, DNA and RNA give up PO4. This breaking down happens inside living organisms which take in organic matter and excrete PO4 and NH3. Controlling the amount NH3 and PO4 by removing organic matter can only work if the removal device, such as a column of GAC or skimmer, works faster than all the organisms in the aquarium. In an aquarium, organic matter is mostly removed by living organisms and that means we deal with the accumulation of inorganic molecules which are mostly not removed by a skimmer or GAC. The skimmer does remove organic molecules that are not readily consumed by living organisms and does reduce the amount of PO4 and NO3, but this is only a fraction of the total PO4 and NO3 that accumulates in the water. You can still have a lively debate about whether a skimmer is even needed for a reef aquarium.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Those that use external containers (in addition to the cup), how do you keep the external container from overflowing? At least when a cup overflows it goes into the tank.

I refuse to pay for the pretty but expensive avast setup. I DIY'ed a skimmate external bucket. Works just fine for about 15 bucks. Float switch is tied into my bob on the Apex.

 

[ReefGeezer]

11 small to medium sized fish in a 90 gallon. I don't have any really messy fish, like Tangs, in the tank though. My inexpensive Bubble Magnus Curve 7 is set pretty wet in this picture. If I left it like this, it would skim a cup full in 3-4 days. Normally I set it much dryer and get less than a cup per week.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Yes, the statement is basically correct. Organic molecules like protein and amino acids break down to give ammonia while cellular membranes, DNA and RNA give up PO4. This breaking down happens inside living organisms which take in organic matter and excrete PO4 and NH3. Controlling the amount NH3 and PO4 by removing organic matter can only work if the removal device, such as a column of GAC or skimmer, works faster than all the organisms in the aquarium. In an aquarium, organic matter is mostly removed by living organisms and that means we deal with the accumulation of inorganic molecules which are mostly not removed by a skimmer or GAC. The skimmer does remove organic molecules that are not readily consumed by living organisms and does reduce the amount of PO4 and NO3, but this is only a fraction of the total PO4 and NO3 that accumulates in the water. You can still have a lively debate about whether a skimmer is even needed for a reef aquarium.

All seems plausible.

I've ran without both for years on my last system however, I did end up with massive ditritus buildup that later was a problem. Figure if I'm physically adding biomass and algae is converting light to sugar then some kind of export needs happen regardless of the method.

 

[Dan_P]

All seems plausible.

I've ran without both for years on my last system however, I did end up with massive ditritus buildup that later was a problem. Figure if I'm physically adding biomass and algae is converting light to sugar then some kind of export needs happen regardless of the method.

Totally agree.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Thank you everyone for all the opinions and voting, really appreciated it!

 

[Paul B]

I have no idea, I plumbed it into the drain.




In my last house I plumbed it into a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[RSnodgrass]

Sweet looking diy!

 

[Brian24540]

It occurs to me that skimmers are removing a non-trivial amount of salt water on a steady, regular basis. In all likelihood this is being replaced by fresh water by our ATOs. This would seem to imply a small but steady decrease in salinity - by quite a lot over time.

 

[RSnodgrass]

It occurs to me that skimmers are removing a non-trivial amount of salt water on a steady, regular basis. In all likelihood this is being replaced by fresh water by our ATOs. This would seem to imply a small but steady decrease in salinity - by quite a lot over time.

Definitely can be, when I ran a system for several years without water changes I needed to add salt to the tank every 6mo or so.

 

[Paul B]

I don't know, I have mine plumbed into the sewer.

 

[Garf]

I don't know, I have mine plumbed into the sewer.

You think skimmers are beneficial then, apart from the aeration benefit?

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I don't know, I have mine plumbed into the sewer.

I just plumb my skim-mate back into the system.

 

[Dan_P]

How long does everyone think it should take to fill a proper skimmer cup?

I think it would be a good gage of a skimmers proper sizing & tuning. What's everyone's opinion on this? Why?

Just looked at the survey results. The data seem to indicate that the hobby world dry skims. This not necessarily the best way to use a skimmer but is what the hobby must do if it uses automatic replacement of evaporated water. This seems like an example of automation of one operation leading to the suboptimization of another, skimming.