protein skimmer question

grouperkeys · 02-16-2008, 10:32 AM

Hi,

Does it affect anything adversely to turn off a remora HOT protein skimmer for a couple of hours a day.

I like to read in the evenings in the same area where my tank is, but don't want to listen to the noise the protein skimmer makes(even though it isn't that noisy)

Thanks,
Bill

lcstorc · 02-16-2008, 10:46 AM

Not that I am aware of.
I unplug mine to clean it and it starts right back up with no issue. You may want to install a timer so you don't forget to turn it back on.

grouperkeys · 02-16-2008, 10:48 AM

Does the water in the skimmer have enough time to foul standing still for those few hours?

Thanks,

Bill

lcstorc · 02-16-2008, 10:53 AM

Well the water in the skimmer is pretty foul already. I really don't see a problem. I have even heard of people who onlu run their skimmers overnight.

grouperkeys · 02-16-2008, 11:29 AM

Thanks Lynn. maybe I'll serve some to some of my relatives

ReefSparky · 02-16-2008, 11:39 AM

I think the only drawback to turning off a skimmer temporarily is the loss of skimming action during that time. I would think (my opinion only) if you shut off your skimmer for x number of minutes each day it would simply be "x minutes less efficient" for that day. Nothing more.

Personally, I wouldn't do it; as the skimmer is the only mechanical filtration in my setup--I don't use floss at all--and I don't want to lose any advantage I have.

I think if it's an intermittent thing, used only when the noise is undesirable, and so long as it's turned back on promptly after the occasion, it should present no real problems.

Rcpilot · 02-16-2008, 02:02 PM

My skimmer is my ONLY filter. I have powerheads for water movement. I have a DSB in the tank and the refugium. No other filtration. I do 20% weekly water changes.

I actually turn my skimmer off during the day. Most of the stuff in my tank is photosynthetic. Most of them close up at night, so I figure they aren't feeding anyway. Thats when I turn on the skimmer. During the day, I don't want to skim those organics out of the water. My corals are using those organics for food.

Here is how I have things set up:
There are 2 tanks. One tank is 5.5g and has about 1/2" live sand with 2 large pieces of live rock. It also has a big hunk of cheato about the size of a grapefruit. That tank has my 6-line wrasse. He got removed from the big tank because he is an A-hole and tried to kill my clown fish. No skimmer. Only a HOB Whisper 20. I use a 24w PC light to light that tank about 12hrs during the day. The cheato is growing. The water chemistry is good.

The main tank is my 30g high. It has a 5" DSB in the tank. There is 61lbs of live rock. I'm using a CPR HOB large refugium with built in skimmer. The refugium has a 5" DSB and cheato inside. I use the same light from the 5.5g tank. I put the CPR light on the refugium at night, after the DT lights are off. That gives me an opposite light cycle and keeps my pH stable.

That's when I turn on the air intake for the skimmer.

The refugium gets about 12hrs of light, and skimming during the night, when all my corals are "sleeping" anyway.

In the morning, I turn off the air for the skimmer and move the light over to the 5.5g tank so that the cheato in there will grow.

I actually think my tank looks better since I started only skimming 12hrs per day. My zoas have shown great growth. My mushrooms are splitting about every 8-10 weeks. My feather dusters are growing well. Still reading 0 nitrates on my testing. I'm starting to think a little "dirt" in the water is good for 'em. If the water is stripped of all organics--what are your corals going to eat? They can't live on trace elements alone.

Thats my nickel.

Michiana · 02-16-2008, 05:05 PM

Put your skimmer on a timer....... That way you won't forget to turn it back on and have anything go haywire...... 2-3 hrs a day won't hurt.

rmlevasseur · 02-16-2008, 06:01 PM

Wonder what happens to your orp levels RC...

CMG · 02-16-2008, 07:04 PM

Even with the papertowel trick its too noisy to read? I did tell you about that in another thread right? I cant remember. hehe.

grouperkeys · 02-16-2008, 09:47 PM

CMG'

You did advise me, which I appreciated.

I haven't set the tank up yet, and if the paper towel trick doesn't work well enough, I'd like to have the option of turning it off for a bit when I want a period of low noise.

I really want to place it in the living room, and not a dark corner of the house, and I would turn dangerous

if I ended up having to move it once set up.

Thanks,

Bill

02-16-2008, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
grouperkeys Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	protein skimmer question Hi, Does it affect anything adversely to turn off a remora HOT protein skimmer for a couple of hours a day. I like to read in the evenings in the same area where my tank is, but don't want to listen to the noise the protein skimmer makes(even though it isn't that noisy) Thanks, Bill

02-16-2008, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 22,544 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protein skimmer question Not that I am aware of. I unplug mine to clean it and it starts right back up with no issue. You may want to install a timer so you don't forget to turn it back on. __________________ Peace LYNN Quote for the day courtesy of Big Al Basically it comes down to this... You RUSH it.... you CRASH IT!! Original member of Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

02-16-2008, 10:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
grouperkeys Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protein skimmer question Does the water in the skimmer have enough time to foul standing still for those few hours? Thanks, Bill

02-16-2008, 10:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 22,544 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protein skimmer question Well the water in the skimmer is pretty foul already. I really don't see a problem. I have even heard of people who onlu run their skimmers overnight. __________________ Peace LYNN Quote for the day courtesy of Big Al Basically it comes down to this... You RUSH it.... you CRASH IT!! Original member of Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

02-16-2008, 11:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
grouperkeys Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protein skimmer question Thanks Lynn. maybe I'll serve some to some of my relatives Last edited by grouperkeys : 02-16-2008 at 11:29 AM. Reason: typo

02-16-2008, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
ReefSparky Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 59 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protein skimmer question I think the only drawback to turning off a skimmer temporarily is the loss of skimming action during that time. I would think (my opinion only) if you shut off your skimmer for x number of minutes each day it would simply be "x minutes less efficient" for that day. Nothing more. Personally, I wouldn't do it; as the skimmer is the only mechanical filtration in my setup--I don't use floss at all--and I don't want to lose any advantage I have. I think if it's an intermittent thing, used only when the noise is undesirable, and so long as it's turned back on promptly after the occasion, it should present no real problems. __________________ God is dead." --Nietzsche "Nietzsche is dead." --GOD

02-16-2008, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rcpilot Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 297 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protein skimmer question My skimmer is my ONLY filter. I have powerheads for water movement. I have a DSB in the tank and the refugium. No other filtration. I do 20% weekly water changes. I actually turn my skimmer off during the day. Most of the stuff in my tank is photosynthetic. Most of them close up at night, so I figure they aren't feeding anyway. Thats when I turn on the skimmer. During the day, I don't want to skim those organics out of the water. My corals are using those organics for food. Here is how I have things set up: There are 2 tanks. One tank is 5.5g and has about 1/2" live sand with 2 large pieces of live rock. It also has a big hunk of cheato about the size of a grapefruit. That tank has my 6-line wrasse. He got removed from the big tank because he is an A-hole and tried to kill my clown fish. No skimmer. Only a HOB Whisper 20. I use a 24w PC light to light that tank about 12hrs during the day. The cheato is growing. The water chemistry is good. The main tank is my 30g high. It has a 5" DSB in the tank. There is 61lbs of live rock. I'm using a CPR HOB large refugium with built in skimmer. The refugium has a 5" DSB and cheato inside. I use the same light from the 5.5g tank. I put the CPR light on the refugium at night, after the DT lights are off. That gives me an opposite light cycle and keeps my pH stable. That's when I turn on the air intake for the skimmer. The refugium gets about 12hrs of light, and skimming during the night, when all my corals are "sleeping" anyway. In the morning, I turn off the air for the skimmer and move the light over to the 5.5g tank so that the cheato in there will grow. I actually think my tank looks better since I started only skimming 12hrs per day. My zoas have shown great growth. My mushrooms are splitting about every 8-10 weeks. My feather dusters are growing well. Still reading 0 nitrates on my testing. I'm starting to think a little "dirt" in the water is good for 'em. If the water is stripped of all organics--what are your corals going to eat? They can't live on trace elements alone. Thats my nickel.

02-16-2008, 05:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Michiana Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indiana, The Great Corn Sea Posts: 56 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protein skimmer question Put your skimmer on a timer....... That way you won't forget to turn it back on and have anything go haywire...... 2-3 hrs a day won't hurt. __________________ 120g tank, 2 x 400w 20K MH, 2 cooling fans,8 MJ PH, Eheim 1262 in sump, 300w heater, actinics, moonlights, skimmer, and a $400 monthly electric bill !

02-16-2008, 06:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,261 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protein skimmer question Wonder what happens to your orp levels RC... __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

02-16-2008, 07:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
CMG Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 602 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: protein skimmer question Even with the papertowel trick its too noisy to read? I did tell you about that in another thread right? I cant remember. hehe. __________________ My Chronical: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wlr-setup.html 40g, Banggai Cardinal, B&W Clown, Flame Angel, Scooter Dragon and a golden banded shrimp.

02-16-2008, 09:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
grouperkeys Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: protein skimmer question CMG' You did advise me, which I appreciated. I haven't set the tank up yet, and if the paper towel trick doesn't work well enough, I'd like to have the option of turning it off for a bit when I want a period of low noise. I really want to place it in the living room, and not a dark corner of the house, and I would turn dangerous if I ended up having to move it once set up. Thanks, Bill

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