DOTW - Skimming - Page 4

Woodstock · 06-29-2004, 11:11 AM

Is there a chemist in the house? It sure would be nice to see an experiment done on the effects of skimming.... something like a before and after water testing. Or better yet, have the skimmate tested to see exactly what it is, EXACTLY. Maybe that's been done already?

middletonmark · 06-29-2004, 11:13 AM

Problem with testing what's in skimmate is that some at least would be bacteria and stuff the bacteria is working on [soon to be dissolved nutrients].
By the time one analyzes it ... IMO it may have changed form/composition already.

Curtswearing · 06-29-2004, 11:19 AM

I agree with your point Mark.

An unscientific test would be to turn off your skimmer for a couple of days and then run a Dissolved Organics test. Turn on your skimmer for a couple of days and then run the test again. Granted this is very unscientific unless someone had two identical 10 gallon tanks sitting around.

middletonmark · 06-29-2004, 11:29 AM

Might monitor ORP, pH when not running the skimmer [maybe dissolved oxygen, along with organics].

I'm actually running the opposite test right now ... overskimming. Was unhappy with my Remora Pro on my 58g SPS tank .... and I was able to pick up a used PM Bullet 2 from a local guy for a great price.

So now I'm skimming with the Bullet 2 ... just getting it tweaked now. As I'll be pullling vastly more skimmate from the tank - I'll see what if any effect `overskimming' [if that's possible] will do.

mojoreef · 06-29-2004, 02:04 PM

Skimming will take out some water or water with organics, in saying this it will take out the elements associated with the water it pulls out. So yea it removes some elements that way.
The skimmer will also remove organics (detritus/waste) as solid forms and dissolved forms. It will also remove bacteria and planktonic life forms, which are also concidered organics thier just alive still. In removing the plankton and bacteria you are effectivly removing P and N as they have bound it to thier matrix. Yes you loose a little planktonic life but the vast majority of these froms are on various surfaces on the tank and stay close or attached to it.

Mike

06-29-2004, 11:11 AM	#46 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Is there a chemist in the house? It sure would be nice to see an experiment done on the effects of skimming.... something like a before and after water testing. Or better yet, have the skimmate tested to see exactly what it is, EXACTLY. Maybe that's been done already? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

06-29-2004, 11:13 AM	#47 (permalink)
middletonmark Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	Problem with testing what's in skimmate is that some at least would be bacteria and stuff the bacteria is working on [soon to be dissolved nutrients]. By the time one analyzes it ... IMO it may have changed form/composition already. __________________ smile smile smile

06-29-2004, 11:19 AM	#48 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,596 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree with your point Mark. An unscientific test would be to turn off your skimmer for a couple of days and then run a Dissolved Organics test. Turn on your skimmer for a couple of days and then run the test again. Granted this is very unscientific unless someone had two identical 10 gallon tanks sitting around. __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

06-29-2004, 11:29 AM	#49 (permalink)
middletonmark Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	Might monitor ORP, pH when not running the skimmer [maybe dissolved oxygen, along with organics]. I'm actually running the opposite test right now ... overskimming. Was unhappy with my Remora Pro on my 58g SPS tank .... and I was able to pick up a used PM Bullet 2 from a local guy for a great price. So now I'm skimming with the Bullet 2 ... just getting it tweaked now. As I'll be pullling vastly more skimmate from the tank - I'll see what if any effect `overskimming' [if that's possible] will do. __________________ smile smile smile

06-29-2004, 02:04 PM	#50 (permalink)
mojoreef Just a reefer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,176 View Gallery Karma Komment	Skimming will take out some water or water with organics, in saying this it will take out the elements associated with the water it pulls out. So yea it removes some elements that way. The skimmer will also remove organics (detritus/waste) as solid forms and dissolved forms. It will also remove bacteria and planktonic life forms, which are also concidered organics thier just alive still. In removing the plankton and bacteria you are effectivly removing P and N as they have bound it to thier matrix. Yes you loose a little planktonic life but the vast majority of these froms are on various surfaces on the tank and stay close or attached to it. Mike __________________ Make sure you check out The Fish Gallery The Coral Gallery The Equipment Gallery

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