Perhaps an unusual skimmer question...

[rbaldino]

I've got an AquaC Remora skimmer that pulls quite a lot of gunk out of my tank. Over the course of a few days, I can see that this is helping to lower the water level in my tank. Now here's my question... Is the skimmer pulling out saltwater, or does the skimming process just pull out fresh water and leave behind salt? Has anyone ever tried to figure this out? Basically, I want to know if I should replace the lost water with fresh or saltwater.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by rbaldino
I've got an AquaC Remora skimmer that pulls quite a lot of gunk out of my tank. Over the course of a few days, I can see that this is helping to lower the water level in my tank. Now here's my question... Is the skimmer pulling out saltwater, or does the skimming process just pull out fresh water and leave behind salt? Has anyone ever tried to figure this out? Basically, I want to know if I should replace the lost water with fresh or saltwater.
It pulls salt water. Do you have a refractometer? If so, you can easily test for it.

 

[sukisuki1]

If your skimmer is pulling that much water I would turn the intake down a bit. I think you should only need to empty collection cup once a week if your letting it fill. I personally clean mine every other day just because of smell. I would think you should just top of as normal.

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by sukisuki1
If your skimmer is pulling that much water I would turn the intake down a bit. I think you should only need to empty collection cup once a week if your letting it fill. I personally clean mine every other day just because of smell. I would think you should just top of as normal.
Most of the time it doesn't pull that much. If I use Chemiclean, the skimmer goes crazy after the treatment and pulls a bunch.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by rbaldino
Most of the time it doesn't pull that much. If I use Chemiclean, the skimmer goes crazy after the treatment and pulls a bunch.
What is chemiclean and why do you use it?

 

[aztec reef]

Originally Posted by earlybird
What is chemiclean and why do you use it?

I don't know why he uses it but CHEMI-CLEAN is a chemical that removes(or suppossed to) remove disease causing red cyano bacteria from corals. Oxidizes trapped organic sludge and sediment. Clarifies aquarium water, Promotes ideal Enzyme balance. All of that can be obtained with Waterchanges...

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
I don't know why he uses it but CHEMI-CLEAN is a chemical that removes(or suppossed to) remove disease causing red cyano bacteria from corals. Oxidizes trapped organic sludge and sediment. Clarifies aquarium water, Promotes ideal Enzyme balance. All of that can be obtained with Waterchanges...
Not all the time. Water changes aren't always the magical cure-all that everyone thinks they are, especially when dealing with red slime. It's a bacteria, and no amount of water changes can completely get rid of it.

 

[moneyman]

Originally Posted by rbaldino
I've got an AquaC Remora skimmer that pulls quite a lot of gunk out of my tank. Over the course of a few days, I can see that this is helping to lower the water level in my tank. Now here's my question... Is the skimmer pulling out saltwater, or does the skimming process just pull out fresh water and leave behind salt? Has anyone ever tried to figure this out? Basically, I want to know if I should replace the lost water with fresh or saltwater.
Skimmer does remove salt water. But, a taste test will verify that for you.

The amount of salt removed is negligible. Ie, for a 55 gallon @ SG 1.026, skimed 2 gallons (32 cups) then filled with RODI, your water will be SG 1.025.
If you really want, for every cup of gunk, drop in 1/2 a tablespoon of salt.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by rbaldino
Not all the time. Water changes aren't always the magical cure-all that everyone thinks they are, especially when dealing with red slime. It's a bacteria, and no amount of water changes can completely get rid of it.
If you completely remove Cyanobacter from your tank most anaerobic and anoxic fitration will halt. It is a desireable organism, it's just not desired in excess quantities.
It's appearance on the outside of rocks or on top of a sand bed is a symptom of poor husbandry. Adding an antibiotic to kill it doesn't fix the poor husbandry, it just hides the evidence.

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
If you completely remove Cyanobacter from your tank most anaerobic and anoxic fitration will halt. It is a desireable organism, it's just not desired in excess quantities.
It's appearance on the outside of rocks or on top of a sand bed is a symptom of poor husbandry. Adding an antibiotic to kill it doesn't fix the poor husbandry, it just hides the evidence.
Then please tell me what I'm doing wrong. 20 percent water change weekly with RO water, 30x turnover, lights on 10 hours a day, feed half a cube of frozen food every other day, excellent skimming, dozen snails, dozen hermits, fish do well (one of them is 10+ years old).

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by rbaldino
Then please tell me what I'm doing wrong. 20 percent water change weekly with RO water, 30x turnover, lights on 10 hours a day, feed half a cube of frozen food every other day, excellent skimming, dozen snails, dozen hermits, fish do well (one of them is 10+ years old).
Try blending your own fish food, feed a smaller amount every day, and do a 75% waterchange next time you do one.
Do you have live rock? Was it ever exposed to very high ammonia levels?
What is your current Phosphate level?

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Try blending your own fish food, feed a smaller amount every day, and do a 75% waterchange next time you do one.
Do you have live rock? Was it ever exposed to very high ammonia levels?
What is your current Phosphate level?
I've basically had this tank setup for over 10 years. 30+ pounds of live rock, all bought cured from a LFS that's literally 2 minutes away from me. If there ever had been high ammonia levels, it probably would have killed my fish, and they're all fine. Zero phosphates, I've done massive water changes in the past with no beneficial effect, and I've tried different feeding regimens.

 

[bang guy]

Have you checked your new saltwater for PO4? The nutrients must come from somewhere.
How sure are you that it's Cyanobacter and not Dinoflagillates?

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Have you checked your new saltwater for PO4? The nutrients must come from somewhere.
How sure are you that it's Cyanobacter and not Dinoflagillates?
My freshly mixed saltwater isn't the problem, and based on the look and behavior of the algae, I'm pretty sure it's cyano. Of course there are nutrients of some kind in the tank. I do have to feed the fish. My whole point is that you can do everything that you're supposed to do and still have problems.

 

[bang guy]

The limiting factors for Cyano are Phosphate and low O2. It needs one or the other to survive.
Dino is more like snot and Cyano is more like a blanket with oxygen bubbles coming from it.

 

[reefreak29]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
The limiting factors for Cyano are Phosphate and low O2. It needs one or the other to survive.
Dino is more like snot and Cyano is more like a blanket with oxygen bubbles coming from it.
and light ,lol