Protein Skimmer once a week

ninjamini

Active Member
I have two protein skimmers and neither works in my tiny sump. How good is it to hook it up once a week for a day?
 
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calvertbill

Guest
I don't get it...you can't overskim...why limit yourself? That's sorta like saying you only shower once a week because no one's complained yet.
 

tropills

Member
Originally Posted by Calvertbill
I don't get it...you can't overskim...why limit yourself? That's sorta like saying you only shower once a week because no one's complained yet.
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Originally Posted by Calvertbill
I don't get it...you can't overskim...why limit yourself? That's sorta like saying you only shower once a week because no one's complained yet.
 

ninjamini

Active Member
Unless your shower hangs in your living room. My sump has no room for the skimmer that means that I am hanging it off the tank. I dont want to look at it all the time.
 

apos

Member
I've never heard of a skimmer not running all the time: is it really possible/advisable to do so?
 

scsinet

Active Member
This wouldn't be the best idea. The skimmer running in short periodic intervals would cause significant swings in water quality and stress your fish.
 
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calvertbill

Guest
Originally Posted by ninjamini
I am hanging it off the tank. I dont want to look at it all the time.
Fish hate sudden changes because they rarely occur in nature. It takes a pretty big geological event to suddenly change water parameters in an ocean (the only two which come quickly to mind are volcanic eruption and a MAJOR oil spill) and they are usually followed by lotsa dead bodies.
I have a 90 in my kitchen with a Prizm HOB skimmer and when I allow it to get really dirty you're right...it's ugly. I think of this as being almost a good thing because it makes me clean it more often.
 

teen

Active Member
so tides dont suddenly change water parameters?
around here we have semi-diurnal tides, 2 highs and 2 lows a day. take a guess at how much the salinity change during these tides.
 

mscarpena

Member
I suppose you could do it under the right tank conditions, but I do not advise it. If the one you have does not fit in your sump either change the skimmer or the sump. There are a few options that you could do. Also what size tank and how is it stocked. If it's a small tank just do more water changes. Also how are your water paramiters, algae, or any other concerns??
 
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lbaskball

Guest
I dont think a skimmer would cause such sudden changes that it would stress the fish. Ive read in some aquarium books that some people only run the skimmer at night. I think it all depends on the tank size etc.
also, as someone stated about the high tides and low tides, there are times when cold water rushes through causing a sudden change to corals.
but idk. As long as you get the junk out from the skimmer, no problem.
 

itom37

Member
Originally Posted by teen
so tides dont suddenly change water parameters?
around here we have semi-diurnal tides, 2 highs and 2 lows a day. take a guess at how much the salinity change during these tides.
0%?
How would the tide affect salinity?
 

teen

Active Member
water that drains out of lagoons (or around here, bays) are normally linked to rivers or streams. bays normally have a lower salinity because of the freshwater source. when that water drains into the ocean, the immediate area is subject to a salinity change. same thing happens when the ocean water comes back into the bay. ya or na?
other than salinity, they effect plenty of other variables. temperature being another major one.
 

emm0909

Member
I think many people make this harder than it needs to be and don't realize what your tank can withstand.
I use tap water, I top off with tap water directly in the tank. I was a little (ok, a lot) behind on my top off and had to put 8 gallons of fresh water in a 75 gallon (right in the display) yesterday. Nothing was bothered by the temp/chlorine/salinity change.
 

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by emm0909
I think many people make this harder than it needs to be and don't realize what your tank can withstand.
I don't think that's the point. I don't know about everyone else, but my answer was based on what's best for your tank, not on what your tank "can withstand." I've done some really exterme things to my tanks and have had them come out fine, but I don't intentionally do things that are less than optimal.
 
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