Chad and Belinda Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I leave our skimmer on 24/7/365. Is it possible to overskim? If so, what would it do to zoas, sps and lps? Right now I only have 3 smaller fish in my larger tank so there is not a lot of waste coming out of them and I feed sparingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaJohn Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 from my reading skimmers are very inefficent and unless you are running multiple forms of nutrient removal I doubt you can over skim. I also think most soft stuff gets alot of there food from lighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I've run systems for years without skimmers but I couldn't say that it is possible to overskim at most I can say is I don't feel skimming is neccesary for most animals. Besides Dr. Ken Feldman's research showing skimming is selective in what it removes his research showing it affects the bacterial populations certainly raises some questions about it's use but it will take a good deal more research to really answer your question. Here's three links to Feldman's research he reported on Advanced Aquarist and there are a few others I've left out. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropy Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I don't think skimmers are efficient enough to worry about over skimming. I think the biggest benefit is probably oxygenation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 If you had NPS in your tank, I would say without a doubt that skimming was bad. Since I stopped using skimmers ten years ago, I am somewhat partial as to their necessity. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I agree. I question what skimmers even do. So no. I don't think you can over skim. I don't think they efficient enough to cause problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bimmerzs Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Overskimming is kinda hard to do for reason's mentioned already. You can however upsize your skimmer to the point of it being even more inefficient for the setup you have. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faron Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Like so many things in this hobby and life, there are so many variables. I don't think it would be a issue of overskimming on your setup. Its hard to say if it and how it would effect the different species. Trial and error. Good articles. Thanks Timfish. I am going to run a Lee Chin system on my next setup. The closer I can replicate nature the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad and Belinda Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 Thank y'all!!! Lot's of great information everyone. I'm going to start reading those articles today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 . . . I am going to run a Lee Chin system on my next setup. The closer I can replicate nature the better. Faron, I would encourage you to get Delbeck and Sprungs "The Reef Aquarium" Vol III. They have a very good chapter that looks at the various filtering methodologies. One advantage of the Lee Chin Eng system is it's very simple. One big aesthetic issue is evaporation will often leave a large space at the top of the tank between the water line and the frame or hood that many people will find annoying and some won't be bothered by. Here's an example of the typical water level just before topping off on an Lee Chin Eng system I maintain, you can see it has dropped about 2 inchs: (This system is using power heads for circulation instead of air bubles so it is not a "pure" Lee Chin Eng system but it has no internal, external or mechanical filtration or reactors and definitely no skimming). One axiom concerning ecosystems is the greater the diversity of species the better it's stability. Using a sump and/or refugium in addition to a display tank does just this by creating different habitat's for different species to flourish in. Tyree's zonal system arguably does the best job of doing this with it's use of both lighted and cryptic refugiums. Sumps and refugiums also increase surface area and volume of a system both I would consider beneficial and the only reason I would not use one and/or both is there is some overriding issue like zero tolereance for noise or other considerations do not allow for the space for sumps or refugiums. Keep in mind all these different systems are successful if maintained properly and intellegent selection of animals. None of these systems will work if not maintained or if poor judgement is used in the selection of animals. Since a marine system can last for decades with consistant maintainance and barring major accidents I would put emphasis on what you are going to enjoy spending time maintaining. Some people are going to gravitate to more complex systems others will prefer something simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Jakedoza Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I only run my skimmer when my main lights are on during the day... but my skimmer is designed for a tank twice the size of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Grog Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I've run systems for years without skimmers but I couldn't say that it is possible to overskim at most I can say is I don't feel skimming is neccesary for most animals. Besides Dr. Ken Feldman's research showing skimming is selective in what it removes his research showing it affects the bacterial populations certainly raises some questions about it's use but it will take a good deal more research to really answer your question. Here's three links to Feldman's research he reported on Advanced Aquarist and there are a few others I've left out. http://www.advanceda...011/3/aafeature http://www.advanceda...010/2/aafeature http://www.advanceda...09/1/aafeature2 Looks like I have some light reading for my vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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