Using protein skimmer only at night

livemontana · 10/29/2006, 12:01 PM

The noise my protein skimmer makes is pretty loud in a room that is otherwise quiet. I have been thinking about just using the skimmer at night but was wondering the potential downsides? I turned it off a bit ago and noticed a small drop in PH.

daytriper · 10/29/2006, 01:13 PM

Some times it takes a while for a skimmer to kick in I do not think this would be good.

HDAlien · 10/29/2006, 02:27 PM

I'd try to quiet the skimmer down (different pump?) and keep it running 24x7 if possible.

HDAlien

easye123 · 10/29/2006, 03:01 PM

what kind of skimmer is it?

MR PALM BEACH · 10/29/2006, 03:12 PM

After seeing all the discolored waste build up that it mine collects, only time that its going off is when the power is truly out. Ill never stop running it.

UprightJoe · 10/29/2006, 03:36 PM

I shut mine down at night so that it doesn't suck out the oyster eggs and phyto that I feed.

It's definitely more productive and pulls more skimmate in the morning than it does in the evening. I wouldn't be afraid to run it part time.

jnarowe · 10/29/2006, 05:20 PM

Many reefers runs their skimmers part-time and there are articles in Reef Keeping about it. Someone recommended that I run mine only at night but I can't remember why now.

UprightJoe · 10/29/2006, 05:48 PM

Here's the reason I've heard for running it at night if you're only going to run it part time:

pH tends to drop at night once photosyntesis stops and CO2 levels start rising. As a result, running your skimmer at night helps vent CO2 and keeps your pH more stable.

It's probably true and a strong argument for running skimmers at night. It makes sense to me anyhow.

I just worry more about my feeding situation and potential harm to nocturnal planktonic activity than I worry about pH. I've never found slight pH changes as a result of CO2 fluctuations to be deleterious.

jnarowe · 10/29/2006, 06:09 PM

That was it! Good call. I think it was recommended in relation to me adding a large Ca reactor to the system. I feel the same as you in that in the morning when the lights first come on, the tank is crystal clear, but as the day progresses, water quality drops due to fish activity, feeding and algal growth. So I decided to keep mine running 24/7.

10/29/2006, 12:01 PM	#1
livemontana Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 65	Using protein skimmer only at night The noise my protein skimmer makes is pretty loud in a room that is otherwise quiet. I have been thinking about just using the skimmer at night but was wondering the potential downsides? I turned it off a bit ago and noticed a small drop in PH.

10/29/2006, 01:13 PM	#2
daytriper Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ILL Posts: 219	Some times it takes a while for a skimmer to kick in I do not think this would be good. __________________ I hope it works, sure cost enough. Current Tank Info: 180 reef,3 250w mh,4 80 watt t5,53 gal sump, 40 gal refugium, cal reactor,pos reactor,1/3 hp chiller,etts protien skimmer,octopus controler,40 gal frag.

10/29/2006, 02:27 PM	#3
HDAlien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 476	I'd try to quiet the skimmer down (different pump?) and keep it running 24x7 if possible. HDAlien __________________ ¡ʞuɐʇ ʎɯ ǝʌo1 ı Current Tank Info: 220 gal. reef

10/29/2006, 03:01 PM	#4
easye123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,505	what kind of skimmer is it? __________________ Loading...... Current Tank Info: 90g BB sps 30g sump. 2x175w mh. 2x110w vho act. Vortech. tunze 6025. ER rs 135. TLF phos. ACjr

10/29/2006, 05:20 PM	#7
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Many reefers runs their skimmers part-time and there are articles in Reef Keeping about it. Someone recommended that I run mine only at night but I can't remember why now. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

10/29/2006, 03:12 PM	#5
MR PALM BEACH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Jupiter, Fl Posts: 802	After seeing all the discolored waste build up that it mine collects, only time that its going off is when the power is truly out. Ill never stop running it.

10/29/2006, 03:36 PM	#6
UprightJoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 120	I shut mine down at night so that it doesn't suck out the oyster eggs and phyto that I feed. It's definitely more productive and pulls more skimmate in the morning than it does in the evening. I wouldn't be afraid to run it part time.

10/29/2006, 05:48 PM	#8
UprightJoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 120	Here's the reason I've heard for running it at night if you're only going to run it part time: pH tends to drop at night once photosyntesis stops and CO2 levels start rising. As a result, running your skimmer at night helps vent CO2 and keeps your pH more stable. It's probably true and a strong argument for running skimmers at night. It makes sense to me anyhow. I just worry more about my feeding situation and potential harm to nocturnal planktonic activity than I worry about pH. I've never found slight pH changes as a result of CO2 fluctuations to be deleterious.

10/29/2006, 06:09 PM	#9
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	That was it! Good call. I think it was recommended in relation to me adding a large Ca reactor to the system. I feel the same as you in that in the morning when the lights first come on, the tank is crystal clear, but as the day progresses, water quality drops due to fish activity, feeding and algal growth. So I decided to keep mine running 24/7. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted