turning off skimmer at night?

Byronc · 05/11/2009, 03:52 AM

I have a tunze 9002 skimmer in my 20 gallon nano in my room, but it makes a bunch of noise which is bothersome at night when I'm trying to sleep.

Is it ok to turn the skimmer off 8 hours a day?

redfishsc · 05/11/2009, 05:29 AM

That depends.

If you are running a refugium with a reverse photoperiod, then you might be fine--- something to offset the pH drop that would normally occur.

Also, just know that the foam generation that happens in the reaction chamber sometimes takes while to build up. Shutting it off for 8 hours might well mean that it's actually down for 10-12-14 hours or so, depending on how long it takes it to generate foam and skimmate.

jerryz · 05/11/2009, 06:38 AM

A Tunze 9002 is too loud? They're one of the quietest skimmers around.

gsxunv04 · 05/11/2009, 06:46 AM

Is it ok to cut your skimmer off at night for 8 hours??
Is it ok to lose 33% of your skimming capabilities, that is the real question...I say leave it on and close your bedroom door so you dont hear it.

jayk198030 · 05/11/2009, 08:03 AM

Turn it off you will be fine. I use to do the same with my skimmer. I would let it skim for 12hrs and be off for 12hrs. Never had a problem.

Byronc · 05/11/2009, 12:07 PM

Yeah Tunze 9002, loud...weird i know.

I tried it last night and I turned it on when I woke up. It takes about 30 minutes or so to "prime" itself, but I am fine with that as of right now.

My bioload is very light for my tank as well. I only have one clown fish in there right now so I am not worried about that.

Can someone explain what you're talking about with the Ph drop at night to counterbalance this? I didn't know skimmers did this too. Sorry I'm totally in a box on this concept.

shaneh · 05/11/2009, 12:39 PM

PH drop is from the oxygen levels being used up at night by the tank so the levels drop when more crbon dioxide is in the tank making the PH go downa nda swing in PH is bad for coral and fish if it drops below 8.0 you could start loosing things. keep it between 8.2 and 8.4 for best results.

tpdpercula · 05/11/2009, 01:19 PM

As long as your not having any other issues it should be fine. Is it the motor vibrating against the glass or what?

t4zalews · 05/11/2009, 01:20 PM

my skimmer is most effective at night time

96p993 · 05/11/2009, 01:33 PM

Why not figure out the problem?? what part is loud? Where is the noise coming from?

This just seems like a bandaid not a real solution

Byronc · 05/11/2009, 02:42 PM

I've taken the whole skimmer apart and cleaned everything. The construction on the skimmer is kind of shotty so my guess is that either the bottom or the top piece that comes on and off is vibrating because they don't fit together very well. I would like to glue the pieces on, but they would not allow for maintenance of the pump.

gsxunv04 · 05/11/2009, 04:11 PM

i have not heard of tunze ro be shotty construction, maybe send it back and try another. You may have gotten a "lemon"

james3370 · 05/11/2009, 04:34 PM

have you tried using rubberbands top to bottom to pull those panels tight??? might be enough to silence the vibration....

bradbmbj · 05/11/2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by t4zalews
my skimmer is most effective at night time

I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

username in use · 05/11/2009, 08:33 PM

Mine seems to produce more skimate at night too. No idea why.

96p993 · 05/11/2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Byronc
I've taken the whole skimmer apart and cleaned everything. The construction on the skimmer is kind of shotty so my guess is that either the bottom or the top piece that comes on and off is vibrating because they don't fit together very well. I would like to glue the pieces on, but they would not allow for maintenance of the pump.

Have you posted your problem in the Tunze forum?? They might be able to help you better then we could

nikon187 · 05/11/2009, 10:48 PM

Skimmers work better at night because you aren't feeding the tank, and putting your hands in the tank which doesn't cause your foam head to crash due to protiens and oils

noboddi · 05/11/2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bradbmbj
I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

Night is when there is the most stuff in the water to skim. Your tank has a daily rhythm and the organics peak at night

username in use · 05/12/2009, 05:49 AM

good to know, thanks.

GSMguy · 05/12/2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bradbmbj
I dont think the protiens are any different in the daytime.

unless you feed the fish 3-4 times during the day.

the whole idea of turning of the skimmer at night is silly, would you turn off your lungs for the night?

Byronc · 05/18/2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
unless you feed the fish 3-4 times during the day.

the whole idea of turning of the skimmer at night is silly, would you turn off your lungs for the night?

If my lungs were noisy at night and kept me awake and I could get away with turning them off for a few hours....yes

THE ROOK · 05/18/2009, 02:35 PM

With only one clown, I'm sure your tank will not suffer as long as you have good surface flow via powerheads. You want to keep the tank mixing oxygen while the skimmer is off.

mjhooyer1 · 05/18/2009, 03:14 PM

Make sure your water level is correct in your skimmer. I just bought one and they told be to keep the water at a certain level and it should be really quiet, so far so good on mine.

05/11/2009, 03:52 AM	#1
Byronc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 173	turning off skimmer at night? I have a tunze 9002 skimmer in my 20 gallon nano in my room, but it makes a bunch of noise which is bothersome at night when I'm trying to sleep. Is it ok to turn the skimmer off 8 hours a day?

05/11/2009, 05:29 AM	#2
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	That depends. If you are running a refugium with a reverse photoperiod, then you might be fine--- something to offset the pH drop that would normally occur. Also, just know that the foam generation that happens in the reaction chamber sometimes takes while to build up. Shutting it off for 8 hours might well mean that it's actually down for 10-12-14 hours or so, depending on how long it takes it to generate foam and skimmate. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

05/11/2009, 06:38 AM	#3
jerryz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 953	A Tunze 9002 is too loud? They're one of the quietest skimmers around. __________________ When in doubt ride a bike. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Freshwater Discus Tank, 20G Nano, 125 Reef

05/11/2009, 08:03 AM	#5
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	Turn it off you will be fine. I use to do the same with my skimmer. I would let it skim for 12hrs and be off for 12hrs. Never had a problem. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

05/11/2009, 01:19 PM	#8
tpdpercula Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Death Star Posts: 1,205	As long as your not having any other issues it should be fine. Is it the motor vibrating against the glass or what? __________________ If I would have spent the money that was used on corals, fish, etc. My mortgage would be paid for already!!!! Current Tank Info: 210g Mixed Reef tank, (2) 60g frag tanks (containing a Sohal in one & Naso in the other along with breeding pairs of True Percs, 40g frag tank w/Pair of Picassos, 24 Nano w/ breeding pair of True Percs and 24 Nano Mixed Reef w/pair of Ocellaris

05/11/2009, 06:46 AM	#4
gsxunv04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 874	Is it ok to cut your skimmer off at night for 8 hours?? Is it ok to lose 33% of your skimming capabilities, that is the real question...I say leave it on and close your bedroom door so you dont hear it.

05/11/2009, 12:07 PM	#6
Byronc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 173	Yeah Tunze 9002, loud...weird i know. I tried it last night and I turned it on when I woke up. It takes about 30 minutes or so to "prime" itself, but I am fine with that as of right now. My bioload is very light for my tank as well. I only have one clown fish in there right now so I am not worried about that. Can someone explain what you're talking about with the Ph drop at night to counterbalance this? I didn't know skimmers did this too. Sorry I'm totally in a box on this concept.

05/11/2009, 12:39 PM	#7
shaneh Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 1,168	PH drop is from the oxygen levels being used up at night by the tank so the levels drop when more crbon dioxide is in the tank making the PH go downa nda swing in PH is bad for coral and fish if it drops below 8.0 you could start loosing things. keep it between 8.2 and 8.4 for best results.

05/11/2009, 01:20 PM	#9
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	my skimmer is most effective at night time __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

05/11/2009, 01:33 PM	#10
96p993 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mckinney, Tx Posts: 1,130	Why not figure out the problem?? what part is loud? Where is the noise coming from? This just seems like a bandaid not a real solution

05/11/2009, 02:42 PM	#11
Byronc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 173	I've taken the whole skimmer apart and cleaned everything. The construction on the skimmer is kind of shotty so my guess is that either the bottom or the top piece that comes on and off is vibrating because they don't fit together very well. I would like to glue the pieces on, but they would not allow for maintenance of the pump.

05/11/2009, 04:11 PM	#12
gsxunv04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 874	i have not heard of tunze ro be shotty construction, maybe send it back and try another. You may have gotten a "lemon"

05/11/2009, 04:34 PM	#13
james3370 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: US ARMY - El Paso TX Posts: 3,678	have you tried using rubberbands top to bottom to pull those panels tight??? might be enough to silence the vibration.... __________________ Yes I hear voices in my head, but they speak spanish so I can't understand anything they say. there's no place like 127.0.0.1 It's a shame that stupidity isn't painful.... Current Tank Info: currently tankless....but planning an AIO

05/11/2009, 08:33 PM	#15
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Mine seems to produce more skimate at night too. No idea why. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

05/11/2009, 10:48 PM	#17
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	Skimmers work better at night because you aren't feeding the tank, and putting your hands in the tank which doesn't cause your foam head to crash due to protiens and oils __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

05/12/2009, 05:49 AM	#19
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	good to know, thanks. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

05/18/2009, 02:35 PM	#22
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	With only one clown, I'm sure your tank will not suffer as long as you have good surface flow via powerheads. You want to keep the tank mixing oxygen while the skimmer is off.

05/18/2009, 03:14 PM	#23
mjhooyer1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mtn. Home, AR Posts: 14	skimmer Make sure your water level is correct in your skimmer. I just bought one and they told be to keep the water at a certain level and it should be really quiet, so far so good on mine.