Skimmer - see you later

[Boga]

What do you do when you go for vacation and leave the skimmer there for more than one week?

Tune it to dry skimming?
Leave the drain valve open?
Turn it off completely?

I am afraid that it will overflow and skimmate will get back in sump. Normally I don't keep the drain valve open.

 

[DerekL]

If you have time before leaving try experimenting with skimming dryer and see if you get it to where it won't overflow in the time period that you will be gone. You don't have anyone that could come a couple times while you are gone? 

 

[Boga]

2:40 AM and still up? Thanks for the prompt answer. I will try it.

When you said "overflow"..... I am thinking now to insert a tube like a standpipe in the drain and let the drain valve open. It will fill to the "overflow" point.

 

[Pistol]

Most have a drain port on the collection cup, put a hose on it and drain it into a bucket. I drain mine straight into the sewer.

 

[Reef Hero]

Drain hose off bottom of skimmer cup would work well.....you could drain to another larger container and even keep that container inside sump in case of overflow. I'm not so sure why everyone is afraid of their skimmer cup overflowing and the skimmate going back into the water. I really don't think its a big deal lol. Mine has done it numerous times and never seen any issues....

 

[Boga]

Drain hose off bottom of skimmer cup would work well.....you could drain to another larger container and even keep that container inside sump in case of overflow.

Sounds good.

Mine if it overflows the skimmate into the sump, part of it is sucked back into the skimmer. At this point the skimmer would go crazy and release a five days of skimmate into the system. I thought that a full cup of dissolved nutrients would affect the system, potentially creating a mini cycle. Anyway, I like the idea of extra container. Thanks

 

[Reef Hero]

[quote author=Reef Hero link=topic=7233.msg74306#msg74306 date=1387722898]
Drain hose off bottom of skimmer cup would work well.....you could drain to another larger container and even keep that container inside sump in case of overflow.

Sounds good.

Mine if it overflows the skimmate into the sump, part of it is sucked back into the skimmer. At this point the skimmer would go crazy and release a five days of skimmate into the system. I thought that a full cup of dissolved nutrients would affect the system, potentially creating a mini cycle. Anyway, I like the idea of extra container. Thanks
[/quote]

Hmmm idk.... A mature established tank should be able to handle the nutrients.... Not saying that it is good but I don't think it's all that bad.....only one want to find out....dump it back in!
Make sure you trial run any ideas before you leave so you know they are in good working order....don't just hook up your skimmer cup to another container right before you leave..... You should see it running and actually overflowing properly before you leave.


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[Boga]

Make sure you trial run any ideas before you leave so you know they are in good working order....don't just hook up your skimmer cup to another container right before you leave..... You should see it running and actually overflowing properly before you leave.

I'll do, except the "dump it back in" idea

 

[Reef Hero]

Size of system I would imagine comes into play as well.... I have a fairly small system and when my skimmer overflows I doubt it would be much more than a cup....probably less. Also, I run my skimmer wetter than normal I guess....so there won't be as much in there as someone else. Probably best to play it safe and not do the experiment lol


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[Duke]

Ya when mine gets full it just kind of dumps the water back into the skimmer.. And the collection cup just gets darker and darker.. I wouldn't worry.

 

[pulpfiction1]

I don't know how many would agree but if you done one massive water change and you're only gone for a week I don't think leaving the skimmer off would cause much of an issue

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[Duke]

I would worry about a drop in pH due to low orp during the night if u shut the skimmer off that long.. Dunno if it would matter tho

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

the only way yu will get skim mate over the cup is if yu have to much water in that chamber?

 

[Boga]

I would worry about a drop in pH due to low orp during the night if u shut the skimmer off that long.. Dunno if it would matter tho

Would this be because of reduced gas exchange (Carbon dioxide <-> Oxygen) or lack of nutrient export? Or both?

 

[Duke]

I was thinking lack of oxygen as one issue but low pH because of that too..

 

[DerekL]

I just bought a new skimmer today and have about a month for it to break in and dial it in before leaving on vacation. I have dogs as well so the person who comes to feed our dogs and lets them out will check and empty my collection cup as well for me. But before I had dogs I would just run trials with a dryer skim mate and see where to have it set so that in a weeks time the collection cup had not overflowed. If for some reason I ever needed to though I would just extend the drain on my collection cup as previously mention into a large container and run trials to ensure all would be well. I had and half full collection cup of nasties overflow back into my sump cause my skimmer went nuts and experienced no ill effects. Not saying I would want it to happen again or let alone in this tank. Good luck.

 

[Boga]

Update:

I only had just few days to test the dry skimming, but I was able to see how much it does collect. When I left for vacation, I tuned  it even more"dryer". After one week, there was only 1 inch of very dark skimmate. Nothing happened during my absence, no power failures, no furnace failures, no skimmer overflow.

Thanks everyone for help!

 

[Jewel]

I agree with Pulp, Turn it off if you're worried about it.

 

[DerekL]

Update:

I only had just few days to test the dry skimming, but I was able to see how much it does collect. When I left for vacation, I tuned  it even more\"dryer\". After one week, there was only 1 inch of very dark skimmate. Nothing happened during my absence, no power failures, no furnace failures, no skimmer overflow.

Thanks everyone for help!

Good to hear. I am only a week away from leaving on vacation myself. I asked my neighbour who also has a reef tank to check and make sure my ATO resivoir is kept full and to just take a look at my skimmer cup every couple of days as well. Trying not to think negatively about any big storms while I will be away but we have had a pretty busy winter so far weather wise so it does play on my mind. At least I have battery back ups for my MP's.

 

[unibob]

Tell your neighbour if power goes out to turn your MP's onto lowest setting to conserve batter life.