skimmer cup

Teeb · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 37

Empty it.. it's gooky and yucky. You'd end up having to clean it out of your
overflow tank eventually anyway.. and some people think it stinks. I am
assuming it's working properly and is kind of blackish, brownish, or green
looking gunk? If it's real light, or almost clear, then your skimmer isn't
working right or you have something set wrong on it.

Teeb

"Matt" wrote in message$Ly2.925012@cletus.bright.net...
> when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
> overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?
>
>

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>marine>reefs

Matt · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?

Marc Levenson · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 667

Clean your cup and riser every three days. That will assure maximum efficiency
of your unit.

Marc

Matt wrote:

> when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
> overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Matt · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

just to clean soemthing up
yes skimmet it a wonderfully tastey brown/green thinker mixture. i know the
skimmer is working. the skimmer overflow is setso about 1/2" of the stuff
will build up in the cup before it overflows into a bottle. there is
another 1.5" inches above that to the top of the skimmer 2" to the skimmer
cap.

"Matt" wrote in message$Ly2.925012@cletus.bright.net...
> when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
> overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?
>
>

Dragon Slayer · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 440

like Marc I prefer to have mine cleaned regularly, for me that is daily, but
every 3 days would be acceptable too. IMO I think the overflow containers
just make you lazy and in the process make your skimmer less efficient as
they skim less when the riser tube gets fouled up with gunk.

daily cleaning of all my skimmers has produced more skimming in a weeks time
by 2 or 3 times what they produce when just cleaned once a week.

YMMV.
kc

"Marc Levenson" wrote in message@swbell.net...
> Clean your cup and riser every three days. That will assure maximum
efficiency
> of your unit.
>
> Marc
>
>
>
> Matt wrote:
>
> > when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
> > overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

Dragon Slayer · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 440

> Btw kc, about 2 weeks ago, I pulled off my skimmer cup, and found a snail
> chowing down in the riser tube of the cup. LOL He had to make his way
from the
> output through all the baffles to the "promised land", as there is no way
he
> entered via my MJ1200! heheheh
>
> Marc

it would seam that the riser tube gunk would be a great place for a snail
buffet. I have never heard of anyone stating all the nutritional value of
skimming...........but...........I have used them for other useful purposes.
I use the skimming from my reef tank to seed new base rock, not only does it
contain some bacteria, it also contains coralline spores which give the new
rock a seeding. it also is a very good way to start the cycle of a new
tank. I guess the smell is the reason it has never been put into
production, or after a few hours with no fresh air it may be useless for
this. it will though provide the micro fauna in a base rock tank with what
it needs to get a faster start and after its started a little added every
week keeps it with something to feed off of and expand in the rock.

kc
..

Marc Levenson · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 667

I think that an overflow container is ideal if you are going away for a few
days, to protect your system from becoming a mess. However, I think that the
container needs to be over your sump regardless, in case the skimmer does go
nuts accidentally. In this way you don't lose water volume suddenly, which is
the main cause for disasters more often than not.

Btw kc, about 2 weeks ago, I pulled off my skimmer cup, and found a snail
chowing down in the riser tube of the cup. LOL He had to make his way from the
output through all the baffles to the "promised land", as there is no way he
entered via my MJ1200! heheheh

Marc

Dragon Slayer wrote:

> like Marc I prefer to have mine cleaned regularly, for me that is daily, but
> every 3 days would be acceptable too. IMO I think the overflow containers
> just make you lazy and in the process make your skimmer less efficient as
> they skim less when the riser tube gets fouled up with gunk.
>
> daily cleaning of all my skimmers has produced more skimming in a weeks time
> by 2 or 3 times what they produce when just cleaned once a week.
>
> YMMV.
> kc
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Richard Reynolds · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 268

run a bottle brush(reserved for this ONLY) down the riser tube, and ignore it Very Happy

as for overflowing if my bucket fills up too full then the skimmer shuts off, its easy to
make you just need to seal the bucket and have 2 tubes one for in one for out one goes to
collection cup the other goes to where ever your air input is on your specific skimmer.

--
Richard Reynolds
Richard.Reynolds@usa.net

"Matt" wrote in message$Ly2.928294@cletus.bright.net...
> just to clean soemthing up
> yes skimmet it a wonderfully tastey brown/green thinker mixture. i know the
> skimmer is working. the skimmer overflow is setso about 1/2" of the stuff
> will build up in the cup before it overflows into a bottle. there is
> another 1.5" inches above that to the top of the skimmer 2" to the skimmer
> cap.
>
>
>
> "Matt" wrote in message
> $Ly2.925012@cletus.bright.net...
> > when the skimmer cup gets full do i need to empty it if i have a reserve
> > overflow tank? will it hurt performance not to empty so often?
> >
> >
>
>

Marc Levenson · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 667

I would have to say that using Dinoflagellates would be even more effective.
Talk about teaming with life! I just scooped off so much of that junk from my
refugium a few minutes ago, but it just had to go!

Marc

Dragon Slayer wrote:

> it would seam that the riser tube gunk would be a great place for a snail
> buffet. I have never heard of anyone stating all the nutritional value of
> skimming...........but...........I have used them for other useful purposes.
> I use the skimming from my reef tank to seed new base rock, not only does it
> contain some bacteria, it also contains coralline spores which give the new
> rock a seeding. it also is a very good way to start the cycle of a new
> tank. I guess the smell is the reason it has never been put into
> production, or after a few hours with no fresh air it may be useless for
> this. it will though provide the micro fauna in a base rock tank with what
> it needs to get a faster start and after its started a little added every
> week keeps it with something to feed off of and expand in the rock.
>
> kc
> .

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com