I have been trying to get a tank to clean up and doing quite a number of water changes. I am currently experimenting with a wet skim water change method. This uses the skimmer to remove the water at a rate of about 10 gallons in 120 minutes (give or take, sometimes much more). The idea behind this is it will remove more dissolved organics than with a standard water change of the same volume. So I just want to see if anyone has done this or has thoughts on it, good or bad. So Is my logic flawed? Let’s hear if I am helping or harming things.
[quote=“Scottman81, post:1, topic:6814”]
I have been trying to get a tank to clean up and doing quite a number of water changes. I am currently experimenting with a wet skim water change method. This uses the skimmer to remove the water at a rate of about 10 gallons in 120 minutes (give or take, sometimes much more). The idea behind this is it will remove more dissolved organics than with a standard water change of the same volume. So I just want to see if anyone has done this or has thoughts on it, good or bad. So Is my logic flawed? Let’s hear if I am helping or harming things.[/quote]
This article is a little dated, but the basic information is pertinent to your experiment.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/fm/feature/index.php
Another good read here:
So after reading and trying to comprehend all of that information it seems like what I am doing is a good thing. The part on bubble popping and organic adhesion leads me to think that with a clean skimmer neck this is the most efficent way for the skimmer to run. However it is not practical to keep the skimmer like this for an extended period of time due to the amount of water removed. Thank you for the link to the info. The experiment will continue.
[quote=“Scottman81, post:3, topic:6814”]
So after reading and trying to comprehend all of that information it seems like what I am doing is a good thing. The part on bubble popping and organic adhesion leads me to think that with a clean skimmer neck this is the most efficent way for the skimmer to run. However it is not practical to keep the skimmer like this for an extended period of time due to the amount of water removed. Thank you for the link to the info. The experiment will continue.[/quote]
I didn’t read it that way, i.e. “1) For optimum skimming, water flow thru the skimmer should be sufficiently slow as to allow interactions of an air bubble and organic waste.” I think their design is to get as much dwell time between the air bubbles, and water in the reaction chamber to allow the organics to adhere to the bubbles. If it’s too fast, you’re just blowing water through the unit, and not getting an effective skim.
[quote=“Downbeach, post:4, topic:6814”]
I didn’t read it that way, i.e. “1) For optimum skimming, water flow thru the skimmer should be sufficiently slow as to allow interactions of an air bubble and organic waste.” I think their design is to get as much dwell time between the air bubbles, and water in the reaction chamber to allow the organics to adhere to the bubbles. If it’s too fast, you’re just blowing water through the unit, and not getting an effective skim.[/quote]
I have not really increased the flow through the skimmer from what it normall runs but just running a really really wet skim. It has the same specs as the Reef octopus DCS 150
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-diablo-dcs150-in-sump-protein-skimmer.html
I just set it tokeep the foam head right on the cusp of the skimmer neck. The contact time is no different.