wet/dry skimming

I was wandering what is the differnce between wet and dry skimming.

 

I think it is more or less how you are collecting in your cup.

To be honest Skimmers are a "Art" I have found. I have played with mine on alot of different levels. I found that the "Skim" will automaticly move up the collection cup if you let the bubbles break at or near the bottom.

Also A LOT can be said about letting a skimmer break in.

That being said, tinkering with your skimmer will do a lot more for you rather than someone telling you where to exactly set it for your tank.

 

hmm. I never looked at it that way thanks

 

Just to add to the above statement. Dry skimming is not really dry it is just letting the skimmate rise to the collection cup at a slower rate making it thicker and darker as it comes out. The only advantage to that over wetter skimming is less water is being removed from your system and less time spent dumping the collection cup. For example if you are gone from your home for 12 -14 hours you might want to dry skim to help prevent overflow problems while you are not home. If you are home most of the time I would and do wet skim a little more. Either way works.

 

Best explaination Ive heard yet, exactly spot on ... K+

 

I dont get your comment,

100 % of the skimmers I have seen are "adjusted" to met this"Wet/Dry" term.

If you are not adjusting the skimmer how do you make it either wet or dry?

 

I think the Wet/Dry term is thrown around like a Lingo rather than an actual way of "Skimming"

If someone has skim with more liquid then it would be "Wet"?

If someone has less than the "Normal" Wet then it would be dry?

So where is the middle?

Or lets put it lie this...

"Is the up half empty? or Is the cup half full?"

See it is kinda like defining "Normal" Tinkering with every skimmer IMHO is the only way to find the "happy middle".

 

As an actual answer to the threads question , whats the difference? Six's description is text book for sure , but I was commenting on Beamer' explaination of how to get a dry skim by letting the skimmate work its way up the neck carrying only the smaller particles and less water . I think most beginners know what a wet skim looks like soon enough, I just thought it was a great description of the finesse needed to get your skim dryer ...