I think my skimmer is overkill

I'm not entirely conviced that a overrated skimmers will perform worse than a properly rated one. There are some that think that is the case.

Any skimmer, without enough organics, will not produce. A skimmer rated for twice the size of a tank, with proper bioload, should only produce skimate 50% of the time.

Some feel that overrated skimers actually perform worse than properly rated ones. Over rated meaning more than twice the size of the tank/bioload. Skimate can't build up and produce a proper foam head with the size of the body and neck.

Indeed I agree that skimate production in the cup will be less if you can't get it there. However, if a head builds up during the day and pukes some foam into the cup, I can't actually say if it has removed less.

Normal mechanical filters, which skimmers "sort of" are, perform better when they are dirty... "seeded". Particulate improves efficiency and helps catch more. I can't say for certain if this is the case in skimmers... but it would seem to me that "some" organics/particulates floating around in the body would help catch more.

At the end of the day, what makes me question the whole thing is that a skimmer is indeed producing that air/water interface that attracts hydrophobic disolved organics. It is processing water, and it is binding up DOCs. For all intents and purposes, if the DOCs are bound up in the body of the skimmer, they are effectively "removed" from the system... they are just not removed to the waste cup of the skimmer.

Of course, if you turn it off it all goes back to the system. They are still available to be broken down by bacteria and produce nitrates...which is the point of the skimmer... remove waste before it is broke down.

What is without a doubt 100% true is that a overrated skimmer does not remove "more" than a properly rated one does. It cost more money, takes up more space, uses more power, and makes more noise.... all for zero gain.

It you have one sitting around fine, but purchasing a bigger one than needed is a waste of money... even for the "eventual upgrade some time in the future". Just get what your system needs.

 

Considering the higher flow rate and amount of foam produced by the larger skimmer, that does make sense. Thanks for the clarification.