Skimmer Output Over Time

Do skimmers produce less junk over time if your bio-load hasnt changed?

I havent added any fish in like 6+ months and it seems like my skimmer is producing less waste, I clean it just as often.

Just wondering!!! Any thoughts?

 

I would say no but thats only once they are over the initial hump of production from a new tank.

 

I would think even with water changes, if you have the same amount of bioload(same amount of fish/inverts) as previous, then your waste will be the same. yes, you are doing water changes, but the same amount of waste is being produced by those fish/inverts. It sounds like your skimmer is just not working as well as it used too?

+1 to what S said. Is this the stock that has been in your tank since you got the skimmer, or have they both been there a while?

 

My skimmer will go through periods of not producing a whole lot of skimmate, only to start right back up later on. It think it's cyclical. Now if 6 months go by and the skimmer still fails to produce, I'd question the skimmer.

 

Did you have a different less efficient skimmer before this one? Maybe no skimmer? if so, it will remove more waste until the excess waste of running a poor or no skimmer is gone. it will then just remove what your fish are producing. therefore, less waste.

 

When I originally moved the tank and installed this original skimmer it was producing like a mad machine...

I think b/c of all the crap stirred up from the move...

Its since been consistent, but producing much less than after the move. Maybe I have to try to dial it in a bit better to see if I can get more out of it.

 

The stirring up of gunk would make the skimmer produce more waste. Since it is consistent, I wouldn't worry.