Skimmer

I was wondering should I be turning off my skimmer while I feed marine snow to my corals, also does it take out all my stress coat? Is the skimmer just taking out what I put in, should I turn it off for a day when im putting marine snow in my tank? My skimmer is not the best its the SeaClone 100, I hear alot of bad things about this skimmer but it seems to pull alot of stuff out of my tank.

 

The SeaClone is not a bad skimmer, but there is a growing controversy over running a skimmer 24/7, or at all. I won't start that debate here, but for certain, they do remove food, meds, additives, etc that you really want to keep in the tank. I would advise turning it off while feeding, medicating, etc.

BTW- Some meds tell you how long to keep the skimmer off during application.

 

I like this post, for a couple of reasons. First when you say you have heard bad things about the skimmer yet it is performing admirably, you have made an important point. If the skimmer works as it should then don't be inclined to think you may need a new one...understand? I don't know if you were thinking that way but if you were, there is no need to replace it. Secondly, As far as the snow or plankton food goes, the skimmer will invariably pull some out, however, you need only turn the skimmer off for 30 min. to an hour, the bulk of the food should be "caught" and utilized by then, go 2 hours if you feel one hour isn't enough. Some aquarists turn off the return and any other filters in that time also and just leave the power heads on for circulation.

 

I have never thought of turning my skimmer off when i feed, i leave everything running as normal.....no need to be changing the enviormentin the tank....my thinking on this is when the fish in the wild feed, do the waves stop?

 

Thank You for all of your imput.

 

You are welcome.

 

Actually, yes.

You must remember that their natural environment is quite dynamic, not static. During full high or full low tide, the water becomes incredibly calm for roughly an hour or so, and that's when all the critters come out to feed. During full tide shift, the flow is so powerful that most fish have to hide to keep from being beaten against the rocks, or swept away from the reef.

Cheers

 

That is exactly the point I was about to make to ocean.

 

They may calm down but they do not stop......

 

+1 Jed. I turn my skimmer and filter off and add supplements. Wait an hour, then feed ...wait another hour, then power up the equipment.