Turn off protein skimmer

I will be out of town for 4-5 days over the holidays and I don't have anyone to take care of my tank. My one concern is topping off the sump. I've got a auto topoff system but it is not setup yet and I don't want to run that experiment while I'm gone and come back to a flooded house . I was considering shutting down my skimmer while I'm gone since that pump is the one that becomes exposed first when the water gets depleted in the sump. Does anyone think this will this cause any major issues?

 

For a few days it should be ok based on the fact that you also will not be feeding your fish and creating additional amonia.
You may want to prepare for a waterchange for when you come home though because the amonia levels will be higer than they usually are.
Just my thoughts.

 

Can't you add a little more saltwater and raise the water level some? How much play do you have in the sump after a power outage?

 

I'm going to fill the sump as high as possible with RO water before I leave. I'm afraid it will still evaporate below the skimmer pump in 4 days though.

 

Hi,

I have had the same problem in my tank before. I would suggest doing a water change and adding as much saltwater as possible in your tank and possibly lower the salinity "slightly". By slightly I mean from 1.024 to perhaps 1.0235. Also, you could setup a slow drip system. It might not replace all of the water lost, but it might keep the loss at a lower level. Finally, about your skimmer, as long as your water is good and you're not experiencing any issues a few days without skimming might be OK. I don't want to be responsible if you have hidden contaminates in the water but it should be OK. One thing you could do is make a "passive" temporary skimmer. If you have a EuroReef you can take the collection tank off and put it lower in the water. Then run bubbles through this and it will make a light skimmate. My suggestions are just ways to make the possible problems less, not fix them.

 

I like Dyngoe's idea about the drip.

 

Yeah also Dyngoes point about using saltwater to fill up the tank is exactly what I was thinking. I'm not sure how much volume you're talking but just adding RO to fill you sump might throw off your salinity.

 

I was just planning on filling me sump up with RO to the usual line (flood line) that I top off to. I have a AquaC skimmer and it doesn't look like it will adjust any lower than it is now.

As far as the drip system, I guess I would just need some RO water in a container above the sump and set it up just like I would for acclimation purposes? Does that sound right? I would be so paranoid about that I'm sure I would have that drip line tied with 4 tight knots in it !