Turning protein skimmer off at night

Do any of you turn off your protein skimmers off during the night? Will there be a drop in water quality and PH during this duration that can affect a moderately filled aquarium with fish/corals/other inverts?

 

I wouldn't recommend it. While a skimmer may not be an absolute necessity, you have detritus breaking down into DOCs 24/7, and your bio-filter is adapted to the level of DOCs in your tank. So if you use a skimmer (which removes DOCs), it's a good idea to run it 24/7 to prevent swings in nutrient levels. Also, your DO level usually drops at night as well-- enough to cause a drop in pH. The skimmer can help rectify that with constant aeration.

 

If water is not moving it is becoming septic or stagnant. Leave it on.

 

It's the f**** vibration and noise it creates! I need to get a quieter skimmer/return pump!

 

My pump made a lot of noise at night when all the lights went out, I bought better hose for my return pump and the vibration went away.

Hope this helps.

 

If it makes that much noise where it disturbs you, it might seem like its not a good quality pump / skimmer, and turning it on and off so much might lower its life expectancy or cause the pump to get stuck.

 

Just saw your ad is the the noisy one: Vertex IN180 Protein Skimmer ?

I own the same but 100 model it is virtually quiet. The only time i have had it make noise is when some of my CC have worked there way into the chambers or the actual pump had come loose from the housing ....

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Good call!! I was having micro bubble issues with my Tunze so I turned it off for a week until I had the time to rip apart the back and see whats wrong. When I went to turn the skimmer back on the pump was froze.

 

Well if the skimmer is too loud either is it a low quality skimmer or there is something wrong with it.

 

It is not loud but I can feel it vibrating through my oak floor and can hear it downstairs as well.