What would happen if I.......

Took the sludge from my skimmer cup that collects around the rim of the lid and put that back into my tank. I know corals depend on some fish poo for food right? What would happen if i took a little of that and put some in the tank? Not alot just a bit. I ask because I have a fair amount of sps and only 3 small fish. I am wondering if my corals are not getting all the food they need. I do feed oyster feast a few times a week after lights out, but what if the corals want more? I wouldnt dump the water in just a little bit of the more solid sludgy stuff. Thoughts on this?

 

I wouldn't put it back in, but I can't see it doing any harm either, how many times has your skimmer cup overflowed?
You have to consider that the stuff in there has been rotting for however long it has been in your skimmer cup and is likely incredibly high in ammonia. I would say that the adverse affect on your water quality vs. nutritional value contained isn't worth putting it back into your sysem for.

 

Skimmer cup has never overflowed I check it several times a day and empty and clean it every 3 days. I was just curious on everyones thoughts on this. I do understand what you are saying though. Thats why I wanted to ask because I figure I will get answers that I never thought of.

 

I wouldn't do it in my tank. The way i see it your skimmer isn't going to pull every bit of crap out of the tank anyways. What's left should be enough for the corals IMO. I would think shutting your skimmer down for a day every now and then might have the same effect? But putting old nasty skimmate back in the tank that you're purposely removing sounds like pouring poison in the tank .
But, I've been wrong once before .

 

I agree and think that shutting it down for a day is a better option. Pouring it back in would just be a waste of electrical dollars.

 

if you have lights that are good enough for sps then you dont technically even need to feed them the oyster feast... they are getting plenty of nutrients from the light and additional from your feedings. no need to put skimmate back in!
besides, its mostly silicates from dead phytoplankton anyway...

 

I wouldnt do it.

Are you having a problem with coral growth or health that is making you consider this?

If so there are other options....I would just keep dumping it down the drain.