skimmer on timer

[TroyPham]

what do u think about putting your skimmer on a timer? with my clam tank up and running i'm feeding quite a bit of DT's (soon to start culturing my own) and if i run the skimmer, it's getting pulled out. so i'm thinking about putting the skimmer on a timer and only run it on a 12hr cycle.

what do u think of this. ( the other reason is i want to increase the nutrient level in the tank water to support the clams. so i'm feeding a bit more. but still watching the level.

[don-n-sa]

IMO your tank can be without a skimmer...if it is the one you recently posted picks for, beautiful tank BTW. With all those clams I would think that you would want all the nutrients you can get. Do you plan on putting any fish in? If so what kind?

[JimD]

Sure, you an do that, but keep on mind that the skimmer is also a major source of oxygen for the tank, so if you shut down the skimmer, I recommend an alternate source of O2.

[don-n-sa]

Sure, you an do that, but keep on mind that the skimmer is also a major source of oxygen for the tank, so if you shut down the skimmer, I recommend an alternate source of O2.
Isn't that the tank where the water overflows on all sides...I would think that would be plently with a light fish load.

[matt]

With all those clams I would think that you would want all the nutrients you can get. Do you plan on putting any fish in? If so what kind?

Believe me, in ANY closed system, you'll have no problem exceeding NSW levels for dissolved organic material, skimmer or no. BTW, DTs claims that protein skimmers do not remove a significant portion of their product. I'm not sure what to believe about that, but I can say that the skimmate on my old skimmer did not seem turn green or change that much when I dumped in DTs; but algae paste was a different story. I'd heed JimD's advice about the O2 levels, although, if you're dripping kalk, you probably don't have ph issues to worry about.

[Ram_Puppy]

I think it also takes a skimmer a while to bulid a healthy head of foam, they IMHO, don't just start and stup, they build in efficiency as they run.

[TroyPham]

i thought about the O2 issue to. but i get plenty of water movement with the return from both tanks to the sump. also with the water flowing over the sides. it produces plenty of surface area for air/water exchange.

on the skimmer starting up and stopping. i don't have much of a problem. mine actualy runns a little more efficient after i shut it down.

[TroyPham]

oo.. and thanks....

it brings me great joy.