Wet Skimmate Water Changes?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14116313#post14116313 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mobert
replace with 1.022 instead of 1.026
adjust according to tank s.g.
Click to expand...

well, you really have me thinking :D

is there a salinity monitor/controller out there that will turn on/off a device such as your pond feeder? My salt water pool has a digital device that tells me when to add or subtract salt but does not control another device.

I'm thinking of creating a system similar to yours. I'm planning a little different skimmer shut of device when it goes nuts, still in planning stage. I will use a separate kalk drip connected to a RO reservoir controlled by my acII ph controller to avoid the precipitation that occurs with kalk and sea water:http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14122447#post14122447

will update as the plan solidifies :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14122661#post14122661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott
well, you really have me thinking :D

is there a salinity monitor/controller out there that will turn on/off a device such as your pond feeder? My salt water pool has a digital device that tells me when to add or subtract salt but does not control another device.

I'm thinking of creating a system similar to yours. I'm planning a little different skimmer shut of device when it goes nuts, still in planning stage. I will use a separate kalk drip connected to a RO reservoir controlled by my acII ph controller to avoid the precipitation that occurs with kalk and sea water:http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14122447#post14122447

will update as the plan solidifies :)
Click to expand...

I think there is an aquacontroller that measues s.g. and controlls devices but on the other hand, I may have to go back to manually adding a cup or two of salt every night as the Koi feeder has been crusting up and malfunctioning sitting over the open water. I will try raising it higher or running one of the cabinet fans more.

I don't have much precipitation probably because my unmixed Kalk mixture is very dilute and my salt is not full strength. My tank inhabitants do not require much additional calcium other than what is supplied by the water changes.
 
This Idea is so obvious and simple it's ellusive. Brings all kinds of brainstorming for my extra monster skimmer I have laying around.
Very Cool. ;)
 
update:
I now have an 80g sea water reservoir as my top off. I am skimming wet, about 5g per day or 150g per month. I have about 500g total system volume. I am already noticing the ORP climb from 350 to 380 ave in just a few days. What I like the most is not having to clean my skimmer! I have not solved the puzzle how to automatically turn down the skimmer when it goes nuts, there must be a simple solution, help? As for Kalk, I'm constantly dripping very slowly from a 40g reservoir.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14141867#post14141867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott
update:
I now have an 80g sea water reservoir as my top off. I am skimming wet, about 5g per day or 150g per month. I have about 500g total system volume. I am already noticing the ORP climb from 350 to 380 ave in just a few days. What I like the most is not having to clean my skimmer! I have not solved the puzzle how to automatically turn down the skimmer when it goes nuts, there must be a simple solution, help? As for Kalk, I'm constantly dripping very slowly from a 40g reservoir.
Click to expand...

It would be cool to have a float switch on a 5 gallon resevoir collecting the wet skimmate. Connect the float switch to your skimmer. If your skimmer goes nuts, it will shut off the skimmer at 5 gallons. You then need to set a pump to drain the bucket every 24 hours as well.

Just a thought!

Jim
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14141925#post14141925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMBoehling
It would be cool to have a float switch on a 5 gallon resevoir collecting the wet skimmate. Connect the float switch to your skimmer. If your skimmer goes nuts, it will shut off the skimmer at 5 gallons. You then need to set a pump to drain the bucket every 24 hours as well.

Just a thought!

Jim
Click to expand...

good thought! you could even have a slow drain on the bucket so it would allow the skimmer to run but not so fast as to fill the bucket and trip the switch, and if it did once the bucket drains down a little it would turn the skimmer pump back on, I'm running a PanWorld 250 that draws 400 amps so I need to obtain an appropriately sized float switch
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14141954#post14141954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott
good thought! you could even have a slow drain on the bucket so it would allow the skimmer to run but not so fast as to fill the bucket and trip the switch, and if it did once the bucket drains down a little it would turn the skimmer pump back on, I'm running a PanWorld 250 that draws 400 amps so I need to obtain an appropriately sized float switch
Click to expand...

That is why I have a 1/4" drain. It doesn't start emptying till it is full and it can only drain what a 1/4" drain can handle. If it were to get too full it backs up to my skimmer cup which fills up and the skimmer pump's venturi intake recirculates what is in the cup----which is ok because the skimmer had gone crazy and it is not too funky in the cup.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142564#post14142564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mobert
That is why I have a 1/4" drain. It doesn't start emptying till it is full and it can only drain what a 1/4" drain can handle. If it were to get too full it backs up to my skimmer cup which fills up and the skimmer pump's venturi intake recirculates what is in the cup----which is ok because the skimmer had gone crazy and it is not too funky in the cup.
Click to expand...

I'm running a large external Beckett skimmer so if the cup backs up it runs out all over my equipment room, there are advantages in having an internal skimmer!

I can't find a float switch/relay that can handle a 400w pump, not sure I want to turn the pump on and off anyway, I think I'll just keep an eye on things, it can handle 80g of going "nuts" right now without causing too many problems, that's probably enough you think?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142640#post14142640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott
I'm running a large external Beckett skimmer so if the cup backs up it runs out all over my equipment room, there are advantages in having an internal skimmer!

I can't find a float switch/relay that can handle a 400w pump, not sure I want to turn the pump on and off anyway, I think I'll just keep an eye on things, it can handle 80g of going "nuts" right now without causing too many problems, that's probably enough you think?
Click to expand...

Mine is external also. So your skimmer pumps have no venturi intake??

I also drilled a 3/4" drain in the skimmer cup with a standpipe so it only is used when the cup is full and it drains back into the sump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142687#post14142687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mobert
Mine is external also. So your skimmer pumps have no venturi intake??

I also drilled a 3/4" drain in the skimmer cup with a standpipe so it only is used when the cup is full and it drains back into the sump.
Click to expand...

no, I'm running a Pan World 250, no venturi, the dual Beckett's create considerable bubble/foam without the need for a venturi, I guess I could drill a hole high up in the skimmer cup and run a line down to the skimmer body but I'd rather not mess with the skimmer if possible, trying to come up with a simple solution.

How about have the skimmer cup drain to the side of an open container, entering the container near the top. Let's say there is a small hole near the bottom that allows for a slow drain of skimmate. If the skimmer goes nuts and overcomes the drain the water will rise above the skimmer drain and occlude the orifice, shutting off the air and shutting down the skimmer, much like the ping pong ball does in the waste container, think it would work? then when the skimmer calmed down the container would drain and allow the skimmer to function normally...

would it work?
 
Yes it will work


I've got a 7 foot high dual venturi monster that the prior owner complained of overflows. I took skimmate gallon jug and placed venturi inputs pointing down into yet at the top of the gallon jug by zip ties and old powerhead bracket and when it got to that point no more bubbles. The test worked like a charm.

Your's should shut off the air input the same when it gets full as you describe.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142842#post14142842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CleveYank
Yes it will work


I've got a 7 foot high dual venturi monster that the prior owner complained of overflows. I took skimmate gallon jug and placed venturi inputs pointing down into yet at the top of the gallon jug by zip ties and old powerhead bracket and when it got to that point no more bubbles. The test worked like a charm.

Your's should shut off the air input the same when it gets full as you describe.
Click to expand...

ok, I'm going to try it! thanks

mobert: thanks for all the ideas, I'm loving not having to clean my skimmer every few days!

now I'll have to find a way to block the smell of the open skimmate container
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14102218#post14102218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mobert
... the venturi intake for the skimmer pumps would suck the extra back through the pump and in the skimmer again.
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If I understand this statement and this picture
skimmer.jpg
You are pulling your skimmer air from inside your collection cup. Do you notice any difference in your skimmer bubble size or density "vs" pulling your air from outside? And for the bigger question, does this reduce the "nog smell" while the skimmer is running? This could make my wife very happy :D

Wouldn't your skimmer basically shut down anyways if the cup filled up enough for the intake to start sucking skimmate, kinda self regulating?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142761#post14142761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott
How about have the skimmer cup drain to the side of an open container, entering the container near the top. Let's say there is a small hole near the bottom that allows for a slow drain of skimmate. If the skimmer goes nuts and overcomes the drain the water will rise above the skimmer drain and occlude the orifice, shutting off the air and shutting down the skimmer, much like the ping pong ball does in the waste container, think it would work? then when the skimmer calmed down the container would drain and allow the skimmer to function normally...

would it work?
Click to expand...

if your drain from the skimmer cup to the container is too small it will not burp the air out and just stop flowing. If you don't screw the top back on tight after cleaning it could overflow. Otherwise it should work.

I'm not sure a vented container would not overflow. My container is vented with a 1/4" tube to above the skimmer cup height.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14142922#post14142922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elliott

now I'll have to find a way to block the smell of the open skimmate container
Click to expand...

Your skimmate container should now be closed so no smell.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14143019#post14143019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog
You are pulling your skimmer air from inside your collection cup. Do you notice any difference in your skimmer bubble size or density "vs" pulling your air from outside? And for the bigger question, does this reduce the "nog smell" while the skimmer is running? This could make my wife very happy :D

Wouldn't your skimmer basically shut down anyways if the cup filled up enough for the intake to start sucking skimmate, kinda self regulating?
Click to expand...

No difference in skimmer bubbles. I had a lifereef skimmer prior to the Euroreef and it was designed to draw from inside the skimmer cup. Check out their website and their reasons for doing this:
http://lifereef.com/frame.html
So.....no smell and no venturi sucking noise.
So yes, the skimmer would suck skimmate and re gurgitate. Pretty much the funk just goes round and round the skimmer if the cup gets too full and will automatically start up again when the drain catches up.

This is a partial quote from their description of their protein skimmer:
NO SALT-CLOGGED VENTURI, EVER! our skimmer utilizes a self-cleaning venturi. (nozzle injected and other venturi skimmers clog and require maintenance)
NO SUCKING NOISES, silent operation, no injector nozzle (Becketts) noise, no needle-wheel hum and vibration.
NO EXCESS BUBBLES in your sump!
NO constant adjustments, the self-cleaning venturi prevents water level fluctuations.
NO cup overflow, the self-cleaning venturi prevents the cup from overflowing.
NO special waste collector required, our cup is a collection cup, not a diverter cup.
NO "humming" or vibration noise as in needle-wheel designs or hard-mount pumps on the skimmer body.
NO ERRATIC PERFORMANCE, the self-cleaning venturi maintains a stable water level and skimming.
NO EXCESSIVE pipes, valves, tubes, contraptions, or "air sucking devices" hanging all over the skimmer.
 
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mobert: I was thinking of leaving the container open and allowing the level to rise when the skimmate overcomes the drain, however I like your idea better. If the container has a lid then when the drain is overwhelmed it will immediately occlude and shut the skimmer down, much like the ping pong ball. And with a lid, less smell. I will do some trials and report back, thanks
 
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