Do you shut down skimmer while feeding?

[pecan2phat]

How many people shut down their skimmers during feeding? Regarding needle wheel skimmers, is it good or bad for the pumps?

I shut down my Deltec when feeding because the skimmer starts to overflow the cup a bit if I leave it running whereas on another tank with an H & S skimmer, the foam production actually falls apart when I feed so no need to shut this skimmer down.
I'm a bit puzzled on why this happens with the two different skimmers. Both are needle wheel designs, both use two Eheim 1260 pumps for foam production but the Deltec reacts opposite of the H & S when food containing oils (frozen foods) are introduced into the water column.

 

[autoponicz]

my skimmer's foam collapses when i feed...i have had a bunch of skimmers and they all do that...first time i heard that it overflows..
im running a bubble magus NAC6 at the moment.

 

[mr_X]

i used to have to shut off my ASM because it would overflow. now i use an MSX and i no longer have that problem.

 

[juiceguy]

i do not shut down when i feed and the foam usually collapses for a few minutes on my BK mini

 

[masterswimmer]

I run two skimmers, the Bermuda Aquatics and a Lifereef. Both skimmers the foam breaks down when feeding and no need to turn them off.

swimmer

 

[seascape]

same here bermuda and the foam breaks so no need

 

[lunner]

DAS and H&S no problem. Foam collapses and skimmers on while feeding.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

I have an MRC and do not turn it off while feeding. The foam does fall a bit and a lot when I use selcom.

 

[cali_reef]

For this information\discussion to be useful, everyone should include:

How are you feeding the water to the skimmer?

What types of food are you using?

 

[nyc reefer]

Tunze 9005 in sump application and "No" I dont turn it off when feeding my fish. The foam seems to stop for a while, then restarts about an hour later. I do turn it off when I feed my corals though.

 

[pecan2phat]

My H&S is gravity feed from the overflow drain, foam collapses when feed mysis/plankton/fish meat/clams/table shrimp so this skimmer is left on during feeding.
My Deltec whether gravity feed from the overflow drain or dedicated feed pump from the sump will start to overflow about 2 inches of water into a waste collector about 15 minutes after I feed the same foods. I tend to shut this skimmer down for about 45 minutes during feeding.
Spectrum pellets and flake food causes no problem.

 

[cali_reef]

Told you H&S is a better skimmer :lol2:

Up early or late? I am stuck in China, gov locked down some of the other sites I visit.

 

[House of Laughter]

Never, I use that time to clean the cups because the level drops.

House

 

[pecan2phat]

Told you H&S is a better skimmer :lol2:

Up early or late? I am stuck in China, gov locked down some of the other sites I visit.

Don't forget to swing by Taiwan for the Thorntek LEDs
Lock down huh, I told you not to visit those S&M sites. Still trying to get the last weekend off in Sept.

 

[pecan2phat]

So in my situation even though the H&S and Deltec are similiar sized skimmers, why would they react opposite to frozen foods differently?
Also would you leave the skimmer on or shut off the Eheims? I was shutting down both my skimmers for about 2 years on a daily basis prior to changing habits with the H&S but I have noticed the wear on the stainless steel washers on the NW from the H&S. It's eaten through a few already. What causes more concern is that the Deltec does not use any washers between the NW magnet and the bushing and I have already snapped a NW from the magnet assembly once at a $200 replacement cost, ouch...........

 

[Davidl919]

Asm g4 in sump and yes I have to shut it down while feeding, But still happy with its production.

 

[cali_reef]

I can leave my BK300e on during feeding, dry food have no effect but mysis cuts down the foam head. I end up turning it off with the return and Tunzes pumps using AC3's feed mode when target feeding acans, because I typically clean the collection cup at the same time every week (2X).

The Alpha Cone in the same sump behaves the same, no overflowing cups.

 

[cali_reef]

Don't forget to swing by Taiwan for the Thorntek LEDs
Lock down huh, I told you not to visit those S&M sites. Still trying to get the last weekend off in Sept.

I had planned to buy a few and bring them back during this trip, since the aircraft I am on is empty anyway. The recent storm there left the island some what chaotic for a "business visit" and I had to change my plans. I am actually in the city where the big earthquake hit last year, helping the local airline here getting their donations shipped to the island.

As to the event in AC, my buddy Mike's bachelors party is the same weekend and the same place :shhh:. Maybe you should call in sick :lol2:

 

[kimoyo]

I'm a bit puzzled on why this happens with the two different skimmers. Both are needle wheel designs, both use two Eheim 1260 pumps for foam production but the Deltec reacts opposite of the H & S when food containing oils (frozen foods) are introduced into the water column.

You should switch the needle wheels or the pumps and see what happens. If the deltec still overflows, it could be the material its made from. How long you had it?

 

[pecan2phat]

Hey Paul,
Switching pumps would not be possible since they both have different piping glued to the pumps. I can switch needle wheels to see. Interesting about the materials scenerio. I've had the skimmers running up here for about 1.5 years.