Help with Skimmers

[MarineDan]

Afternoon all,

Sorry if this has already been asked but I haven't got a clue when it comes to skimmers..
Firstly how do they work?
The reason I ask is because I have a canister filter and have gutted it and gone "old school" it is filled with live rock and works a treat BUT obviously small particals i.e algae (hair) isn't always broken down and can come back through the return and back into the tank.. To some people this works and to others it doesn't but I have had this filter running for a long time and haven't had any problems... I did a water change and aquascape yesterday and have noticed bits floating around the tank. Its very fine but I have noticed it and want it gone!!
Will a skimmer act as like an extra filter and clear all of that? I want my water to become crystal clear again.

Thanks in advance

 

[143MPCo]

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[twilliard]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/skimmers-explained.227824/
This is a good start

Now when it comes to filtration for what you are describing mechanical is what you need.
I won't go into detail here as to why you have algae but a person can control it.
The skimmer will aid in the reduction of organics. Inorganic or organic.

 

[melypr1985]

+1 ^^

Skimmers take out dissolved solids in the water. You need some sort of filter sock or pad to get out the free floating particles you are seeing. The skimmer is going to take out the nasties that are dissolved in the water. It also aide in pumping oxygen into the water which is always a good thing.

 

[dbl]

Todd's link above basically says it all. In very simplistic terms, this is how I explain a skimmer. It may be right, it may be wrong, but it makes sense to me. :rolleyes:

If you've every been to the beach and see the foam wash ashore, that is one way the ocean removes DOC's. That is basically what your skimmer does. The DOC's ride the micro-bubbles to the top of the skimmer, those bubbles pop, and release the "junk" in the skimmer cup. It's not as pretty as the beach, but that is what's happening. It's removing the nasty's from your water column. This is often a debated topic as some use them and some do not. I for one am on the bubble side of the debate!

A filter sock will help polish the water.

 

[MarineDan]

Todd's link above basically says it all. In very simplistic terms, this is how I explain a skimmer. It may be right, it may be wrong, but it makes sense to me. :rolleyes:

If you've every been to the beach and see the foam wash ashore, that is one way the ocean removes DOC's. That is basically what your skimmer does. The DOC's ride the micro-bubbles to the top of the skimmer, those bubbles pop, and release the "junk" in the skimmer cup. It's not as pretty as the beach, but that is what's happening. It's removing the nasty's from your water column. This is often a debated topic as some use them and some do not. I for one am on the bubble side of the debate!

A filter sock will help polish the water.

Thank you for your reply that has helped a lot. Maybe a stupid question but how and where would I put a filter sock and what does it look like lol.

 

[ksc]

Todd's link above basically says it all. In very simplistic terms, this is how I explain a skimmer. It may be right, it may be wrong, but it makes sense to me. :rolleyes:

If you've every been to the beach and see the foam wash ashore, that is one way the ocean removes DOC's. That is basically what your skimmer does. The DOC's ride the micro-bubbles to the top of the skimmer, those bubbles pop, and release the "junk" in the skimmer cup. It's not as pretty as the beach, but that is what's happening. It's removing the nasty's from your water column. This is often a debated topic as some use them and some do not. I for one am on the bubble side of the debate!

A filter sock will help polish the water.

The next tide comes in and washes whatever was in the foam back into the water. You would need human intervention to collect the foam if you wanted to remove the DOC's from the water.

 

[melypr1985]

Thank you for your reply that has helped a lot. Maybe a stupid question but how and where would I put a filter sock and what does it look like lol.

A filter sock is usually the first stop for your water as it drains into your sump. In your case, you dont have a sump so you would probably need a filter pad to go inside your canister. Probably at the top.

Filter padding

Filter sock:

 

[MarineDan]

A filter sock is usually the first stop for your water as it drains into your sump. In your case, you dont have a sump so you would probably need a filter pad to go inside your canister. Probably at the top.

Filter padding

Filter sock:

Thats great, thank you very much :)