POLL: Do skimmers remove nitrate and phosphate?

[sixty_reefer]

Let’s just say if this was a sporting event, I would bet on AI to win against this responder most of the time.

In Silico AI 1
Human AI 0

I’m pretty sure Ai lost on this question.

 

[*GAREEF*]

I was leaning Neither but I cast my vote as I don’t know. What I do know is they remove waste from the water that would otherwise be utilized to increase phosphate and nitrate.
But as far as I could remember a skimmer does not remove either.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I know your comment was in jest, I saw it as an opportunity to bring this discussion above 20 comments as I’d like to see also what otters folks think of the pole presented by @Miami Reef.

I also believe that Ai comment should be challenged in order to reduce their use on the forum (even if they are made in jest)

 

[*GAREEF*]

As noted, nitrate and phosphate themselves cannot be skimmed out because they do not absorb at the air water interface.

Organics containing N and P may be skimmable, and removing them before something consumes them can have a nitrate or phosphate reducing effect.

This is the answer I was looking for in my mind…lol
The poll made me question if I really knew and had to think about it.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

My skimmer serves two functions for me, allow me to add to the bio load and help with ph stabilization. Although my bio load is low right now I'm hoping that the reduction of DO will allow me to be on the high side of fish in the tank. I also plumbed fresh air to the skimmer and rely on it for aeration and PH bump with CO2 reduction.
As a side bonus I hope that by removing some DO I get a reduction in N but it's not a primary reason I run it.

 

[Ziggy17]

I’m happy this post came up, as I too thought that my skimmer directly reduced Nitrates in my system. So I learned something. I read a post here that suggested allowing the collection cup to drain back into the sump to raise nutrients. I did, and it did. Once my N rose from .7 to 7 I started collecting and disposing the skim. Nutes are fairly steady again. So for all intensive purposes, this worked for me. I also halted my carbon dosing during that time.

For the sake of simplicity, if the skimmate contains and removes the material that causes N and P, isn’t that the same as saying, yes, it does remove it? Just with an asterisk.

 

[Miami Reef]

For the sake of simplicity, if the skimmate contains and removes the material that causes N and P, isn’t that the same as saying, yes, it does remove it? Just with an asterisk.

If you dose nitrate, the skimmer will not remove any of it.

It helps prevent new nitrate from accumulating. Think of it as a preventative.

 

[Ziggy17]

If you dose nitrate, the skimmer will not remove any of it.

It helps prevent new nitrate from accumulating. Think of it as a preventative.

Agreed, that makes more sense.

 

[rishma]

If you dose nitrate, the skimmer will not remove any of it.

It helps prevent new nitrate from accumulating. Think of it as a preventative.

But wait, if my skimmer removes 1 liter of water and my nitrate is 5 ppm I have removed 5 mg of nitrate! Ha! :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m happy this post came up, as I too thought that my skimmer directly reduced Nitrates in my system. So I learned something. I read a post here that suggested allowing the collection cup to drain back into the sump to raise nutrients. I did, and it did. Once my N rose from .7 to 7 I started collecting and disposing the skim. Nutes are fairly steady again. So for all intensive purposes, this worked for me. I also halted my carbon dosing during that time.

For the sake of simplicity, if the skimmate contains and removes the material that causes N and P, isn’t that the same as saying, yes, it does remove it? Just with an asterisk.

No, it’s not the same.

If nitrate and phosphate are high, for example, no amount of skimming alone will lower it.

Skimmers also won’t impact nitrate and phosphate from fish excreted ammonia and phosphate.

 

[Miami Reef]

phosphate from fish excreted ammonia and phosphate.

I knew fish excreted ammonia through their gills, which could not be skimmed.

But I thought fish mainly evacuated excess phosphate through their poop, which could be skimmed out.

I also thought fish excreted phosphate in the organic forms, which could also be skimmed out.

Please inform me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I knew fish excreted ammonia through their gills, which could not be skimmed.

But I thought fish mainly evacuated excess phosphate through their poop, which could be skimmed out.

I also thought fish excreted phosphate in the organic forms, which could also be skimmed out.

Please inform me.

There’s lots of soluble phosphate released too. That comes via urine;


https://www.sciencedirect.com/scien...excreted in both,Nakashima and Legget, 1980).

 

[sixty_reefer]

There’s lots of soluble phosphate released too. That comes via urine;


https://www.sciencedirect.com/scien...excreted in both,Nakashima and Legget, 1980).

Thank you for sharing this article, it’s always a school day as we scroll through this forum.

 

[euphlife]

Nah learned that lesson.
2 quantum’s
2 life reef
2 of the aqua max
1 of the aquavitro (my favorite)

None of them truly helped. Felt it hurt my bacteria actually.

Cheato dragons and Pom Pom now. Cheato pulled others put in display for fish.

 

[Freenow54]

I’d like to see what people think about this. I’m not looking for right or wrong answers; just vote what you think.

When I say nitrate and phosphate, I mean the same nutrients that our test kits show.

Edit: Please ignore the grammatical error for the first option. It should read “remove.”

I never felt that a skimmer removed either. That being said I felt it removed " waste " by entrapment on the created air bubbles through a vortex action. One thing I know for sure is that it is deadly to fish. I accidently spilt some in the display it killed 4 fish instantly before my eyes. Except my stubborn Clown She is alive and well 20 years after. What it is I do not know I suspect one element is Ammonia

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I never felt that a skimmer removed either. That being said I felt it removed " waste " by entrapment on the created air bubbles through a vortex action. One thing I know for sure is that it is deadly to fish. I accidently spilt some in the display it killed 4 fish instantly before my eyes. Except my stubborn Clown She is alive and well 20 years after. What it is I do not know I suspect one element is Ammonia

The collected waste could have substantial ammonia from degradation of organics in the cup. Ammonia itself is not skimmable.

It might also have been hydrogen sulfide and that would be my bet.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I said yes just because some questions can be both true and false at the same time depending on wording. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I said yes just because some questions can be both true and false at the same time depending on wording. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

But this question only has one wording. lol

 

[Dragen Fiend]

But this question only has one wording. lol

"Do skimmers remove nitrate and phosphate?"​

I meant the meaning behind the words lol.

It doesn't actually remove nitrates or phosphates. But it does remove particles that will eventually break down and become those two. Thus it technically removed nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Miami Reef]

"Do skimmers remove nitrate and phosphate?"​

I meant the meaning behind the words lol.

It doesn't actually remove nitrates or phosphates. But it does remove particles that will eventually break down and become those two. Thus it technically removed nitrates and phosphates.

True, but I tried to ask if it directly removed those inorganic nutrients. I could have worded it better.