Skimmer

[Sheree Klug]

would it hurt anything if I unplug my skimmer for a week while I am on vacations? I don't trust it, very tempermental.

 

[hybridazn]

It should be fine. Just do a nice size water change right before you leave and don't over feed the tank if someone is watching it

 

[sbash]

I had a skimmer die, and until I purchased a new one, the tank (corals) looked dim. Within a day of firing up the new skimmer, everything perked back up again. There were no long-term affects (it probably took 6 weeks for me to replace it), you should be fine...

 

[mcarroll]

I'd give it a test. It's possible that the skimmer is contributing significantly to oxygenating the tank.

Unplug it for a week sometime BEFORE you leave town to test things out.

 

[pondman]

One thing to remember before you fire it back up is to drain water that is in it.

 

[Sgt Jonny]

You should be fine. Remember, the skimmer is a key piece of filtration, but many people run their reef tanks without them. I am currently in the same boat as my skimmer has dies, and I want to redesign my sump before I get a new one. I have been skimmer-less for 2 weeks, and my tank is fine. I have just been more anal about my water changes.

 

[aabjones888]

Just do a water change befor u go and than one when u get back. Is there anyway u could dial ur skimmer back while u are gone?

 

[cb684]

It is possible to add an automatic shut down system so when your collection cup (or other container if you wish) is full automatically turns off the skimmer.
You only need a relay and a float switch (maybe a few other parts...) but here a video that do something similar. In this case it is using the float switch to turn on the pump, but depending on the relay or the positioning of your float switch you can use it to turn off your skimmer when the collection cup level raise to the level you want. That would fix your problem.



I have a similar build but instead of using the relay (bought separately) I use my Apex to turn off my skimmer when a collection bucket is full. This would fix that once and for all, and would be useful not only when you are on vacation but also when you left home just for a few hours.

There are also a few not DIY available, but it would be far more expensive:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-6-waste-collector-with-auto-shut-off.html
Good luck

 

[twilliard]

One thing to remember before you fire it back up is to drain water that is in it.

Pull the skimmer out and set aside while gone.
Is this skimmer in a sump? If so there should be adequate aeration while out of town.