How to tell if you're overskimming?

[Slick Fork]

Originally Posted by Myka

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One thing many people don't consider when choosing a skimmer is the volume the manufacturer suggests for the skimmer is usually anything from a bit to a lot optimistic. .......

In the end, it is all relative, but that's beyond the focus of your question (I think?), and in relation to the question I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

On the other hand, in my experience, I have found that most LPS and softies do better with an under-performing skimmer or even skimmer-less setup.

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+1 On Slick,
There is still a large amount of research to be done on the relationship between coral feeding and coral photosynthesis (And how it pertains to coral growth/ homeostasis). As skimmers remove both bad and good substances from our water to over skim could result in removing to much of that good stuff.

If your looking for a good read on the composition of skimmate here you go:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature

This is turning into a great discussion with some really good links!!

I agree 100% that manufaturers overrate their skimmers, as they do with everything else they can slap a rating on, but you're right... it's beyond the scope that I want this discussion to follow, there's lots of threads out there discussing the ins and outs of every possible skimmer.

You noted as well, and I would take it to be commonly accepted wisdom that LPS, Softies, Clams, etc. will thrive on "dirty" water that is under skimmed, while SPS prefers "cleaner" water. Yet they can all live together in the ocean.

So the question becomes, why does an LPS wither in an environment created by super efficient skimmers? Certainly clean water can't hurt it, so I would suggest after skimming (pardon the pun) the article ZoaElite posted that skimmers are probably NOT efficient at removing the nasty stuff out of water, and in order to pull enough out to create a "nutrient poor" environment without additives they essentially strip the water column of most of the beneficial microlife that LPS and other filter feeders require. I think to an extent that this is why zeovit, prodibio, and any of these other bacteria based system work so well at allowing all types of coral to thrive... the bacteria is what's efficient at removing nutrients and the skimmer is efficient at removing micro-life. Does that make sense or am I up too late without coffee again?