See I told you so!?!?!? Opinions needed.

[reeferaddict]

Originally Posted by Buddyboy

Well, i've tried using powerheads to break up the surface scum, but I find that all it does is push it to the sides. It's really frustrating! Does a CPR-style overflow box skim water from the surface, or just below the surface?

CPR style overflows skim from the surface and will get rid of that... moreso than an AquaClear and certainly to a totally clean level with a couple of powerheads pointed towards the water surface... keeping your surface clear is of the utmost importance with regard to light filtering and gas exchange... Go with the sump... hide the heaters, skim and top off to the sump, and it adds more water volume...

SamW You have a gorgeous tank and I assume that your surface isn't always like that... I will ask what the difference is in DO between scummy and clean... notice any difference?

[Samw]

Originally Posted by reeferaddict

SamW You have a gorgeous tank and I assume that your surface isn't always like that... I will ask what the difference is in DO between scummy and clean... notice any difference?

Thanks. I don't aerate my tank through chopping up the surface of my reef tank. Therefore, the surface scum does not interfere significantly with the aeration in my system. In my system, the aeration is accomplished using an open loop protein skimmer (Currently AquaC Urchin). In the past, before I used this type of skimmer, I had to aerate with a venturi from the Millenium HOB filter. I just measured the DO level in my tank just now with one 150W MH Bulb on and it is 89%. This is the normal level in my tank w/ 1 bulb on at night (w/ no other ambient light). When both lights are on, the DO levels go to about 110%. Without any photosynthesis (lights off), the AquaC Urchin maintains a DO level of 85%. This is an improvement over the venturi which maintained a DO level of 55% with lights off and an improvement over my previous closed loop skimmer which could not maintain a DO level above 35% (probably closer to 20-25%. Didn't wait to find out. I had to turn the venturi back on to avoid killing stuff during this test).

[Dale]

Hi buddyboy,

One simple solution is to buy a surface skimmer made by aquaclear. It has some adaptors to fit various intake sizes and simply splits the intake draw from mid tank and surface. Here's a pic of one attached to an A.C. unit on my old 33G. It cost about $17.99


Of course, it doesn't take the place of drilling but it did effectively remove the surface layer of dissolved organic material.
________
Harley-Davidson XL883

[Kryten]

Originally Posted by Dale

Hi buddyboy,

One simple solution is to buy a surface skimmer made by aquaclear. It has some adaptors to fit various intake sizes and simply splits the intake draw from mid tank and surface. Here's a pic of one attached to an A.C. unit on my old 33G. It cost about $17.99


Of course, it doesn't take the place of drilling but it did effectively remove the surface layer of dissolved organic material.

I second this idea. I have these things on both of my sumpless tanks and the surface of my water is wonderfully clear. Try and hook it up to feed your protein skimmer for added benefit.

[G1GY]

Do you feed lot's of fatty foods?

If you try to use a little bit more dry food like New Life Spectrum you may see this disappear.

Just a thought.

[Buddyboy]

Good point G1GY! But I couldn't deprive my clowns of their MYSIS!

In any case, thanks all the great suggestions!!! Maybe i'll look around for a used CPR overflow. Has anyone tried to fit a 10G tank under their 55G/38G/29G/20G stand? Can you squeeze it in there?

Also, Samw, i'm just curious but what is an open loop protein skimmer (with AquaC Urchin)?

[Samw]

Originally Posted by Buddyboy

Also, Samw, i'm just curious but what is an open loop protein skimmer (with AquaC Urchin)?

I've read that term applied to skimmers before. When referring to a reef system, a closed loop pump configuration refers to a pump that is just hung on the tank to move water around the tank. Whereas a pump configured for open loop pumps the water from one tank to another and the water somehow makes its way back to the original location (through pipes, overflows, etc). When the term is applied to skimmers, it is similar. A closed loop skimmer recirculates the water inside the skimmer and doesn't actively draw water into it from the tank. Water from the skimmer and the tank is passively exchanged through small holes or openings. An example is the Tunze 3110 and all Co-Current skimmers such as the Coralife Co-Current Super Skimmer (airstone driven). An open loop skimmer draws water from outside the skimmer, where the water is skimmed inside, and then the water is returned to its original location.

After having taken DO measurements using various skimmers, I have seen that open loop skimmers did increase DO levels in my tank whereas similarly powered closed loop skimmers did not (meaning the closed loop skimmers couldn't keep up with the oxygen demands of my tank).