Do aquarium loses salt from skimmer?

zheka757 · 09/21/2017, 10:01 AM

If I change my my collection cup every week because it's full, do I lose salt with that dirty water?

zheka757 · 09/21/2017, 10:02 AM

*I mean to say drain my collection cup, not change!

MurphyLong · 09/21/2017, 10:05 AM

Essentially, yes. With that said, depending on how wet or dry you're skimming will affect the amount you're losing. The wetter your skimmate is, the more salt you're losing, but depending on the size of your tank/skimmer, chances are that it's a negligible amount. If you're only cleaning it once a week, it's probably pretty dry.
I tend to skim a little on the wet side, but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into, so I only clean the cup once a month, and pour the skimmate in the yard. (Which is apparently a great fertilizer, my plants love it.)

rtparty · 09/21/2017, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurphyLong

Essentially, yes. With that said, depending on how wet or dry you're skimming will affect the amount you're losing. The wetter your skimmate is, the more salt you're losing, but depending on the size of your tank/skimmer, chances are that it's a negligible amount. If you're only cleaning it once a week, it's probably pretty dry.

This.

That is why it is important to check your salinity often and calibrate your device just as often.

hkgar · 09/21/2017, 10:58 AM

Yup. and from salt creep

Salahunreal · 09/21/2017, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurphyLong

Essentially, yes. With that said, depending on how wet or dry you're skimming will affect the amount you're losing. The wetter your skimmate is, the more salt you're losing, but depending on the size of your tank/skimmer, chances are that it's a negligible amount. If you're only cleaning it once a week, it's probably pretty dry.
I tend to skim a little on the wet side, but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into, so I only clean the cup once a month, and pour the skimmate in the yard. (Which is apparently a great fertilizer, my plants love it.)

" but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into,"
Would it be possible to show with pic how this setup looks like. Interested in the idea but not sure how to implement it.
Thanks.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

jgln · 09/21/2017, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurphyLong

Essentially, yes. With that said, depending on how wet or dry you're skimming will affect the amount you're losing. The wetter your skimmate is, the more salt you're losing, but depending on the size of your tank/skimmer, chances are that it's a negligible amount. If you're only cleaning it once a week, it's probably pretty dry.
I tend to skim a little on the wet side, but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into, so I only clean the cup once a month, and pour the skimmate in the yard. (Which is apparently a great fertilizer, my plants love it.)

That's interesting because any tank water I dispose of is too salty and kills everything. In fact I dump it in my gravel driveway for weed control.

mako61 · 09/21/2017, 11:45 AM

If you dose 2-part I think you also gain a little salinity. Prob not as much as skimmer loses.

Mainly you want to periodically check salinity with a calibrated device. I check display tank when I do a water change.

mako61 · 09/21/2017, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgln

That's interesting because any tank water I dispose of is too salty and kills everything. In fact I dump it in my gravel driveway for weed control.

Yea I dont think you want to use saltwater in gardens/yards. Didnt people in the olden days salt fields to screw their enemies.

hkgar · 09/21/2017, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salahunreal

" but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into,"
Would it be possible to show with pic how this setup looks like. Interested in the idea but not sure how to implement it.
Thanks.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

Not sure how murphy does it, but here is mine. The skimmer is a MTC.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bnp8XMImVYKeGCqY2

Salahunreal · 09/21/2017, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Not sure how murphy does it, but here is mine. The skimmer is a MTC.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bnp8XMImVYKeGCqY2

Much appreciated. Got the idea...

Just fyi, uploading pics or videos, usually i use tapatalk to view forums I subscribed with and its very easy to add video or pic when writing a reply or a thread

hkgar · 09/22/2017, 04:41 AM

I don't like using my phone for the forums. I am an old fart and still use the pc or my lap top so pic upload from phone to google and I get the link.

MurphyLong · 09/22/2017, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgln

That's interesting because any tank water I dispose of is too salty and kills everything. In fact I dump it in my gravel driveway for weed control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mako61

Yea I dont think you want to use saltwater in gardens/yards. Didnt people in the olden days salt fields to screw their enemies.

Well, I've been pouring my skimmate in the same spot for years, and the elephant ears there grow like CRAZY. The ones a few feet away, not so much. The small amount of salt dispersed through there when it rains is negligible, in fact I did a controlled test years ago when I was growing peppers, and I sent in peppers from soil I had added salt to, and soil I hadn't, the salted soil yielded hotter peppers. (They measured a higher concentration of capsaicin.)

hkgar · 09/22/2017, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurphyLong

Well, I've been pouring my skimmate in the same spot for years, and the elephant ears there grow like CRAZY. The ones a few feet away, not so much. The small amount of salt dispersed through there when it rains is negligible, in fact I did a controlled test years ago when I was growing peppers, and I sent in peppers from soil I had added salt to, and soil I hadn't, the salted soil yielded hotter peppers. (They measured a higher concentration of capsaicin.)

What you are seein might be the result of the salt water changing the ph of the soil where you pour it. I know nothing about agriculture but have heard that different plants respond better to certain ph soils.

And, plants would like any NO3 or PO4 that might be in the water. That's what fertilizer is. What are your levels?

Kmiller035 · 09/22/2017, 09:22 PM

Epsom salt does wonders for many vegetables and plants. It takes a lot of salt to make the land barren

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MurphyLong · 09/25/2017, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

What you are seein might be the result of the salt water changing the ph of the soil where you pour it. I know nothing about agriculture but have heard that different plants respond better to certain ph soils.

And, plants would like any NO3 or PO4 that might be in the water. That's what fertilizer is. What are your levels?

I've never checked the levels in the skimmate... but I imagine it's pretty high lol. I don't pour straight saltwater on them, just the soupy skimmate.

hkgar · 09/25/2017, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurphyLong

I've never checked the levels in the skimmate... but I imagine it's pretty high lol. I don't pour straight saltwater on them, just the soupy skimmate.

I meant the levels in the tank

MurphyLong · 09/25/2017, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

I meant the levels in the tank

Are you asking ME what my tank readings are, or the OP?

09/21/2017, 10:01 AM	#1
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	Do aquarium loses salt from skimmer? If I change my my collection cup every week because it's full, do I lose salt with that dirty water?

09/21/2017, 10:58 AM	#5
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Yup. and from salt creep __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

09/21/2017, 11:45 AM	#8
mako61 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 359	If you dose 2-part I think you also gain a little salinity. Prob not as much as skimmer loses. Mainly you want to periodically check salinity with a calibrated device. I check display tank when I do a water change. __________________ Thanks, Mako Current Tank Info: Returning Reefer - Red Sea 525XL, Mitras LX7s, Apex, check homepage for vids of tank

09/22/2017, 04:41 AM	#12
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I don't like using my phone for the forums. I am an old fart and still use the pc or my lap top so pic upload from phone to google and I get the link. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

09/21/2017, 10:02 AM	#2
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	*I mean to say drain my collection cup, not change!

09/21/2017, 10:05 AM	#3
MurphyLong HMFIC Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 331	Essentially, yes. With that said, depending on how wet or dry you're skimming will affect the amount you're losing. The wetter your skimmate is, the more salt you're losing, but depending on the size of your tank/skimmer, chances are that it's a negligible amount. If you're only cleaning it once a week, it's probably pretty dry. I tend to skim a little on the wet side, but I also have a 5 gallon jug that my skimmer drains into, so I only clean the cup once a month, and pour the skimmate in the yard. (Which is apparently a great fertilizer, my plants love it.)

09/22/2017, 09:22 PM	#15
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	Epsom salt does wonders for many vegetables and plants. It takes a lot of salt to make the land barren Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk