Is there such thing is over skimming

[macdbguy]

I am planning a new build. Getting back into the hobby after 5 years away. I have a brand new in the box Schuran Jetskim 150 which is good for up to 220 gal (1000L) tank but I am only planning for 45-50 gal tank with 25-30 gal sump. Does anyone have an opinion on if this is too much skimmer for the set up? Is it possible to over skim??

[WarDog]

It doesn't have to run 24/7. Run time can vary for your nutrient extraction needs.

[albert_dao]

Your skimmer may not be able to build a sufficient foam head to do anything aside from coating the neck of the cup.

[fishguyxd]

Hi Sorry been awhile can you explain that ( needing more foam in skimmer) ? thanks

[Goomba]

A skimmer can be physically over sized and not make the oily, soapy looking foam to push it out into the cup, as mentioned it will just kinda fizz and deposit on the neck of the skimmer. It sorta still works, just not as intended.

It could also be over rated for the size of the aquarium meaning it will strip far too much out of the water under normal operations. It is possible to break the food cycle for your corals by extracting too much bacteria and planktonic life stages from the water column which may give you trouble down the road with a fully stocked tank.

I encountered this problem when I upgraded my skimmer, my LPS like chalice and micromussa suffered until I dialed it waaaaaay back from what I was used to.

[Dearth]

This is a question that every hobbyist has struggled with at least once in their hobbyist career.

Is it possible to over skim your tank?
The short answer is yes
The long answer is while it is possible to over skim it is unlikely you will as most hobbyists like to put a lot of livestock in their tanks which creates a bioload which your skimmer will struggle to keep up with at the best of times which is why it is suggested that you never use one rated for your tank size always go one or two steps higher than your tank rating (ie. you have a 75 gallon tank skimmer is rated for 75 gallons upsize to 90 gallon skimmer)

[fishguyxd]

thanks for the review and new educating me on the skimmer again. I knew about taking to much protein or valuable thinks for coral already but not enough foam in the operation of it thanks .

[macdbguy]

Thanks for the input everyone. It sounds like I need to down size my skimmer and find an appropriate one for my new tank. Anyone looking for a great deal on a brand new Schuran Jetskim 150?