Skimming wet vs. dry?

[JJ4417]

What is the difference, benefits, your preference? Why do people not do both?

In a LFS the other day, talked to the guy about his set-ups, and on each and every 'display tank' (6 of them), he was running two skimmers. I forgot to ask...

[old salty]

Other than skimming wet keeps the skimmer a bit cleaner (less build up on the neck), I don't notice any difference as far as the tank is concerned. There aren't fewer floating particles, there isn't more algae, corals don't change color, etc...

[JJ4417]

So no reason to use one vs. the other?

What does it actually mean, wet skimming and dry skimming?

[doubletap4311]

wet skimming is produced by allowing more clearish bubbles, skimate to be produced. dry skimming is when you cut back on the adjustment and your skimmer produces more of a dark green skimate than that of a more clearer fluid when skimming wet.

[cloak]

I always thought the proteins were attracted to the bubbles. Open the venturi.

Both can work though.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The answer depends on what you do to cause the two different types, but if all you are doing is allowing a wet foam to drain more to produce a dryer foam, then the wet foam will remove a bit more organic material (because some drains away), but the efficiency is greater with dry foam in terms of organic removed per unit of salt water removed. I try to produce a wet foam and then replace it with new salt water, combining a water change with skimming.

I discuss skimming in detail here:

What is Skimming?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php

[JJ4417]

Cool...thanks Randy...I think I've got about 17 articles of yours on water chemistry to read as well.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.