Can you get to big a skimmer?

[henjon]

Is it possible to skim too much? or to overshoot and get a skimmer that is way to big for your tank??

I hear of people who use 520 gallon skimmers for 200 gallon tanks..

So if i had a 30 gallon tank, would it then be harmful to use a skimmer build for tanks up to 220 gallons ? or would it just result in a super skimmed tank?

[kzoo]

Yes, you can over skim but the rating on most skimmers in my opinion is over rated, but even if you over skim it will only meen that you may need to feed your coral. If you are doing Sps it is almost a must to over size your skimmer. Always better to over clean than under.

[bpd964]

Yes and no. Depending on what you are keeping..

[henjon]

Im keeping zoos ans sps in a rather small tank (30 gallon) and i (admittet) have too many fish in the tank.. I feed plankton every other day...

So if i for instance shut off the skimmer for an hour after feeding the plankton, it should be fine, right?

[jdieck]

Originally posted by henjon
Im keeping zoos ans sps in a rather small tank (30 gallon) and i (admittet) have too many fish in the tank.. I feed plankton every other day...

So if i for instance shut off the skimmer for an hour after feeding the plankton, it should be fine, right?

Yes it should be right but note that if you have many fish you may not need to feed any plankton at all, the fish poo will provide, otherwise you will run into Nitrate and Phosphate issues.

[henjon]

Okay... didnt know that... so fish droppings are the perfect plankton replacement?

[tobyp]

my skimmer is a MTC 1000 it skimmed up to 700 my 200 gal. system seams fine r u looking 4 a skimmer

[jdieck]

Originally posted by henjon
Okay... didnt know that... so fish droppings are the perfect plankton replacement?

Not perfect but do work. Some corals turn brown feeding on fish poo, for that to reverse you need to reduce the fish bioload then feed some plankton but if you keep all the fish is better not to add the plankton as it is overloading your tank ecosystem.