• Skimat, Flotat, Skimec and in general...

  • Andrea9320

I have long wanted to measure the substance that our foam separators produce. I want to say right away that the color tests, in this case, are all based on my perception and comparison of the original and the tested samples. For electronic measurements, it's simpler, with an accuracy of 99.9%. Here are the results: (A) - aquarium water, (C) - skimmed. ******A******* C SG ***1.024****1.026 Ph ***8.4******(7.9)8 Kh ***6(7)*****(9)10 Ca ***436******421 No3 **(1)*******(5) PO4 **0(0.1)****0.2-0.5 Now it would be great if some bright minds could analyze this data and formulate something interesting (if there is anything noteworthy here, of course).

Maria

People from the neighboring forum suggested:

Omar3497

It's also important what kind of skimmer it is. Yarik, we need to test my mess somehow. Right now my foam collector has started producing very dark brown foam.

John828

I have the same story - only it's not foam, but sludge.

John3187

I would like to hear the perspective of the sheep... Color can only characterize the quality of purification. The chemistry and principle can be the same. I have a clear thought that it's not in vain that people start aquariums without foamers, and they exist solely on removers. I'm also thinking about the first three indicators... why there are such deviations...

Debra6575

The first three indicators are clear: increased density due to evaporation (air bubbles, larger surface area...), and there is also the process of organic oxidation (resulting in a drop in pH). In general, the tests mentioned above are NOT informative at all: a skimmer does not remove nitrates and phosphates! The tests will not show the real picture. P.S. There is no aquarium that relies solely on removers. Removers are just tuning..., providing a 5% increase in success, no more.

Brandy

The levels of nitrates and phosphates are such due to the decomposition of organic matter in the skimmer cup. Stas, is it really that ineffective?

Melissa3820

But not all organic matter decomposes. That's why I say that the tests are not informative. Who is ineffective? Skimmers are effective, removers are ineffective.

Jason

I agree 100+1%. Without a skimmer - no problem, quite viable systems can exist. But with removers, zeolites, carbon, purigen, chemipure... it's self-deception. There is import and export of substances in the aquarium. Import - food, additives. Export - skimmer, macrophytes, breakdown to inorganic substances (denitrification...). What export of substances do removers provide? Yes, I got a bit carried away, not 5%, but 1%, no more.

Natasha

I wouldn't get so worked up. With removers, you can quickly extract all nitrates and phosphates if desired. The question is how much it will cost and what the consequences will be.

Gene1948

I didn't know about phosphate and other removers back then, nor that AMedik is a lousy company, but maybe that helped me create a riff, which was one of the best in the CIS at that time. And although some people from Kyiv ignore me (like on the phone, in DMs), they have also risen thanks to these experiments, I'm happy for them and wish them good luck at the beginning of their journey :-)))

Laura3673

And what removers will we use to extract the nitrate?

Aaron

for example, with an API nitro sorb

Keith7534

I have one question that bothers me - what’s the point of these removers? Why keep reinventing the wheel? It’s absolutely true that everything can be done much simpler and with almost 100% success. Water, rocks, light, and a skimmer. If all of this is more or less normal, the aquarium will be great. All these additives are just a way to extract money. Just by looking at the examples of additives for balling, you can see who and how much is making money from this (the companies producing the additives). Two kilograms of branded calcium cost about 300. I bought 5 kg today for 65 (produced in Russia). Pharmaceutical German calcium costs 70 per kg. Well, I won’t even mention soda...

Diana7891

The consequences were already evident in some posts (I don't want to search, everyone knows anyway). Even from Purigen. Back then, someone said that the best is the enemy of the good. And success in launching the reef is obvious; you just need to approach it correctly and take the right steps. In other words, a significant part is determined by the bio-aspects and the ability to work with them. And the result will almost always be positive.

Michele

Don't get worked up, colleague. I've "experimented" with cheap options for balling (both Russian and Chinese... so-called "pharmaceutical" calcium chlorides and various sodas). They are fine, but when you start using cyanide, you'll return to "branded" additives... or you'll have to look for chemicals with a purity of at least HPLC, preferably USP (which is not cheap at all).

Stephanie4990

Here I blurted out my thoughts... Silence is golden SG ***1.024****1.026 (evaporation) Ph ***8.4******(7.9)8 (organic) Kh ***6(7)*****(9)10 (?) evaporation? Ca ***436******421 (possible measurement error) No3 **(1)*******(5) (organic) PO4 **0(0.1)****0.2-0.5 (organic) Thus, the foam generator does what it should - it captures organic matter, preventing it from releasing waste into the water.

Cynthia6578

Why did you "blurt it out"... It's quite interesting... But the pH-organic didn't quite miss it... Please justify.

John5528

Decay. A shift towards softness. I ponder this.

David2398

No3 **(1)*******(5) (organic) PO4 **0(0.1)****0.2-0.5 (organic) And the better the foam generator works (naturally under certain loads), the higher the levels of nitrates and phosphates will be. Ammonium and nitrites also need to be measured.

Jeffrey496

What is true is true. The accumulation of organic matter leads to a decrease in the indicator. The same moments apply in the skimmer cup...

David953

I completely forgot about them... Ammonium definitely won't work - the scale goes from pale yellow to dark yellow. Although I'll try to estimate it visually (in the evening). Nitrites - the scale is green. There might be a mistake here too, and possibly a significant one. But what do we care - it's a matter of principle! We'll measure it. P.S. I just fed the corals today - I thought the Trachyphyllia would burst and splash everyone. So the skimmate will be of good quality.

Tracy

A colleague for general development - pharmacological purity means that there is nothing better. In two years of use, I have never seen cyanide, and many participants of this forum can tell you a lot about the SPS I have grown, so it's not about calcium but about the hands that mix it.

Sheila

I recommend checking out Alexey Balex's aquarium with soft lighting; there, besides the foam on the diffuser and two 24T5 lamps, there is nothing else, but everything grows, blooms, and smells.

Dana4701

Thank you! I saw it, and as far as I remember, besides the medication on the sprayer, there is a sump with an algae scrubber that is illuminated around the clock. However, there were also aquariums where, apart from the chemicals, there is no skimmer, and they also look quite good, but the volume does not exceed 40-50 liters, Valery (Arelav) is proof of that. I'm not denying that it can live well without chemicals, but for that, you need at least a decent skimmer, which is not always possible.

Rachel9060

What is a good filter for about 50-100-150 liters? And what if there is no sump? And what if the budget is limited? Sanya, don't exaggerate. The budget is a relative concept. "In large aquariums, either Purigen or Chemi-Pure is used." Whose is it - Stas's or Doctor Fish's, or maybe Anatoly's? Just because it's there doesn't mean it works. Naturally.

Heather9815

I once dove into the sea. I turned my head back and forth - no pennyfish, no antifos, no purigen, no carbon. Just stones, sand, and countless various fish that nibble on the grass from the rocks. And that's it...

Christopher1774

I see you are in chemistry - please find another person with a chemistry background who can confirm that the definition of "pharmacological purity" is synonymous with "there's nothing better".... or at least about the use of this term elsewhere, apart from traders who cannot admit the actual purity of the sold product. Then I will agree with you.... And as for my hands, don't doubt, they can do a lot. The fact that you haven't seen cyanide for two years is quite pleasing.

Angel2396

What? The relative one is true. Do you know many pennies for this volume? And what if without a sample? And what if it's a "budget option" and without modifications? I don't know any like that, or they are not budget (Neptun, Deltek, and as the medic says, 1000 is reasonable), or budget ones for refinement (Zhaba, Boyu, what else is there) - so the choice is simple: either the first group from 200 euros and without chemicals, or the second for 50 euros and with chemicals. Maybe there are other options, but I don't know them. I haven't seen any of them in person, I know for sure that Anatoly and Alexey (Sherkhan) probably don't have anything, and I’m not aware of the others.

John3165

Sanya, now calculate whether to buy a pen for 200 currency units or spend the money on chemicals, which I highly doubt will ultimately replace the pen. We can also get Chinese pens; we were lucky with Nox here.

Jeffrey

I don't know where you buy chemical reagents; for example, I can provide the phone number of a company that works (and is located) near the scientific and technical institute for consultation. There, people with a chemistry background can give more detailed answers. Unfortunately, I mainly studied explosives, and that was a long time ago. Personally, I had a 48-liter aquarium, I think, where there was neither a skimmer nor chemicals, and everything was fine! Just 5 liters of water change per week, and that's it.

Aaron

I don't need a phone. Unlike you, I own the subject of discussion and do not allow myself to throw around false statements. After all, we, colleague, are on the forum... and other participants may take any of the judgments as a guide to action... we need to be more responsible towards others... Nothing personal, I stand for justice... P.S. Forgive me for grumbling in his thread.

Shane

It's just an ion exchange resin. (By the way, can this Zorb be placed in the sea?) And how many nitrates can it absorb? I mean, how many tens of kilograms need to be placed in the aquarium to maintain a nitrate level close to 0?

James3382

Calcium may be binding with phosphates; I don't think this is a measurement error.

Laura7633

I want to support Anatoly on this issue; if the balance in the aquarium has been established, adding unnecessary things to it is simply harmful. In my opinion, a good example in this matter is the aquarium of Rey Plataks.

Jennifer7578

It differs! Neither marine fauna nor any other company will use the purity of "farm," and this is evident from the price (German aquarists like to make good profits). Those who buy "farm" reagents not only save a little but also purchase higher quality reagents. All claims about alleged problems when using these reagents are: a) - diversion (attempt to promote their product) b) - yielding to someone else's (not always correct) opinion c) - incorrect conclusions (the problem in the aquarium was elsewhere; remember the joke about the cockroach without legs not hearing?)

Tracy

Stas, you really don't know if it differs or not.

Tara2761

Are you satisfied with your skimmer and the quality of the skim?

Holly

At 90% (10% - for reserve)

Eric5208

It becomes boring with you, E.K... "My experience... my corals..." excuse me for the politically incorrect question: how do you plan to communicate with your grandchildren if you don't hear anyone but yourself? As for my corals, there's no need to worry... everything is growing, fragging, and spreading across the country... many Kyiv residents have seen the aquarium itself (small, unfortunately, but surrounded by care). I think it makes no sense to continue the dialogue... I have achieved my goal. If someone reads this topic, they won't rush to follow your example, but at least will study the issue more thoroughly. Good luck to you.

Holly

By the way, what do you have in chemistry right now?))

Tammy

Do you hear yourself? So what's the difference (between the calcium)? True, Stas already answered... but it seems he's also a fool for using non-branded reagents... Anyone can talk nonsense, but you have zero specifics. You're a strange person; I'm telling you that everything is fine with me, just look at the results... And you act like, so what, you're still a fool. Yes, I'm not worried; I have enough of my own, but if everything is good for you, show it and share your experience. And if you have nothing to show, then just keep quiet... I'd rather listen to Stas or Anatoly; they have something to teach... 90% (10% as a reserve) - Stas, and more details about the reserve...

Mitchell7972

Vodka Everything else has long been finished. I don't pour anything from the little bottles.

Courtney

I don't have any particular complaints about the skimmer. I have no problems with it at all. The only hassle was while I was celebrating the New Year in the Caucasus (for two weeks), a girl was taking care of the aquarium. There were power outages, and the aquarium switched to the backup power several times... In short, when I got back, the pump had burned out. But that's partly my fault: it sucked in a foreign object during startup and got jammed. But thanks to Yura (from Kharkiv), the pump was available, and the skimmer was up and running within an hour.

Cheryl9296

I saw the aquarium - everything is at a very high level, and there is much to learn from it.

Monique1236

I also saw the aquarium, and everything looked very decent. As for the topic, I will say that about a year and a half ago, when it was time for balling, I bought non-branded "pharmaceutical purity" chemicals. After a while, the lower levels started to surge with a vengeance, and the sand was covered with a brown coating. I hoped it wasn't the chemicals, but I only fixed everything when I stopped using "pharmaceutical purity." Once everything settled down, I tried adding only magnesium, and strangely enough, everything repeated itself. I bought it at MAKROKHIM. I convinced myself that the slight savings weren't worth it.

Steven757

Thank you, colleagues, for your words of support. But I think there's no need to say anything here... It's difficult to talk to a deaf person, especially if that person is also prone to rudeness. One should gain at least some enjoyment from communication on the forum... In this thread, during a brief correspondence with an opponent, I personally did not glean anything similar... However, I believe that the truly interesting question of replacing "branded" chemicals with budget alternatives deserves serious discussion with the participation of practicing professionals and "mariners."

James1625

I fully support you. Given that a simple question has created such a resonance, I am opening a new topic for discussion. I ask everyone who has experience or verified information on this issue to share, as truth is born from debates.

Kellie

I now know who wrote the texts for the XXV-XXVII Congresses of the CPSU. So should I measure ammonia and nitrites?

Jeffery7866

Off-topic. Which general secretary's speeches are you interested in? The drafts are saved. I can forward them... I think you've measured ammonia and nitrites a long time ago. You're being modest... Actually, you're doing great... To know means to UNDERSTAND...

Amy1672

I washed the cup before leaving. I'll try to call in two days and do it.

Randall7906

We're waiting... I'm more than sure that there won't be any unexpected numbers there... Aquas is operating in a stable mode...

Amy

To be honest, I gave the animals a double dose since I was leaving for a couple of days. I will also check the nitrates - maybe I will need to make some adjustments.

Heather9815

I often notice the slightest disruption in water transparency right after such feedings. If there is a light whitish turbidity that is not visible, then there is nothing to worry about; the system has worked clearly and quickly, and the state of the biofilter (degree of openness, volumes of LPSs, if they are normal) is fine... so it's all good.

Stephen5841

The water is clear, but the greenery on the glasses has taken on a different look today...

Heather

Yarik, ideally there shouldn't be nitrates in the skimmer, but ammonium and nitrites should be off the charts. Again, with a normal skimmer, nitrates shouldn't be released. Nitrate is the last stage, and the skimmer releases abundantly about 2 hours after feeding.

Phyllis

There are 2 topics on Aqua Logo in the General Questions about hydrochemistry, water quality, and water treatment for marine aquariums regarding this. Or did I miss something?