Colors of skimmate?

[jovreef]

Has anyone ever done a study on skimmate & what might be the reasoning behind certian color skimmate?

I'm really curious to know why its different colors!!!

Example: The tanks at rainforest cafe in FL had 2 systems. System 1 always pulled out brown skimmate while System 2 pulled jet black & sometimes a dark green. Both systems were the same water volume & were dosed the same chemicals at the same time, same salt used on both & same RO water, Why the color variations?

My personal tank has pulled brown skimmate until recently, now its jet black...

I've seen other's systems pull green, brown, & black alot, I've even seen one pull out a rusty red skimmate.

[Aquaman_68]

Has anyone ever done a study on skimmate & what might be the reasoning behind certian color skimmate?

I'm really curious to know why its different colors!!!

Example: The tanks at rainforest cafe in FL had 2 systems. System 1 always pulled out brown skimmate while System 2 pulled jet black & sometimes a dark green. Both systems were the same water volume & were dosed the same chemicals at the same time, same salt used on both & same RO water, Why the color variations?

My personal tank has pulled brown skimmate until recently, now its jet black...

I've seen other's systems pull green, brown, & black alot, I've even seen one pull out a rusty red skimmate.
Darker the skimate heavy the organics the skimmer is pulling out......On the two systems you speak of in the past....One tank probably had more algae in it hence the color.....

[jovreef]

Ok, so what does green or red skimmate mean?

Does the tanks with more algae pull brown or darker? I'm seeing less algae & darker skimmate on both of these systems I speak of...

[Aquaman_68]

Ok, so what does green or red skimmate mean?

It's pulling out green & red algae that is in the water column

Does the tanks with more algae pull brown or darker? I'm seeing less algae & darker skimmate on both of these systems I speak of...

Darker skimate = heavy organic load...

[broadwave]

Doesn't also have to do with how the skimmer is tuned as well? For example.... I run a wetter skimmate, it's ice tea brown and more collected....or running a dryer skimmate with less in the collection cup but darker skimmate??

[Aquaman_68]

Doesn't also have to do with how the skimmer is tuned as well? For example.... I run a wetter skimmate, it's ice tea brown and more collected....or running a dryer skimmate with less in the collection cup but darker skimmate??
Absolutely...But with that you must also consider what is not being removed due to tuning & the build up in the tank in general.
It can be darker cause the organics are more concentrated as well. You have to consider the ratio on the amount of skimmate being removed. IE: If your removing a half cup of liquid every two weeks then thats a different animal but it still will mean (if your not removing enough it will begin to build up) There are other methods for mesuring skimmate as well.... Salinity etc etc...

[ReeferMedic]

Jov, were they using the same style skimmer on both systems?