Ah yes, discussion, debate, test, measure results, report, discuss, debate, come to conclusion once and for all. Sounds great! However, I see a problem before it begins and this is part of the discussion at the beginning, right? Let's call what it is we want to remove by either method of skimming "
matter" for lack of a better word. We could simply call it "
skimmate" except the resulting difference between wet and dry skimmate will be excess water and that's not what we want to measure. We are trying to remove "
matter" and for this discussion we are trying to measure which method, wet or dry skimming, will remove the most "
matter" not total volume of "
skimmate", correct?
Let's assume all other factors are equal,
and they should be, except the difference between the wet and dry skimmate. The wet skimmate will, by it's very nature, have more water volume to it. That water will have less of the substance "
matter" we are hoping to pull out of our system because by volume you have the "
matter" we are looking for plus excess water. It isn't necessary to pull out excess water.
That fact actually is the answer to your test. In order to remove x amount of matter wet, you have to remove x plus the amount of extra water you have in the mix. Why would anyone want to remove extra water. It simply dilutes x, takes up volume in the collection cup and makes you add water to replace what you are removing. Doesn't make any sense to skim wet to me. That brings up another flaw to overcome.
When you dehydrate the two skimmate solutions, the wet skimmate will have more substance volume because it will leave behind salt from the skimmate solution, not just the "
matter" we are looking to remove. So, in my humble opinion the test isn't going to result in an accurate answer and the debate will continue long into the future. I do have a suggestive solution to the debate. Whether you want to hear it or not, you know I'm going to give it to you.
Let the advocates of either method use the method of their choice. Hmmm, no need for a test doing it that way. Besides I've had
skimmers that by design or flaw have produced wet or dry skimmate and I'll take the dry, thick, scummy, smelly, rotten junk as being the most important "
MATTER" to remove from my system and do regular water changes for replenishing my water.
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a scientist and my method may be crude but I'll put my dry skimmate up against any wet skimmate any day. And, that's my word. What's your's?
