Seeking EXP advice on protein skimmers

[dabossinokc]

I have just purchased a Aqua C EV-180 skimmer for my 110 reef tank. I bought the larger one because I believe my bio-load is a bit on the heavy side due to the amount of life I have in the tank. My LFS told me not to run a protein skimmer on a reef tank and I listened to them for now 4 months. Thanks LFS but I have read lots and lots of information and I am now going to disagree with them They have given me a lot of great advice but I think I have outgrown their knowledge level honestly. From what I have gathered a protein skimmer is beneficial in ever way except for taking trace minerals and plankton out of the water.

I have a featherstar(especially hungry) and lots of other hungry tank buddies that like to feed on Fitoplankton. I feed a lot to keep them all happy. Also I do light iodine and calcium supplementation with Kent Marine products, depending on my readings, every Wednesday or more if needed. Sometimes I have to do a light buffer upon water changes about once every two weeks and I use Seachem products to raise my KH. SO.........

(When) and (How Long) should I turn off the protein skimmers in order to sufficiently feed and or add trace minerals and buffers. This is where my research has not satisfied my curiousity. I did read an article that Scott wrote and it stated an hour or two while feeding or adding supplements is sufficient to let it circulate.

Is this it? A couple of hours? If so thats great!

If anyone has any experienced advice, Please pass it on and thanks so much

[tike]

I feed my corals daily and turn off the skimmer for an hour or two and fire it back up again. It works for me!

[Mr.Firemouth]

I use the MRC-6. It is powered by a hammerhead at 1.5" piping. The pump is too big and I will be dropping to a barracuda.
I have always killed the pumps and skimmer for a 2 hour period when feeding planton foods. I allow the powerheads to keep running for circulation but kill anything that can filter. I have been doing this for years and I would say it helps. I set the timer on the kitchen stove so I don't forget to go turn things back on. I would recommend the same thing to anyone who shuts the pumps down with the intent to return.
Also, if you don't mind cloudy water for a couple of hours, liquid foods for freshwater egglayer fry work well. The skimmer will go crazy though.
here is a pic of my new skimmer. I just set up a 180g.