Can you dump skimmer waste down the toilet?

[KellyCorals]

My wife is worried about me dumping my protein skimmer waste down the toilet because she’s afraid it might upset the balance in the septic system. To me it looks like sh** and smells like sh** so naturally that’s where I think it should go. Or am I wrong and should dump it in the grass...somebody help me before I get yelled at again

 

[cloak]

Yes.

What your family is flushing down the toilet each day doesn't even compare to what that skimmer is crapping out.

 

[solitude127]

poop is poop and should go down the toilet.

 

[mike550]

that’s a great idea!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do all the time

 

[Mastiffsrule]

My wife is worried about me dumping my protein skimmer waste down the toilet because she’s afraid it might upset the balance in the septic system. To me it looks like sh** and smells like sh** so naturally that’s where I think it should go. Or am I wrong and should dump it in the grass...somebody help me before I get yelled at again

Hi,

Here‘s a funny little story to save in an emergency if she yells about where you dump it. My wife used to say don’t put it in toilet, And we are on city sewer. Whenever she got on me to bad I start emptying it in the kitchen sink. I pour it into the disposal but didn’t rinse it down and I don’t rinse the cup. And I walk real slow accidentally blowing across the top of the cup as I walk. After the house smells a quick flush will be heaven.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Just put it in the wife’s coffee cup and call it a day. I rinse mine in the kitchen sink. There may or may not be dishes present

 

[rob taft]

Have a septic system, I don't worry about flushing skimmer waste down the toilet or sink. Lots of other things can negatively impact the performance of your septic system but skimmer waste isn't one of them.

 

[Kris 2020]

Worry more about water change water and rodi waste going into the septic...skimmer waste is fine.

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

I water my plants outside with it.

 

[SeaDweller]

Y’all throw it away? I reduce it down on the stove to make a thick roux with flour. Fish butter.

 

[Pistondog]

My wife is worried about me dumping my protein skimmer waste down the toilet because she’s afraid it might upset the balance in the septic system. To me it looks like sh** and smells like sh** so naturally that’s where I think it should go. Or am I wrong and should dump it in the grass...somebody help me before I get yelled at again

Its about the volume. Skimmer crud <<< normal waste < 150 gallons/day for a family of 5.
Careful where you put the old water change water. I was draining it outside the closest door. This year the crab tree has reduced foliage.
Doh.

 

[KellyCorals]

Just put it in the wife’s coffee cup and call it a day. I rinse mine in the kitchen sink. There may or may not be dishes present

The best part of waking up is fish juice in your cup! LOL

 

[mfinn]

I wouldn't worry about skimate in the septic tank.
I have been dumping my water change water in mine for almost 30 years.
Sometimes as much as 100 gallons every 2 weeks.
My septic system is fine. I've had it pumped multiple times and there has never been a problem.

 

[Pistondog]

The best part of waking up is fish juice in your cup! LOL

Good to the last drop.;Meh

 

[Thespammailaccount]

The best part of waking up is fish juice in your cup! LOL

Lol brilliant trying to think of something witty but you definitely have me beat

 

[1fishkeeper]

If you have ever eaten Taco Bell then I’m sure you have put something worse down your toilet then your skimmer can put out.

 

[Kris 2020]

The best part of waking up is fish juice in your cup! LOL

 

[ca1ore]

The bigger potential problem is the salt water from water changes. Most septic tanks are concrete, which does not take kindly to the corrosive affects of salt.

 

[92Miata]

The bigger potential problem is the salt water from water changes. Most septic tanks are concrete, which does not take kindly to the corrosive affects of salt.

Its really not a big deal unless you've got a ton of reef gallonage.

Dropping 20 gallons of salt water into a 1000g septic tank that typically has 750 gallons of water in it and has about 500 gallons of water a day going through it just isn't meaningful.

There are a couple of states that require the waste line of softeners to be discharged into septic tanks - and they don't seem to have any higher failure rates than any other states.


The one thing I wouldn't do is dump about 500 gallons of salt water into a septic tank all at once - fresh water floats on salt water, and if they don't have time to mix, you'll float all sorts of 'stuff' into your leaching fields.