Can anyone settle this argument??

[tank1483]

Hey all, i have come to the group to settle an argument between two of my friends. Both are beginning their saltwater journeys and they are arguing as to what is more important: a very good skimmer, or an Ro/Di unit. Personally, I do not know so i ask for your opinions. If you could only afford one of the two, which one would you get and why? Hopefully I could find some answers to settle the argument. TIA

 

[evilbob22]

That is a tough one, but I'd have to say protein skimmer. If you have a RO/DI and no skimmer, you are going to get algae blooms and probably cloudy water too. With dechlorinated tap water and a skimmer, you will get unwanted stuff in the tank, but some of it will be "skimmed" out. You will have diatoms, but they can be controlled somewhat by inverts.
Another alternative, which I've heard of being done by a number of people, is to get the protein skimmer and buy distilled water from somewhere like WalMart or Costco. In the long run it's more expensive, but cheaper in the short run.

 

[tizzo]

I can settle it right now...
If they can only afford one, not both, they should chose another hobby!!
Actually you can get a water report from the local water company and if chlorine is all you hafta worry about then that's fixable. But if there is copper, lead, all that other stuff then the RO unit is more important and you can do many many water changes to substitute for the skimmer. But then your lookin' at the cost of salt...

 

[pontius]

the skimmer is pretty much a necessity. while the RO unit is not required, they will probably have an ugly brown tank if they don't have an RO unit.

 

[teresaq]

I say skimmer. I can buy my r/o water for 25 cents at walmart. it olny cost me 3.00 to 4.00 every two weeks for water.

 

[jedi]

Originally posted by Tizzo
I can settle it right now...
If they can only afford one, not both, they should chose another hobby!!

I might have to agree. If people choose to enter this hobby, they should be prepared to provide ALL the neccesary equiptment.
This is NOT an inexpensive hobby as we all know. I would recommend telling them to start with the RO/DI. This will help establish a good water quality to the tank. Then while they are waiting for the tank to cycle, and getting it set up, they should save and get the skimmer.
Jedi

 

[pontius]

if they do the right amount of research, they could actually make a protein skimmer themselves.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by Tizzo
I can settle it right now...
If they can only afford one, not both, they should chose another hobby!!
I like this answer better than mine.
I was going to say for a fish only the skimmer would be more important and for a reef the RO would be more important.
However, it's an expensive hobby and if you can't do it right the first time it will just be a frustrating hobby.

 

[1journeyman]

imho, you have to have a protein skimmer. I'm amazed at how well mine works.
RO/DI water can be bought.

 

[jjlittle]

I would say Protien Skimmer is 1st for a ro/di is a perk to keep you from going to the lfs so offen for water.Protein skimmer in a nessary item to maintain high quality water in the tank at all times.:jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

 

[oceana]

i agree that the skimemr is the more important of the two
but with that said if he is just starting out he should get the RO unit and then save as quick as he can and then get the skimmer.
i say this because starting off a tank with tap water most of the time causes alot more troubles then need be.
if we are talking LONG term to be able to save for the skimmer then get the skimmer first

 

[cjason3041]

teresaq is ro water really that cheap i just use tap water, if so i will switch

 

[acrylic51]

Have to agree with the RO unit to start the tank off with... Start with good water quality from the begininng...If they are just setting up and going to be cycling the tank they have a bit before they would really need the skimmer anyways....

 

[ophiura]

Well if the answer is "if you can't afford both, then choose another hobby" I'm out.
Who's with me?
I've pieced together all sorts of things...run tanks with just over the back filters and, (horrors, yes) AND tap water. Was it a cover model tank? No, but it was a learning experience, and still an enjoyable one.
Do I have a "wish list" for things like an RO/DI? You bet. But without the skimmer and sump from friends, buying cheap frags, etc...I'd wouldn't be where I am. I'd just still have a smaller tank. No skimmer. Buying RO from the store for water changes.
Some critical things for success in this hobby, IMO, have nothing to do with money. But, it ain't a cheap thing...nor is it a weekend hobby, to be sure.
There are people with LOADS of cash who can by top of the line equipment, and fail miserably. There are people without the cash, who can do DIY or wait for the right deal, and get along quite nicely. Cover model tank? Maybe not, .... an enjoyable hobby and good hobbyists? Yes it can be done.
How many people actually started their tanks out with an RO/DI unit, high quality skimmer, fancy lights, etc, etc??
Get one or the other now, the other later - but more important is to know your limits with the animals you are keeping, IMO. Will you be keeping SPS with your NO light strip and tap water? No. But you can keep certain types of fish without much trouble. Don't over - extend yourself, and work up from there.

 

[cjason3041]

thank you ophiura i feel better now, beacuse i am still starting out... less than 1 year sw and i know i am doing some stuff that is less than desirable...but it is working for now... thanks again

 

[puffer32]

I would NEVER tell anyone to spend alot on their first salt tank! . I have seen this done many times and then they fail at the hobby, or get a divorce and ex gets custody of tank (thats sorta what happened to my 6 salt tanks) all that money down the drain

You can get some good deals on equiptment and even livestock so it doesn't have to cost alot, right here on these boards and afew other sites.I am starting back up with the hobby after being out of it for 6 yrs, and money isn't growing on my tree in the yard. All that said, I believe in having both a skimmer and RO unit, right now, I only have the skimmer, and can also get water for next to nothing at walmart, so untill i find a great bargain on an RO and give my bank account time to build back up alittle, I will use walmart water. But i wouldn't part with my remora skimmer.
cjason, if you really want to try this hobby and don't have a money tree, shop around , it might take awhile to get the necceities, but you will find them, I did!

 

[1journeyman]

imo you are more likely to fail if you start off with less equipment.
Now, as I've said, I wouldn't go with an RO/DI unit at first (but this is because I can get quality water a block away from my office at 30 cents a gallon); But I definitely would not start a tank without a protein skimmer.
Save up and get into the hobby when you can. You'll save more money in the long run by only buying equipment once...

 

[tizzo]

If you research these pets, learn what you need to give them optimum living conditions, and still don't heed what you learn, that is IMO, an irresponsible pet owner.
Kinda like I want a dog but can't afford a dog-house for it. I have no business owning that pet ESPECIALLY when it's previous owner was the best care provider in the world (ocean) with the exception of predators.)
Now, there is nothing wrong with do it yourself. Heck, the fish can live in a wooden box that's insulated and water proof D ), the fish don't care what the equipment looks like, but it had better do it's job!! The actual water they live in should be as clean as it can be, now some of us hafta go to the LFS or wal mart and some of us find good deals in the classifieds but the end result is the same.
Ophiura, I have never seen your tanks, they ugly ones you claim to have had, but I am willing to bet there was no copper, or lead in them. I am willing to bet that even though you couldn't afford all the high tech stuff, that you found a way to be a responsible pet owner. May have taken more work, but I am willing to bet you did it.
Tank1483, is going to the LFS or wal-mart an option for you?? If so then by all means get the skimmer. Or make one. But look for deals. Heck I just traded a piece of LR and some frags for a skimmer for my QT. What ever you decide...be patient!!

 

[jedi]

IMO, and in this specific situation, we are talking about someone who is "planning" on starting up a Tank. Well, if they are planning, then that plan should include getting all the neccesary equiptment.
I did not have "all the equiptment" when I started, but boy I wish I did. I think that is more the issue.
If people did take the time to plan, purchase, then build the tank, the hobby would be more enjoyable to them. This would also cut back on the losses of fish due to poor water, poor or inadequet(sp) filtration, and lighting issues.
And in lowering losses, and increasing the stock of fish, well...$$ go down.(in my dreams)
Back to reality, everyone here preaches "patience" &"this is not a hobby to rush at" well I say take the time to be patient before filling the tank.
And i completly agree that DIY and "auction sites" are a great way to get the basic things needed for the succes of your tank.
We all need to learn yes, but who says we always have to learn the hard way. I did that as a kid, and I learned that now if I do listen to others, things can be easier...
Jedi

 

[ophiura]

Any emphasis on making a plan is very good advice. I still have my plan for what I need to buy when I can. But there are ways to do this without having an RO/DI at home, or even a skimmer. People need to plan what they can keep, and stay within those means (which is usually where they fall on their face).
Heck, then people buy a skimmer they can afford and all they hear from certain people is "that's a piece of crap, you need to buy this $200+ skimmer." Its frustrating to separate the fundamental advice from a lot of the attitude.
But to imply if you can't afford a skimmer and RO unit from the start (and what else should we add?) that you shouldn't be in this hobby at all is a bit overboard, IMO. Do they help? Most certainly. Do they make life easier? Most certainly. But should they stay away otherwise? I don't see why if they can afford a basic set up and only keep hardy fish and work up from there.
Keep a smaller tank, buy RO from the store, do frequent water changes...stay within your limits.
I wish I had all the best equipment from the start too, but it didn't happen, and it won't, I expect, for most people. I am far from the "best" equipment. When I started, I had a 10g with an undergravel filter, white aquarium gravel, and a hang on filter with some damsels. I knew NOTHING. Nothing about cycling or anything. That was 10 years ago. I killed a couple of things (mostly damsels), which was all I could afford, and learned from there. Now I can explain to people from the start how to do things differently, and they can start higher up on the learning curve. But if they don't understand the workings of a basic tank, no fancy fangled equipment will save them, IMO. It might slow the fall....
People who should stay away, IMO, are the one's who have all the money and think they can buy their way into what they want against all advice to be patient, etc. I think when you don't have a lot of money, you are forced into a certain degree of patience, and you may appreciate and research more of what you want.
Anyway, all I am saying is - if you can afford it all, get it. If you can't, know your limits within the hobby...make a plan...find the deals....but you can still be in the hobby.