is a protien skimmer needed?

Jeffery Liesse

Jeffery Liesse

Member
Ok so I just received two, 55gal tanks and plan on using one for a display and the other for a sump/refugium. The question I have is if I make a large refugium is the skimmer really needed? I plan on making a 55gal into 3 sections the first half will have extra live rock and a power head to keep flow in that section. The middle section into a refugium and the last to hold the return pump. I will also be making a bubble trap between middle sec and return
 

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beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Highly recommended, and get the best one you can afford to get. If you are setting up a sump, then you may want to consider one that sets in there. If I had to choose between a sump and a refuge, I'd go with the refuge.
 
Kristin1234

Kristin1234

Active Member
beth said:
Highly recommended, and get the best one you can afford to get. If you are setting up a sump, then you may want to consider one that sets in there. If I had to choose between a sump and a refuge, I'd go with the refuge.
Click to expand...

Me too. Wish I had know this when I was setting up. It's now going to be a pita to covert.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Yes, some are designed to be both. So, depends on the system. However, from your description it sounded like you have 2 tanks. Which means to me that you have one for the display and the other to DYI into a fuge or sump, or even both. A 55 has a lot of wiggle room for making it what you want.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I'd also like to add that a 55g is pretty tall for a sump, so when you build your stand, I suggest building it tall so you have enough clearance to work in there.
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
I second the stand height. I made my stand around 38" tall and it was still a challenge to get my skimmer in my 29 gallon sump. If I'd been smart I'd have put my spare 55 under the tank before the stand was done so I could use it as a sump.
 
Jeffery Liesse

Jeffery Liesse

Member
Ok I was just hoping the large refugium would save me the cash with not buying a skimmer but I'm beginning to see they are needed no matter
 
Jeffery Liesse

Jeffery Liesse

Member
And any recommendations for skimmers. And with the two tanks together in guess the total gallons would be around 90 and if I got a skimmer for 100 gal would that be overkill or is there such a thing when it comes to filtration
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
I'd go for a skimmer rated for more than your tank volume. Like you said they are expensive you don't want to spend a lot of money only to find out it isn't big enough. The manufacturers recommend a tank volume but other things will affect that like type of fish, their size, how many, how much you feed them, etc. for that reason I like to go a bit bigger.
I run a Reef Octopus classic 150int 6" on my 125. It is rated to 150 gallons. If you look at the bulk reef supply web site they give the size of the footprint of the skimmer. Decide on your skimmer before you build your sump. Skimmers are bigger than you'd expect and it would be easy to make your chambers too small.
 
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