Mechanical or Skimmer?

[superdust]

I just received my shippment of lr today. It was suppose to be delivered yesterday and lets just say things got a little confused and thus i was given credit for shipping $72! Since I have this credit i was thinking....i was going to go filterless and skimmerless but with the extra cash...i thought about getting a skilter 250 to help with the break in and circulation. OR? should i go with a prizm? I know many of you dont use a skimmer so i thought the skilter i could use charcoal occasionally and etc. What do you all think??
Thanks,
Dustin

 

[fshhub]

hoe big is your tank?
i personally don't use either, but i have done alot of research on them, IMO, i would look at a bakpak, if possible, thhat IMO is a much better skimmer than the other 2, but if i had to choose between the 2 i would say the prizm(they seem to be better then they were), but as i said the bakpak(for under 200$) would be a better choice for anything under 75 gallons(and don't believe the rating by the manufacturer, iwould not use any of the 3 on a 90 gallon)
HTH

 

[superdust]

The tank is 55gal i eventually want to go filterless because i dont plan to have many fish i just thought that one of the two might help during the early months. Thanks

 

[fixitdude2001]

Superdust, In our reef , I use no mechanical at all. No floss,no carbon,no pads. The only thing I run is my SKIMMER. The live rock and sand does all my filtration and, the skimmer removes all the organic waste. After monthes of doing my tank this way I have found so many new critters and so much more life growing that it is amazing, and water is in the best shape it has ever been in,also crystle clear...fixit

 

[nm reef]

Superdust.....going skimmerless is a very real possibility but personally I would not do it initially........my system was up and running for 10 months before I removed my bac pac 2r.........if this is a new system I'd suggest that you let it cycle ......add a good skimmer( I like the cpr bacpac.....then let the tank mature and stabalise prior to attempting to go skimmerless

 

[superdust]

This is a new system, but i have heard people say on this site that they have been skimmerless from the beginning. I hate to pay 80-150 for something i can take off in less than a year. I plan on going EXTREMLY slow so i dont think i will have large problem.

 

[fishfreek]

NMreef, do you use macroalgae as an export in your sump? Just curious, i didn't know you were running skimmerless.

 

[flydan]

Hey,
Just an idea for you.... I run my skimmer on a timer so I only skim at night. I feel that gives me the best of both worlds. I feel a skimmer is necessary.
Dan'l

 

[ironreef]

IME cpr is good skimmer for a 30g- for a 55g it's small but since you don't want good skimming you my want it. its a good skimmer well built just overrated. I prefer heavy skimming. I had a skimmerless tank but my corals grow faster in a skimmed tanks. I tend to feed good. I have 3 types breeding snails,mass pods and worms in a heavy skimmed tank a large becket skimmer = a real skimmer. But i also use a 20g alga refugium to breed bugs. But I have 3 large pumps the migh travel through. One for sure. But they are much smaller than the impellor. I put brine in my refugium 7feet away they ended up in my main tank swimming and brine is larger that alot of pods. But my point is I prefer skimming as an issurace if you use a bac pac you will be grossly under rated but I would try that. If you can maintain alga free tank over ayear I then would shut it down. But a skimmer in the first 3-4 months is a blessing cuz your gonna have alot of blooms if starting of new. if you want to go skimmer less set up an alga tank from the start if you have room. The caulerpa is a great filter. But ime Just go with caulerpa and cheap sand. You will have the same effect as the mud

 

[dinhouse]

"NMREEF" first off i want to tell you that you have a beautiful tank. second i wanted to ask where did you get that red mushroom? I have never seen one in that color. Are they very expensive thank you

 

[hondo]

I would go with the Prizm. I currently have a prizm on my 50gal and a CPR bakpak 2r on my 37. they both skim about the same but the prizm is easier to maintain. the CPR comes with a POS rio pump that needs to be cleaned monthly or it will seize up (not to mention you have to look at the power head sitting in the middle of your tanks back wall). also the CPR is considerably more expensive but doesn't work any better, you end up paying for the biobale chamber which is a nitrate factory that you will remove later on. Save yourself some $$$ and go with the prizm.