protein skimmer or refugium

[bryontn]

which one is more inportant to get first a protein skimmer or a refuguim
i have a 125gl tank fish and live rock(35lb so far) using a marineland 350 pro with 2 bio wheels for filtration
fish 5 damsiles
1 tang scopa
1 decorated gobie
planing on getting a angle fish and another tang

 

[mr. limpid]

Protein skimmer
What kind of angle most all large angles will not fit in 120gal. and the ones that do are not easy to care for. Any of the dwarf will do fine. Also you need to go with a different body shape on your next tang or they may be trouble.

 

[sweatervest13]

Hi and Welcome!!!
Do you have a sump? How long has your tank been set up??
Please describe your system in a bit more detail. IF you have a sump already, or the tank is drilled so you can have a sump. The refugium could be set up first, then you could buy the skimmer down the line.
Kind of a tough question to answer with out all the info on the system. A pic would help a lot as well.. Were you thinking about a HOB (hang on back) skimmer and fuge?? This would make a difference on the responses you get.
Again, welcome to the site and enjoy your stay!!

 

[mr. limpid]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bryontn http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3475913
which one is more inportant to get first a protein skimmer or a refuguim
i have a 125gl tank fish and live rock(35lb so far) using a marineland 350 pro with 2 bio wheels for filtration
fish 5 damsiles
1 tang scopa
1 decorated gobie
planing on getting a angle fish and another tang
I would increase the amount of LR this would also help in filtration. Since you are using HOB's I assume that your tank is not drilled. Look into the Octopus BH-2000 protein skimmer, this the one I plan on adding to me 135gal.

 

[reefkprz]

I would go with the protien skimmer first. A skimmer removes a lot more that a fuge in my opinion. so it would be more benificial to skim then do the fuge.
I would also increase the amount of live rock in your tank by a large amount. at least 75 lbs or so.

 

[acrylic51]

You guys go crazy; nuts with this LR stuff......There is no infinite amount or info that supports that a set amount of LR is needed for filtration in a setup.....LR amount comes down to personal preference and design of the setup......

 

[snakeblitz33]

I vote refugium...

 

[bryontn]

the tank is all glass unable to drill hole no sump yet useing a marineland 350pro canister filter with 2 bio wheels thank been setup 4months and been adding live rock slowly trying to get up to 75 lb as suggested. getting some more this weekend 10-15lb
i mostly will have to go with over the back skimmer and refugium dont like sumps to much had one flood my house long time ago will go that way if need be
as for the fish i would like to get a dwarf angle and naso tang open to suggestion want some color ! already have coral beuaty in other tank
i was looking at the coralife 125 hob skimmer or reef octopus hb90 skimmer and ocutpus 18" or 24" hob refugium. think i'll have enough room for the simmer and the 18" but not the 24"refugim if i need both.

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3475958
You guys go crazy; nuts with this LR stuff......There is no infinite amount or info that supports that a set amount of LR is needed for filtration in a setup.....LR amount comes down to personal preference and design of the setup......
true but, he already has one tang and wants more tangs so a good amount of grazing landscape should be provided, IMO. roughly 1 lb per gallon is not a ridiculous amount of LR for a 125g.

 

[spanko]

Gonna agree with Acrylic here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L4mNXS_wkjM

 

[reefkprz]

I'm not really disagreeing with acrylic I am just saying with one tang already and another one in the works ample grazing surfaces should be provided.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3475991
I'm not really disagreeing with acrylic I am just saying with one tang already and another one in the works ample grazing surfaces should be provided.
Actually, I'm going to agree with Acrylic on this one as well...
My reasoning is that with less live rock in the tank there is more swimming room - which is absolutely necessary for the health of the fish. Grazing areas are provided practically everywhere - all over rock surfaces, glass surfaces and equipment.

 

[mr. limpid]

"as for the fish i would like to get a dwarf angle and naso tang open to suggestion want some color ! already have coral beuaty in other tank"
I would not add Naso they grow very big need min. 180gal tank. If you already have a coral beauty it may be difficult to add another angle. You need to have a back up plan if they don't get along.

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3476000
Actually, I'm going to agree with Acrylic on this one as well...
My reasoning is that with less live rock in the tank there is more swimming room - which is absolutely necessary for the health of the fish. Grazing areas are provided practically everywhere - all over rock surfaces, glass surfaces and equipment.
absolutely thats why I was only reccomending about 1 lb per gallon instead of a pound and a half to two pounds, which is where I tend to like my tanks, to leave plenty of open area. there really is no set amount but I would still add more to this tank.

 

[xcali1985]

Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3475990
Gonna agree with Acrylic here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L4mNXS_wkjM
I agree also.... However, I'm a big proponent of having a lot of space for the smaller organisms in the tank to breed and grow. That requires more rock, however that can be added into the refugium not the tank. It's not as critical as most make it seem for supporting life.

 

[beaslbob]

I would go refugium or algae turf scrubber.
and forget the skimmer.
my .02

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by beaslbob http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3476624
I would go refugium or algae turf scrubber.
and forget the skimmer.
my .02

Algae has a lot of benefits for an aquarium - including removing heavy metals, toxins, and processing ammonia - it also adds oxygen to the water and stabilizes night time pH. However, macroalgaes do not remove built up proteins in the water column either - which can be a problem if the tank is heavily fed with a heavy bioload. It's now my personal theory that both scrubbers and skimmers used in tandem with one another can produce some of the best results.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/391748/protein-skimmer-or-refugium#post_3475991
I'm not really disagreeing with acrylic I am just saying with one tang already and another one in the works ample grazing surfaces should be provided.
Supplemental feeding would take care of the grazing your referring too......Really curious as well don't remember seeing a tank size listed as well.

 

[acrylic51]

Sorry recant about not seeing a tank size.....With the fish listed or wanted that definitely isn't a (2) tang tank with a Naso in the mix.