protein skimmer
- Thread starter vickilee
- Start date
jcb
Member
In my opinion and those of most in the hobby, including published reef-keepers (also known as "the experts"), using a protein skimmer to successfully keep marine fish and invertabrates is an absolute necessity. Once you begin running one and notice the junk it removes from your system, you'll become a believer too.
I personally use the Remora Aqua-C protein skimmer. It's been running for over two years without fail.
Hope this info helps.
I personally use the Remora Aqua-C protein skimmer. It's been running for over two years without fail.
Hope this info helps.
vickilee
Member
I appreciate your reply. I have read that from the "experts" and want to do everything I can to make my fishes environment the best it can be, but for some reason the guys at my fish store think it's only necessary for a reef tank?????? I dunno why, but that aside I will look into one this weekene.
Again, thanks for your reply and the recommendation.
Vicki
Again, thanks for your reply and the recommendation.
Vicki
bigbonedee
Member
If your water parameters , especially Nitrates were absolutely perfect and you did frequent water changes than you could do without a skimmer in an all fish only aquarium.
If you can afford one then get one , especially after all the gunk you see them pull out of your water.
If you can afford one then get one , especially after all the gunk you see them pull out of your water.
hairtrigger
Active Member
Dee is soooo right. I just switched my oceanic 200 back to a reef from a fish only aggressive... I am deffinitly keeping my skimmer.
And when I did fish only... my skimmer was still a must. It is great for removing dead proteins, uneaten food, and anything else unwanted in your tank.
When you do a marine tank... you want the water as pristine as possible.
No matter what, deffinitly get a skimmer. They are a God-send. If you can't afford a new one... ----.
I run a big Berlin skimmer on my big Oceanic. You just can't go wrong.
And when I did fish only... my skimmer was still a must. It is great for removing dead proteins, uneaten food, and anything else unwanted in your tank.
When you do a marine tank... you want the water as pristine as possible.
No matter what, deffinitly get a skimmer. They are a God-send. If you can't afford a new one... ----.
I run a big Berlin skimmer on my big Oceanic. You just can't go wrong.
dburr
Active Member
Vickilee,
I think in a fish only you should have a skimmer, but if you do go to a reef set up, IMO, it's optional.
The corels can benifit from the "dirty water". I now only run a refugium, LR and a DSB as the only means of filtration. My tank looks as healthy as one running a skimmer. I had a bout with some hair algea, but it is skrinking in size rather than growing. I believe that is normal to have some kind of algea problem with any tank as things stabalize.
You must remember that a skimmer can remove not only organics, but also small pytoplankton and other stuff you may want in the closed system.
This board will give you different opinions as will different "experts".
Do you have alot of fish in your tank? Any corels, mushrooms? How long has the tank been setup? Have you had any probelms so far that would make you think you need a skimmer?
How about nitrates and phosphates, what readings do you have?
How often do you do water changes.
Don't think I'm trying to get you to buy one or not buy one, just that you should look at how the system is running now. If it's not broke don't fix it.
HTH
D.Burr
I think in a fish only you should have a skimmer, but if you do go to a reef set up, IMO, it's optional.
The corels can benifit from the "dirty water". I now only run a refugium, LR and a DSB as the only means of filtration. My tank looks as healthy as one running a skimmer. I had a bout with some hair algea, but it is skrinking in size rather than growing. I believe that is normal to have some kind of algea problem with any tank as things stabalize.
You must remember that a skimmer can remove not only organics, but also small pytoplankton and other stuff you may want in the closed system.
This board will give you different opinions as will different "experts".
Do you have alot of fish in your tank? Any corels, mushrooms? How long has the tank been setup? Have you had any probelms so far that would make you think you need a skimmer?
How about nitrates and phosphates, what readings do you have?
How often do you do water changes.
Don't think I'm trying to get you to buy one or not buy one, just that you should look at how the system is running now. If it's not broke don't fix it.
HTH
D.Burr