Should I get a Protein Skimmer? Or can I wait?

arstarz

arstarz

New Member
We just got our first fish tank yesterday, and are trying to get everything we need for the set up, but we're getting a tad overwhelmed. We have a 55 gallon tank w/ a RENA XP3 filtration system. We plan on putting in just live rock and a few (4-5) fish for probably the first 6 months to a year, then we may start adding coral and what not. So, for now do we have to have a protein skimmer, or can we wait until we start putting in the coral and stuff?
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
We just got our first fish tank yesterday, and are trying to get everything we need for the set up, but we're getting a tad overwhelmed. We have a 55 gallon tank w/ a RENA XP3 filtration system. We plan on putting in just live rock and a few (4-5) fish for probably the first 6 months to a year, then we may start adding coral and what not. So, for now do we have to have a protein skimmer, or can we wait until we start putting in the coral and stuff?
You can wait but you need to be testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The live rock needs to go in first or you will need to cycle the rock in a tub before you add it. As the rock will elevate the waste numbers and that may harm the fish.
 
arstarz

arstarz

New Member
Oh yes, we found all that out the other day. But they never mentioned a protein skimmer, and everywhere I looked it didn't give a straight answer.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Each fish will add to the waste because you need to feed it. So if you put more fish in then the bio-filter can handle then you would need to change something to get the waste to come back down where it would be ok. When I started my 50 Gallon tank by the time my LR and LS cycled I had saved money up to buy a light. Then I added corals that where easy and liked a little waste to help feed them. Then 5-6 months later tired of doing water changes every two weeks I got a skimmer. Choosing to only keep small reef fish that don't need much feeding I could do water changes every 3 months.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I know that last question wasn't directed towards me, but I've always been partial to blue green chromis, any type of clownfish, bicolor blennies, neon gobies, six line wrasses, cardinals, hawkfish and other small wrasses and gobies.
You need to research your fish online or purchase a pocket expert guide before starting to make fish purchases.
Some fish don't get along with others, some do get along but need to be added after others. Some fish have certain needs like sandbeds, certain dietary needs among other things. So, research, research, research.
 
sagxman

sagxman

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by arstarz http:///t/391176/should-i-get-a-protein-skimmer-or-can-i-wait#post_3467780
We just got our first fish tank yesterday, and are trying to get everything we need for the set up, but we're getting a tad overwhelmed. We have a 55 gallon tank w/ a RENA XP3 filtration system. We plan on putting in just live rock and a few (4-5) fish for probably the first 6 months to a year, then we may start adding coral and what not. So, for now do we have to have a protein skimmer, or can we wait until we start putting in the coral and stuff?
If you're going with fish only for the time being, I don't see a problem with you waiting on the skimmer, but I would keep it near the top of my list for future purchases, especially if you plan on putting coral in at some point.
You asked about fish suggestions: If you start putting in puffers and triggers and that sort of messy eaters then you're going to have dirty water. If you're sticking with small, reef-safe fish you should be fine as long as you don't over stock. I've always liked the 6-line wrasse, clownfish (the maroon and gold stripped is one of my favorites), bicolor blenny, dottybacks, there are many varieties of gobbies that are great. Just do the research on what each fish needs and you'll be fine.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I know that last question wasn't directed towards me, but I've always been partial to blue green chromis, any type of clownfish, bicolor blennies, neon gobies, six line wrasses, cardinals, hawkfish and other small wrasses and gobies.
You need to research your fish online or purchase a pocket expert guide before starting to make fish purchases.
Some fish don't get along with others, some do get along but need to be added after others. Some fish have certain needs like sandbeds, certain dietary needs among other things. So, research, research, research.
If you're going with fish only for the time being, I don't see a problem with you waiting on the skimmer, but I would keep it near the top of my list for future purchases, especially if you plan on putting coral in at some point.
 
You asked about fish suggestions: If you start putting in puffers and triggers and that sort of messy eaters then you're going to have dirty water.  If you're sticking with small, reef-safe fish you should be fine as long as you don't over stock.  I've always liked the 6-line wrasse, clownfish (the maroon and gold stripped is one of my favorites), bicolor blenny, dottybacks, there are many varieties of gobbies that are great.  Just do the research on what each fish needs and you'll be fine.
+1 :t^:
 
arstarz

arstarz

New Member
Thank you very much! My book is ordered, and we have been doing a lot of research on fish and their compatibility w/ each other. We plan to start small, then work our way up to the more decorated reef tank. So we can basically save up for the protein skimmer.
Thanks a lot for all of your input!
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
IMHO and IME a protien skimmer is never absolutely needed.
what I do is simply balance out the tank with algae usually macro algaes protected in some kind of refugium. And a refugium can just be a really simple tank partition to protect the algae from the livestock.
If you do that the algae actually recycles fish wastes into fish food. And harvesting the algae exports some nasties like copper then algae has filtered out.
Plus the algae stabilizies operation because the algae actually prefers to consume ammonum before nitrates. Which can actually interrupt possible tank crashes.
but that's just my .02
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by arstarz http:///t/391176/should-i-get-a-protein-skimmer-or-can-i-wait#post_3467780
We just got our first fish tank yesterday, and are trying to get everything we need for the set up, but we're getting a tad overwhelmed. We have a 55 gallon tank w/ a RENA XP3 filtration system. We plan on putting in just live rock and a few (4-5) fish for probably the first 6 months to a year, then we may start adding coral and what not. So, for now do we have to have a protein skimmer, or can we wait until we start putting in the coral and stuff?
LOL...you will most likely get a different answer from as many people who post...so here is my opinion.
The first 4 or 6 months no real need for a skimmer, after that you will see the tank water looking not so perfect. Nothing in the tests will tell you why. Skimmers pull out the extra organic material from the water and cleans it up. There are no tests for what is being pulled out. I keep lots of macroalgae in my display, and while macros are fantastic for keeping nitrates and phosphates away as it is harvested out...it releases constant material back into the system. The skimmer pulls it out, and if you overfeed your fish or coral, algae will result...the skimmer is good for removing the extra nutrients the algae would feed on.
So it is my opinion that you do like rickross and SaGxMAN suggested, and save up for one. Sometime after 4 months and before 6 you will want one.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Agree with Sagxman if doing fish only could put it off, but I wouldn't recommend a reef 4-6 months without a skimmer....You might get away with 2-3 months, which regular dedicated water changes, but why let your water parameters get way out of whack when there really isn't a need.......
Plus by the time the water would get yucky, and you decide to introduce the skimmer to the system the skimmer won't be fully functional, due to break in period and that could add at times another month.....Just my .02
 
sagxman

sagxman

Member
I'll also add, you might come across a situation like I did a few years ago and have no choice but to buy a skimmer. It was my first setup in a standard 20 tall. One day everything was fine, the next the water was so green with an algae bloom that you couldn't see an inch into the water. Water changes didn't work. I bought a new filter that was available at the time that had a built in skimmer. My bloom was clear in a day and I've been a fan of skimmers ever since.
Start saving and plan o get one when you can.
 
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