Skimmer or not
- Thread starter jensfins
- Start date
forddna
Member
It's entirely up to you. From what I understand, if you have a good skimmer, you can do less frequent or smaller water changes. Not saying you can NEGLECT doing water changes - just that it takes away enough waste to be able to decrease volume or frequency of water changes.
Any time I see someone wanting to setup a tank w/o one, people yell at them that they will need to do more frequent water changes.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong!
What's your stock list?
Any time I see someone wanting to setup a tank w/o one, people yell at them that they will need to do more frequent water changes.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong!
What's your stock list?
T
tizzo
Guest
If you see the collection cup after the skimmer has done it's job, then you would definitly want to have one.
Without a skimmer, you should do more water changes but even at tha,t the proteins that a skimmer collects- floats, so even water changes would have a minimal effect on the actual proteins.
A skimmer is one of those things that has a lot of upsides and no down. So yes, a skimmer should be part of your set up.
As far as which one...
Do you want it to hang off of your tank or do you have a sump?
How big is your tank
and how much can you afford?
Without a skimmer, you should do more water changes but even at tha,t the proteins that a skimmer collects- floats, so even water changes would have a minimal effect on the actual proteins.
A skimmer is one of those things that has a lot of upsides and no down. So yes, a skimmer should be part of your set up.
As far as which one...
Do you want it to hang off of your tank or do you have a sump?
How big is your tank
and how much can you afford?
T
tizzo
Guest
Nah, I'm a reefer at heart. Can't do the fish only, lol. I COULD do corals only. I only keep fish to make other people interested in seeing my tank, lol
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2611435
Nah, I'm a reefer at heart. Can't do the fish only, lol. I COULD do corals only. I only keep fish to make other people interested in seeing my tank, lol
I feel the same way except, I keep fish because some of my corals need fish poop to eat.
http:///forum/post/2611435
Nah, I'm a reefer at heart. Can't do the fish only, lol. I COULD do corals only. I only keep fish to make other people interested in seeing my tank, lol
I feel the same way except, I keep fish because some of my corals need fish poop to eat.
hammerhed7
Active Member
the most important thing about skimmers is not to skimp. A cheap skimmer will be less efficient, and take more adjusting to work properly. I personally would not run a tank without one after seeing what a good skimmer can do. The upside is you could run your tank without one for a while as the initial cost of setting up a tank is high. At first you will not be fully stocked, and your fish will be small. You can always get the skimmer a few months down the road.
espkh9
Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/2611573
I feel the same way except, I keep fish because some of my corals need fish poop to eat.
which corals eat fish poop ?
http:///forum/post/2611573
I feel the same way except, I keep fish because some of my corals need fish poop to eat.
which corals eat fish poop ?
espkh9
Member
i run an octopus hb-100 its a hob and its the best skimmer for my 65 fowlr since i do not have a sump its easy to use easy to setup and i got min for $100..most stores sell it between $120 and $150..anyways this think is absoultely great once set up.. i had a few issues since i set it up wrong but now after the few little things its running absolutely amazingly...look into that.
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by Espkh9
http:///forum/post/2611881
which corals eat fish poop ?
oh goodness lots of them, not to mention the microfauna that feeds corals eats fish poop too. fish only really consume about 30% of a foods nutrition before pooping it out, there are tons of other critters in a well established tank that benifit from detritus.
http:///forum/post/2611881
which corals eat fish poop ?
oh goodness lots of them, not to mention the microfauna that feeds corals eats fish poop too. fish only really consume about 30% of a foods nutrition before pooping it out, there are tons of other critters in a well established tank that benifit from detritus.
kichimark
New Member
Originally Posted by Espkh9
http:///forum/post/2611883
i run an octopus hb-100 its a hob and its the best skimmer for my 65 fowlr since i do not have a sump its easy to use easy to setup and i got min for $100..most stores sell it between $120 and $150..anyways this think is absoultely great once set up.. i had a few issues since i set it up wrong but now after the few little things its running absolutely amazingly...look into that.
. Octopus is great.
http:///forum/post/2611883
i run an octopus hb-100 its a hob and its the best skimmer for my 65 fowlr since i do not have a sump its easy to use easy to setup and i got min for $100..most stores sell it between $120 and $150..anyways this think is absoultely great once set up.. i had a few issues since i set it up wrong but now after the few little things its running absolutely amazingly...look into that.
T
tizzo
Guest
I knew the flame hawk has good poop for crals, but I didn't know it applied to most fish.
Anyway, Jensfins... as far as hang on the back, I have tried 2. The AquaC Remora and the Bak Pak. I actually tried them side by side to see which was better and IMO, the Aqua C kicked the BP's booty!!
No tweaking, more skimmage, jusy all around liked it more. Of those 2, I like the Aqua C, and if I had to go sumpless, I would opt for that one again.
Anyway, Jensfins... as far as hang on the back, I have tried 2. The AquaC Remora and the Bak Pak. I actually tried them side by side to see which was better and IMO, the Aqua C kicked the BP's booty!!
No tweaking, more skimmage, jusy all around liked it more. Of those 2, I like the Aqua C, and if I had to go sumpless, I would opt for that one again.
forddna
Member
I just bought a Bak Pak from an individual on here to use on my QT. I have an Eclipse hood system and don't want to use a sump.
Anyway, jensfins, you don't have to have anything fancy for a sump. Lots of people use rubbermaid tubs, old scratched up glass fish tanks, etc. Look around for DIY sumps on here for ideas.
Anyway, jensfins, you don't have to have anything fancy for a sump. Lots of people use rubbermaid tubs, old scratched up glass fish tanks, etc. Look around for DIY sumps on here for ideas.
groupergenius
Active Member
+1 skimmers are a good thing. As far as HOB (hang on back) types, I have only had a CPR bakpak. It's on my 15 and doesn't seem to remove a bunch. But, it is a small tank that doesn't get fed alot.
In sump, I like my Euro reefs.
In sump, I like my Euro reefs.
batfish 7.0
Member
I have live rock in my tank and I have had it for at least 3 months and I don't have one and I heard they remove good things you need in a salt tank so I am not sure
L
lsu
Guest
I have never understood this question. Why would you not use a skimmer.
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by LSU
http:///forum/post/2612562
I have never understood this question. Why would you not use a skimmer.
There are many, actually, who say they remove plenty of "good stuff" from a tank - in particular in reef tanks. Borneman was doing a study on this but I am not sure it was published.
You can certainly run a tank without a skimmer. And some tanks (particularly low bioload tanks) do not need one necessarily. If this is a community FOWLR with small fish then you may not need one. Predators - absolutely - and if you have a reef in your future (apart possibly from soft corals) then yes as well. But believe it or not, there is valid debate on the use of skimmers.
http:///forum/post/2612562
I have never understood this question. Why would you not use a skimmer.
There are many, actually, who say they remove plenty of "good stuff" from a tank - in particular in reef tanks. Borneman was doing a study on this but I am not sure it was published.
You can certainly run a tank without a skimmer. And some tanks (particularly low bioload tanks) do not need one necessarily. If this is a community FOWLR with small fish then you may not need one. Predators - absolutely - and if you have a reef in your future (apart possibly from soft corals) then yes as well. But believe it or not, there is valid debate on the use of skimmers.
hammerhed7
Active Member
From experience I would stay away from a Coral Life skimmer as a hang on, I had one in my sump and it overflowed often, I would not be able to sleep with it hanging on my tank. As far as in sump I am an ASM fan, but many really like the octopus skimmer, I haven't tried one yet, but have heard enough good things that I will likely try one on my next tank.