Skimmers and trace elements

[bob a.]

I have a 92 gal tank that is primarilly a fish tank but has some inverts including hermits, turbos and peppermint shrimp. Will eventually try some soft corals but that is down the road. Filtration is an Ehiem canister with biologic media and there are (2) 301 powerheads circulating water. About 20 lbs of live rock and crushed coral bottom. Tank is about 6 mos old.
I want to add a skimmer because I think it will help the overall health of the tank and have read a bit on how they work. I do have a question about what I was told at the lfs though. I was told that skimmers remove the trace elements out of the saltwater. I can buy that if we are talking about anything that has bonded to the proteins that the skimmer removes, but I thought that most trace elements were minerals that were dissolved in the water and can't see how they would be affected. Enlightenment would be appreciated.
And, oh by the way, does anyone have a recommendation for a good hang on the back skimmer that is less than 3.5" deep? Considering the cpr bakpak 2, remora or read sea prizm(small one). Thanks in advance.

 

[new]

not sure about trace elements but i have a kent nautalis and the manual stated that most skimmers will not remove phytoplankton.

 

[wamp]

Your answer from me is an arguable one.
Yes, they do remove trace elements. Will it strip the tank of necessary ones.. No... Will you need to suplement for lost ones.. no..
You will get alot of opinions based on limited facts with your question. In general, most people agree they remove some, and they also agree that it is in no way detrumental to the tank.
wamp

 

[bang guy]

Wamp is right (as usual). I have proof
Results will be published with Dr. Ron's tank export study in a few months.

 

[saltyrich]

I'd go with the remora. I love my Bak Pak, but it won't handle anything over a 55. I'd bet good money that the prizm won't adequately skim a 92 either.

 

[bob a.]

Thanks for the replies. The more I get into this hobby, the more varying opinions I come across. I am leaning toward a remora pro at this point, think I found one for about 190 online. Thats less than the msrp which most places want to charge.

 

[wingnut]

the best skimmer to buy would be the prizm skimmer (price vs abilty) ive herd many good things about it and yes skimmers remove element primarly iodie not enough to worry about just keep your testing up and you will be fine the outhe thing about a bac pak systems most have a bio filter built in witch is good

 

[bob a.]

I've been to all the fish stores in the Tidewater area. We bought the tank and CC from Animal Jungle, live rock from Fish Safari and the filter/heaters from care-a-lot. Best prices at care-a-lot, but not the best selection. Barry at AJ gives us lots of advice, but he's the one that told me about the trace elements and skimmers. Leroy's store has the nicest stock locally, but he seems very high on equipment. Quoted us about 350 on a 36" JBJ light. Going to FS tonight to look for a couple of pieces of LR.
Can get the prizm locally at care a lot for about 80, havent seen the remora at all, probably will order it online in a couple of weeks at ffexpress.com. They seem to have it at less than MSRP,

 

[rkm]

I have the new updated prizm back pack style skimmer. It is on my 75 and works great. I have owned it for 2 months now. I did have to go back and get a top water skimmer to add to it. Works even better now. Mine will support up to 100 G the older one was 90 and I also have the new impeller design, for quieter operation. The reason for the post is that I am getting rid of it. I bought it from a lfs. I know I got ripped. I have $150 in it with the top water skimmer. I have searched the net and found the $75-80 one but it was for 90 gal and the older unit. I have found mine for 99.99. I would like to get $75 shipped to your door. The reason I am selling it is because I bought a sump that had a skimmer in it.
I have not seen the Prizm top water skimmer available frome anyone yet. It has been talked about but I've never found it in stock. So I made my own with a Aqua Clear surface skimmer. It works great. It looks like new its only 2 months old. If you are interested $75 shipped e-mail me at rmiller@ chesapeake.net
thanks
Ryan

 

[bob a.]

Went to FS on friday and picked up another 20 lbs of LR, a hippo tang and ordered the remora pro. He gave me a price of 195 on it (told him the best price I saw was 190 and about 5 shipping) so I cant complain about that. Leroy says he'll have the skimmer in about a week. Got it with the RIO pump, heard less than great things about that, but had to draw a line in the sand somewhere.
His LR selection was OK, we got some flat pieces of Figi that we used as a base to bring the height of the pile closer to the top and farther to the back of the tank to give it the feeling of depth that it needed. Since we already had about 20 lbs in there along with some base rock, I made a support out of some 3/4" pvc and used it to prop up the back of the two flat pieces. Worked well after a couple of trys.
Hippo was only 24. He had a tank of em a week ago, only two left on friday. Very nice looking fish.