To protein skim or not?

[michael]

O.K. What's the final low-down on protein skimming. My 55 Gal. reef is only about a month and a half old now and I've been told don't worry about a skimmer yet since there would probably be nothing to skim yet. What does a ps actually skim? Is there a test to tell when I need it or not? Is it really needed at all or are there other types of filtration that do the same thing?
I also have ls,lr,a Fluval 304, and two power heads for circulation.
Mike

 

[dhe420]

If you plan on keeping any fish or heaviy loads of corals, a ps will be mandatory... There are a lot of reasons why, just dont feel like typing them all out

 

[got krabs]

I was told not to worry about skimming for about three months after the initial set up

 

[michael]

It seems like no one is really sure what they do. Everytime time I ask someone what they specifically do, they don't know. They just use one because "someone" said they should.

 

[adrian]

youll want a skimmer. You can wait a little while before getting one, but I would not go more than a couple of weeks after the cycle. Its best to start off right and not let organics acculmulate. Skimmers remove organics from the water, organics feed nitrates, therefore a skimmer improves overall filtration because what is removed by the skimmer, does not need to be broken down by nitrabacter. IMO a skimmer is a great piece of equip to have, you can have a tank without one, but with one its much easier. HTH

 

[michael]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll take it.
But is there a certain model that's not to thick? I bought a SeaClone the other day but returned it, for two reasons. One, most posts did not recommend it and second, it didn't fit behind my tank! I didn't think I was going to have one when I first set up the thing and now it's just too damn heavy to move.

 

[rabid seacow]

skimming is a no brainer for most reefers. When I added mine I was amazed at the stuff that the thing actually collects.
Nasty stuff!
And to think that that stuff is in your tank !
Yes it's true that it can rob the good stuff too like calcium and other stuff elements. But adding suppliments is a small price to pay for a healthier tank.
if you want a good budget priced skimmer go with the prism. It takes a little tweaking and break in time but I think you will be very pleased with the results.

 

[fishfreek]

I second the prizm skimmer! Does a great job on my 45g.

 

[adrian]

The aqua c remora pro is a nice little skimmer, slim too so It might fit, although Im not sure, if you cant fit a seaclone you might have trouble finding one that will fit, or might have to move the tank out a bit Wise move taking the seaclone back, you would have ended up eating whatever you paid for it

 

[car guy]

if you have a reef you have to have a protein skimmer, prizm skimmers are are amazing

 

[justyn]

Definately skim after the cycle. I have a Prizm for an 80 gal tank and it works fine. It maybe a little under skimmed but my water quality is fine so I haven't worried about it much.

 

[von_rahvin]

skimming during the cycle is the most important time!!!!! i balanced out my tank in 3 weeks, course i also cured my lr outside of the tank is a pool i had set up for that purpose. Skimmers are wounderful things, (so is 3# of lr per gallon, someday i may get there. need to win lotto first)

 

[mal]

I have an in sump skimmer on my reef tank, and a CPR backpack on my FO tank. I really like the CPR. You only need about 3-4 inches behind the tank to fit it on. I think the prizim is a bit more narrow though.

 

[jond]

The old seaclone has a bad history, but the new ones work quite well. The prizm stands up taller than the seaclone, but it is much narrower. If you don't have a canopy, you should have room for the prizm.

 

[ironreef]

a skimmer isn't a must. But without you may /will need an alga tank for export. But skimming is easy. IME skimming the first year of setup is more important than later. After a year your tank will be alot more stable. 55g i would get a remora. prism isn't very good and i've read alot of ppl complaining after having them for almost a year. Time will tell. but they feel cheap IME. remora is solid. I take it youdon't have a sump? i would add more powerheads if you plan on keeping corals. When my 55g was set up i used 10x return on my sump, 4 maxijet 1200 powerheads and a backpac. I would concider that med current for a reef.= soties ,lps. A sps tank i would put more or may get by by directing the powerheads at the corals.

 

[kris walker]

Don't forget that skimmers also skim out iodine, an important chemical corals use to remove toxic oxygen in their tissues.
I have Lee's skimmer for up to 30 gals, and it works great.
sam

 

[ironreef]

where did you read that? i never knew o2 can be toxic. if you feed your tank good foods you are adding 100-10,000x NSW. Iodide/iodine is being added everyday with good foods. I never dose any trace direct. Only with foods. i maintain calcium,alk and ph. that doesn't get skimmed out. i would never worry about overskimming if you have fish and feed them. Only if you had a 8" 24"tall euroreef/aerofoamer on a 40g then it maybe possible. But most ppl aren't going to spend $400= on a 40g.
[ October 28, 2001: Message edited by: Ironreef ]

 

[kris walker]

Hi Ironreef,
Yea, that struck me as counterintuitive. According to J. Fatherree ("Hard Corals", t.f.h. publ.), oxygen is produced in different forms during photosynthetic and metabolic processes wihtin a coral. Some of these forms are destructive to the corals tissues. These must be neutralized, or the coral will die. Iodine is used to neutralize these destructive forms of oxygen. I don't know if the author was referring to O2 in particular. He may have been referring to other forms like O, but I really don't know.
What is "100-10,000x NSW"? Is this a concentration of iodine?
I didn't know the foods could be a good source of iodine. What sort of foods do you use? I typically use frozen brine shrimp, and sometimes a chopped-up blend of california rockfish.
sam

 

[ironreef]

100-10,000 times natural seawater. You want links of common aquarium foods that have been been tested. I can mail you links. @formula1 has 380ppm Iodide and seawater has 0.05 ppm. I forgot what the sample size was but if you feed your tank everyday you are adding most trace elements.