to skim or not to skim?

[jond]

I posted this question in Equip., but did not get much response. I just got a Prizm skimmmer and could not use it with my canopy. I have thought about just adding another Emporer 280 in addition to the one I have. I have a 37gal. tall with 45lbs. of live rock. Tank is 5 months old. Question is, do I really have to have a skimmer?
I know most will say YES, but I do know people with two Emporer 400's on a 75 for over a year and there tank is beautiful.
What do you think?
Thanks

 

[fixitdude2001]

I believe in skimming, If you could see the stuff our pulls from the tank you would be amazed, and If you want to see some real sparkling water add a UV light, awsume...cya

 

[jacrmill]

i know many people will say yes. but if you think about it saltwater aquariums have been around for a while, and skimming is a new technology. if it is really NEEDED then how did they keep fish in their tanks before they ahd skimmers? so i dont believe you NEED a skimmer but you wont be able to stock your tank as much.

 

[pufferlover]

Didn't believe in them tried one about a year ago now am a believer have 4 now on tanks and they do a great job. Are they positively needed probably not but they do remove some awful looking stuff that my water changes don't seem to even with weekly changes.

 

[luke]

Skimming is not a new technology!!!! It has been around for a very long time. Good skimmer designs are new. But some is by far better than none. The emporer is useless on a reef other than for current (hang-ons are great for that because most use an air cooled pump). Your live rock has enough filtration on board. You should definitly run a skimmer. this is not to say you cant run a successful tank w/o one it just make life a whole lot easier. You either need a skimmer or a reliable bucket for the WC you will be doing
Luke

 

[slk3599]

If you have a low bioload in your tank and feed sparingly,have a good cleanup crew, do regular water changes and equipment maintenance, you can probably get by without a skimmer.
That being said, I use one on all my tanks. They definately help to keep nitrate levels alot lower by breaking down proteins before they can become nitrates.
As to people not having skimmers years ago, saltwater fish live alot longer these days in tanks because of equipment like skimmers, uv sterilizers, wet/dry filters, live rock, etc. Back when I first started keeping fish in the early 80's, saltwater tanks were extremely difficult to keep. If you kept an Angel alive for a year it was considered a success.
Good luck,

 

[jond]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will continue my search for a skimmer that will fit with my canopy. I think the seaclone may, but I know it is not a popular choice.

 

[twoods71]

I use the Seaclone and it works great for me. The newer ones have modifications that help there performance. 1 week after turning mine on I have a cup filling with gunk already. I think the Seaclone works great and does not require alot of space.

 

[thespook]

I too run a Seaclone and one week after i installed it I finaly got it running so it would skim and not put bubbles in my tank. It did take some time to setup. Not sure if this is normal because it was my first try at skimming now every 5 days I have a cup full of foul green stuff that stinks bad. I too though my tank was clean I have a 404 and a tidepool wet dry. I have a good clean up crew and loads of LR. I glad I took the time to get a skimmer and set it up right.

 

[kimmisue]

Jond,
I know most will say yes you will need one but I have had a 55 going since October of last year with no skimmer.
It is a reef with only 4 fish (small gobies)
Oh and one Dragonet(gobie)
My Tank is doing fine the nitrates are at 0.
If you have alot of fish you should have one.
Unless you have a sump set up for your tank..then that should help with the problem.
Again...if you have alot of fish (which for 37 I would say more than 3 or 4) you will need one.
IMHO
Kim

 

[kappadoku]

Back to my theme, GETTING BACK TO NATURE.
There is no huge protien skimmer in the ocean, (can you imagine the sludge it would pick up off the shores of Jersey? )
Anyway, 3 tanks, 2 microreefs and a 90 gallon, all at least 6 months old, no skimming on any of them. LR and LS (deep) are natures protien skimmer.

 

[twoods71]

Have you ever seen the foam washed up on shore after a windy or rainy day? That foam is natures way of protien skimming.

 

[dseiler]

Originally posted by KappaDoku:
<STRONG>GETTING BACK TO NATURE.
</STRONG>
Does that mean it is ok to pee in my fish tank?

(Please notice the sarcasm!!!)

 

[jond]

So, to skim or not to skim? I think I have decided to go with the skimmer. I don't know which yet, but so far I think the Seaclone will fit. I was really tempeted to just get another Emporer 280 and run Cellpore in one side and cleanwater in the other.
Thanks for all the input.

 

[playtime]

My imput is only this. I just bought my prizm skimmer and had to do major reconstruction to my canopy. I am not sure what yours looks like but a hacksaw worked great and no one is the wiser. My skimmer has pulled out gunk I didn't know was there. You'll be suprised. Keep looking. you wont be dissapointed.
playtime

 

[jacrmill]

i cant really talk from experience cause ive never used a seaclone skimmer but i can tell you that ive heard many many bad things about them from this site. just thought id let you know. good luck.

 

[tnreef]

You will not belive the difference in your tank with the addition of a skimmer until you use one.

 

[ironreef]

I like to skim heavy and feed heavy so all my animals are fat. if you don't use a skimmer an alga tank would be a good idea. You should use something that exports nutrient= skimmer/ caulerpa. I use both. i like to grow pods and breed sanils in my refugium. The ocean uses a skimmer with the motion in the waves. if you look at industrial areas the waves have alot of dirty foam it pushes it to the shore.But bottom line is your export needs to equal your input

 

[ceseve01]

Skimming is not a neccesity, but in the long run it is going to save you a ton of money. I have a 30gal with a prizm and an emperor 280 as well and it is doing great

 

[mithrax]

Originally posted by CesEve01:
<STRONG>Skimming is not a neccesity, but in the long run it is going to save you a ton of money. I have a 30gal with a prizm and an emperor 280 as well and it is doing great </STRONG>