protein skimmer

[nervous nelly]

People are telling me that i need a protein skimmer ... What exactly does this do and why whould i need it now if i been running my tank for about 3 yrs...am i just going to waste money or is it worth the investment...i have a 35 hex tank with a bio wheel filter ...coralife lunar aqualight deluxe lunar series total of 130 w

[nervous nelly]

If the skimmer is recomended which is best for my tank...

[Chiefsurfer]

you do not NEED a skimmer. However, if you get a DECENT skimmer, the money will never be wasted!

I suggest ditching at the VERY least, the bio-wheel from that filter. It is a nitrate factory, and really won't help too much in the SW tank field.

[rbnice1]

If your happy with your tank dont change anything.

If you want to know what is normally recommended as best for a tank thats something different.

[nervous nelly]

so should i replace the bio wheel filter with the skimmer... i would like to do everything right ive had this tank for 3 yrs and never paid any mind to it... i really want to do the right thing..

[artemus]

If you are not having any problems with your system as it is then I don't think you should change anything. A skimmer would potentially be more efficient then what you have now but if there isn't anything wrong then why try and "fix it"?

[Muddy35]

Agreed with ARTEMUS. HOWEVER, If your asking for advice because something is amiss..ie.. constant hair algea.. parameters off... OR your looking to start keeping corals or something more delicate then I woud post a full tank shot, water parameters, all current equip ect and we can help make a few recomendations. But like everyone has said.. If its worked for you and your happy with it .. Don't change it.

[Michael]

if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

mike

[abulgin]

I believe a good protein skimmer is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have. Anyone who says it's not needed should drink from the skimmate collection cup and tell me what you think. The skimmer will removed dissolved organics which adversely affect water quality, nitrates, etc.

[rbnice1]

abulgin No offense mate but it really depends on what you plan to do with the tank. I've had fish only tanks with live rock running skimmerless for years and never had a issue.

And even with reef tanks I have seen many really nice nano's skimmerless and they rely on water changes.

Now personally I wouldnt run a reef tank with out one, but if he is fish only and everything is running good for 3 years why change something that isnt broke.

[Michael]

personally i think skimmers are great bits of kit and run one myself, but theres a balance in a good tank, where everything runs smoothly and its hard to get that balance, if your lucky enough to find the balance it would be madness to change it imo.

[abulgin]

No offense taken. First, though, I didn't say "you must have a skimmer or your tank will fail.". I simply stated my belief that a skimmer is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can use, and I challenged the nay sayers to drink a cup of the skimmate from my EV-180. Second, in response to everyone saying "why fix something that ain't broke", I say, "to make it better.". You can put a skimmer on any tank - even one that "ain't broke" - and you will get dark, smelly skimmate. The proof is in the pudding.

[spw4949]

I agree with abulgin, next to LR a protein skimmer IMO is 1 of the most important pieces of equipment you can invest in, for a reef tank I would consider it a necessity, I'm not sure I would go with a "if it ain't broke don'ty fix it" philosophy in this hobby but that's just me........what is in your tank in terms of livestock? What is your regular H20 change regimen? Are your H20 parameters stable? A protein skimmer removes excess proteins & organics in your water column by exposing the water to a chamber that is flooded with air bubbles, the excess proteins and organics stick to these air bubbles creating a foam that is collected in a cup on top of the skimmer......IMO if your going to get a protein skimmer do some research, don't just buy any old one because there is def. a lot of crap out there, I'm assuming you don't have a sump so I personally would look into the octopus line of HOB skimmers, I have 1 on my FOWLR tank & I love it......I've also heard good things about remora skimmers as well, a bit more pricey than the octos though & like I said I love my octo, best $100 I've spent equipment wise.......HTH.......

[abulgin]

Also consider the AquaC Remora, which is a nice hang-on-back skimmer.

If you talk to the "lifers" in this hobby, I think you'll find that most of them consider a good protein skimmer a necessity for any reef tank. I agree with Steve that you should research and spend the money to buy a good skimmer. There are a lot of really crappy skimmers on the market (e.g., Coralife Super Skimmer), and this one piece of equipment where you can actually gauge its quality/effectiveness by its price.

[hartnell]

I would agree skimmers are nice and it looks cool when you empty the cup and there is some nasty coming out of it. but with proper care of your system not necessary.
This conclusion and only my opinion comes after visiting foster and smith's where many reef and salt water tanks have been stocked nation wide if not world wide and not one of there tanks uses a skimmer not even there dt tanks.
I'm sure this disapoints many who have purchased the show piece of their tank from them, but yes you can reef with out a skimmer.
you can get one and it will make care of your tank / I dont want to say easier but it something that is easy to use and can help a tank . but don't feel you have to have one cuz the Jones do.
As far as most import thing for a reef goes I would rather spend my money on a well designed refugium and find a usded skimmer on craigs list

[sage_commander]

There are a lot of really crappy skimmers on the market (e.g., Coralife Super Skimmer),

+1

I had a CSS 65 and it was nothing but trouble. Recently installed a Deltec MCE300 and that thing produces foam you could shave with...but would have to be crazy to.

[abulgin]

I would agree skimmers are nice and it looks cool when you empty the cup and there is some nasty coming out of it. but with proper care of your system not necessary.
This conclusion and only my opinion comes after visiting foster and smith's where many reef and salt water tanks have been stocked nation wide if not world wide and not one of there tanks uses a skimmer not even there dt tanks.
I'm sure this disapoints many who have purchased the show piece of their tank from them, but yes you can reef with out a skimmer.
you can get one and it will make care of your tank / I dont want to say easier but it something that is easy to use and can help a tank . but don't feel you have to have one cuz the Jones do.
As far as most import thing for a reef goes I would rather spend my money on a well designed refugium and find a usded skimmer on craigs list

:confused:

I made a 30 gallon refugium for $40. Expensive refugiums that you find at the various re/e-tailers are a ripoff and waste of money that is better spent on other things, such as a good skimmer. I don't think you should gage how well your tank will do without a skimmer by looking at Drs. Foster & Smith. First, although I doubt they don't employ skimmers, I am positive they use massive and very effective filtration systems. Second, fish are moved in and out of those tanks so quickly. Third, you have no idea how frequently they do water changes, what supplements they add to the tank, etc. No offense, but your statements tell me you don't understand what skimmers do.

[Chiefsurfer]

Ok, let's not get too off topic arguing specifically with eachother, not really providing any answers for the original poster.

About the BEST answer that can be given is:

Do you need it.....NO. Will it help your tank, 99.999999999999% of the time.... YES.


On to opinions: I would get one. Knowing my tank, and my set-up, seeing what comes out of my tank via the skimmer, that otherwise would not(still do frequent water-changes), I designate it as a necessary part of equipment.....FOR ME.



The above answer does not apply if you go cheap. There are most-certainly cheap skimmers that do nothing more than act as an air-stone oxygenating the water. There are also intircate ones that are the cream of the crop(deltec is an example because I am ONLY talking hang-on skimmers), that if you can afford it, great. There are also HOB Skimmers that are middle of the road price-wise(examples might be ReefOctopus and Eshopps) that do a very good job, without the elevated cost of the BEST.

[Michael]

I agree with abulgin, next to LR a protein skimmer IMO is 1 of the most important pieces of equipment you can invest in, for a reef tank I would consider it a necessity, I'm not sure I would go with a "if it ain't broke don'ty fix it" philosophy in this hobby but that's just me........what is in your tank in terms of livestock? What is your regular H20 change regimen? Are your H20 parameters stable? A protein skimmer removes excess proteins & organics in your water column by exposing the water to a chamber that is flooded with air bubbles, the excess proteins and organics stick to these air bubbles creating a foam that is collected in a cup on top of the skimmer......IMO if your going to get a protein skimmer do some research, don't just buy any old one because there is def. a lot of crap out there, I'm assuming you don't have a sump so I personally would look into the octopus line of HOB skimmers, I have 1 on my FOWLR tank & I love it......I've also heard good things about remora skimmers as well, a bit more pricey than the octos though & like I said I love my octo, best $100 I've spent equipment wise.......HTH.......

i respect your valued opinion steve, very much so, actually i think skimmers are "almost" essential in marine aquaria, but 1 thing i learned a long time ago with aquaria is stability and balance are very very important, sometimes in my opinion we can over do things, the op has had the tank running 3 years and its doing great, hence my view about leaving things be.

mike

[spw4949]

I too built my refugium for about $30.......Never did I say that you NEED a protein skimmer in order to have a successful reef, if you want to do water changes every 3rd day or so(which IMO you would have to in order to replicate what a skimmer would do) then by all means go ahead but you'll spend more in salt in a few months you could have bought a skimmer.......protein skimmers are utilized in this hobby for a reason....as far as Foster & Smith goes, read the info on their website:http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=377

It says in multiple places that they employ a "VERY LARGE" protein skimmer on their 2000 gallon fish only system & each coral tank has it's very own dedicated protein skimmer.......go figure........

[spw4949]

Hey no worries Mike, I completely respect your opinion as well, where we would be if from time to time our opinions didn't differ right? I can see where your coming from with your statement & would agree with the majority of it, stability is most definately important in our systems & yes sometimes we have a habit of overdoing things most def......I think we will just have to agree to disagree on the skimmer part.....

[sdc19982002]

In my opinion, I would stay away from the aqua c remora skimmer as mentioned. I liked mine at first but it is loud and produces light skimmate at best. I just ordered the octopus hang on and hope it does a better job.

[wooden_reefer]

I believe a good protein skimmer is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have. Anyone who says it's not needed should drink from the skimmate collection cup and tell me what you think. The skimmer will removed dissolved organics which adversely affect water quality, nitrates, etc.

While I agree that a skimmer is usually very useful, I disagree with this description.

The skimmate will otherwise go thru a different process of decay and conversion. The completeness and extent of conversion is the point; one can improve on this but there is a limit to such improvement.

Also, the skimmate can be only a fraction of decayable material, much go thru the same decay even with a skimmer.

You do not drink or eat raw fish food; you also do not drink the skimmate.

[Dun Properly]

In my opinion, I would stay away from the aqua c remora skimmer as mentioned. I liked mine at first but it is loud and produces light skimmate at best. I just ordered the octopus hang on and hope it does a better job.

I'm sorry to hear that about your aqua c remora. I have had quite a bit of success with mine. Mine took about 3 months to really "break-in", but it produces a very nice dark greenish (almost black) skimmate each week. I do use the surface pre-filter box though, maybe that is the difference.

Not sure about the noise level, but it certainly isn't silent. I don't notice it being loud though.

I like it because it requires almost no adjusting. It does require a break-in period though.


All that being said, I would still prefer to have everything in a sump and off the display tank though, so I can't say that I am 100% satisfied with it.

[sdc19982002]

Mine is only a few weeks odl and does have the surface skimmer.I may try to leave it in for a little while longer. I still dont like the noise. It probably with sit on the shelf of shame in my closet next to the other 4 skimmers i didnt like.

[Dun Properly]

Mine is only a few weeks odl and does have the surface skimmer.I may try to leave it in for a little while longer. I still dont like the noise. It probably with sit on the shelf of shame in my closet next to the other 4 skimmers i didnt like.


Yeah, I can hear the spray nozzle for sure. I may just be used to it though because it doesn't seem very loud.

You would probably have pretty good luck selling it if you tried. They don't seem as popular on Reef Central, but I know on some other forums I have visited they were highly recommended. No sense in it collecting dust. :)

[nervous nelly]

Hey everyone I really appreciate your advice ... I really do ...I come to the conclusion that i will get one ... The only prob. that im haveing now is ever since i got that light all types of stuff is growing like red hair algea and like a green florescent color... I just got finished checking my levels. Phasphate is 10.0 nitrate is 80 nitrite is 0 ammonia is 0 calcium is floresent pink thats all the tests i have and im constantly checking them.. just did a water change tuesday night with lfs water which i just started useing thanks to you guys given me advice...my tank is 35 hex 130w .. 65W and 65W with led night night

[betoballer1]

Ur nitrate is high, I think that skimmer will come inn handy instead of that nitrate factory u got goin there

[Chiefsurfer]

It is likely that the new lights are better lighting for the algae that would not have grown before. If your phosphates are at 10, that's HUGE. Most times, 1.0 is considered high, and those tests are not very accurate, usually much lower than actual levels.

[reefertime]

alright i like reading these debates. helps me learn.. i am a new hobbyist and really dont know anything about the filters, although i have been trying to learn.

anyways i have a protien skimmer and a canaster filter.

i finally figured out how to use the protein skimmer and it seems to work pretty well because it cleans the poop but i am really unaware of the actual effects it has.

my question is reguarding the canister filter..when i turn it on it makes the water really cloudy i am not sure if it is air bubbles or what really byt it makes the tank not as apealing to watch. if someone can provide some answers on what the canaster filter actually does or what the problem is with my filter i would like to know and would be really appreciated.

also are just these 2 pieces of filtration along with live rock sufficient for a reef tank?

[nervous nelly]

how would i get the phasphate and nitrate down to par.. would the skimmer help with that ...