Protien Skimmer

[JOEL232]

Do i acctually have to have one. ANd what does it actually do?

Thanks,

[andycook]

[welcome]

Most will say yes. It plays a large part in water quality. Try searching for SKIMMER and see for yourself. Good luck.

[TekCat]

Skimmers (or foam fractination device) removes organic matter from water column BEFORE it gets a chance to decompose into nasty chemicals.

Some hobbysts are known to run successful tanks without aid of a skimmer. However IMO, for newbies like us - skimmers are one of must have peices of equipment.

[chrisp074]

Most important piece of equipment in my opinion. Get the best you can.

-Chris

[NetFish]

skimmer is a must have!!

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/proteinskimmers/a/aa052200.htm

[One Eyed Bunny]

It's an important piece, for sure, but it isn't needed for the survival of your tank. I've seen plenty of nano tanks without skimmers do just fine, given the bio-load is relatively small in proportion. Ours is an example: a 12gal. reef.

[chip721]

JOEL232, it's not an absolute must have. But after seeing some of the nasty stuff my skimmer pulls from my tank, I couldn't imagine not having one on my system. How large is your tank? What will your bio-load be like? How often do you plan to do water changes? IMO, your chances for success are greater with a good skimmer.

[fishaholic911]

I think a skimmer is the most important part of any tank

[andycook]

As you can see opinions vary and people are passionate about their beliefs. Do your own research and decide for yourself.

[sequential]

Tagging along here, with a question. Do most of you who are passionate about your skimmers use additional carbon or other sorts of filtration? If yes, what did you choose to use? If no, what influenced your decision not to?

[andycook]

No. No carbon. Water changes and a good skimmer do enough for me but then my tank is an anemone/softie tank so carbon isn't as important for me as it is for others.

[mg426]

If you are just starting , you need a skimmer.

[sequential]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6844365#post6844365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mg426
If you are just starting , you need a skimmer.

I'm going to have to disagree with many of the people here. You do not need a protein skimmer to start or ever. It is a personal preference of many on this board and hobbyists in general, but it is by no means necessary. Saying you need a skimmer is like saying you need a DSB or bio balls. Skimmers are a choice.

That's not to say they do not function, but similar results can be achieved, especially if you are on a strict starting budget. In the long run, it is far cheaper to buy a skimmer, but if you can't find a used skimmer for a price you can afford today, you can make due without. When you buy a skimmer, be certain to buy the best skimmer you can afford. Many people here suggest AquaC or ASM skimmers, but there are others that people swear by.

Here's some advice, if you should choose to go without.

1) Use RO/DI water. (Buy it at your LFS or buy a RO/DI system. Either way, the costs add up and are ongoing.)
2) Change 10% - 25% of the water weekly, depending on the conditions in your tank.
3) Get 1 - 2 lbs LR per gallon of water in your tank.
4) Have an adequate clean up crew for your tank.
5) Above all else, spend some time observing your tank, either testing or visual observations, every day. If you have questions, ask them on RC.

Some might add a DSB or LS to this list. I have LS in one of my tanks and in my fuge. I have larger substrate in my display, which worked just fine without a protein skimmer. On the other hand, I spent a lot of time with my tank, worrying about algae and water changes. In time alone, I could have bought many skimmers. I enjoyed the time with the tank, but a lot of it was repetitive and not necessary.

If you were to ask me today, I would say spend the money on a protein skimmer when first buying the tank. The purchase will save you time and money in the long run, but you can be successful without one if you should so choose that route.

[Nzomniak]

wow, sequential ... that is one of the most unbiased pro/con posts I've read so far. I find that most people are so passionate about either side, that it's nearly impossible to get a decent and easily understood answer. lol
:rollface:

[sequential]

Thanks, Nzomniak. To tell you the truth, I am mostly repeating the advice I received when I couldn't afford a skimmer. That advice made a huge difference in my tank and I am thankful to have gotten it here at RC.

[mg426]

Nice well thought out response sequential. Lots of good info. My line of thinking was This. this hobby is very challenging to say the least. there is a huge learning curve that one goes through. a quality skimmer does give you a certain margain of error as you learn. I cant argue the fact that a reef tank can be sucessfull without one. I just find myself on the side of skimming.

[Alaskan Reefer]

I wouldn't attempt anything but a nano without a skimmer -- it's the most effective piece of filtration in most reef tanks. In anything larger than say 20 gallons, I'd have a skimmer, or if not a refugium -- but then again I don't like to do water changes more than once per month. My 20 hex FOWLR hasn't had a water change in almost a year and the coraline growth is unreal -- the only filtration is a $20 Lee's Counter Current airstone skimmer which works very nicely. In fairness, it's a single clownfish with about 25 pounds of LR and pretty solid flow, but still...

You can do it without a skimmer, but it's not a choice I would make. Research before you buy of course -- some work much better than others.

Oh, and anyone who thinks skimmers are pointless is invited to tea:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e71/aarongray/skimmate1.jpg

Three days worth of skimmate in a lightly (5 small fish) stocked 125 with cooked rock and new sand (8 weeks old), along with a refugium competing for the nutrients. Bottom's up!

[boodwah]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6845052#post6845052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nzomniak
wow, sequential ... that is one of the most unbiased pro/con posts I've read so far. I find that most people are so passionate about either side, that it's nearly impossible to get a decent and easily understood answer. lol
:rollface:

I've seen Sequential post on other threads and have formed the opinion that he has a gift for unbiased analysis.

[RV8tor]

Joel

Welcome

Tons of information is available to you on this website,tons of experts as well, I am not one of them. I do run a skimmer, there are several types to chose from. You do not have to buy one, you can make one for pennies on the dollar as compaired to purchasing one or find one used like Sequential indicated. If you are a handy type look at this thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=473634

Its making a needlewheel skimmer. I think I will be making me of these as well. Looks to provide better skimming than my downdraft skimmer is providing me.

Oh if you have tried the seach button and if it is always busy you can go to google and type you search keyword ie. "skimmer" and then site:reefcentral.com right after you can still search the website.

so it looks like

skimmer site:reefcentral.com

or any thing else you may want to search.

good luck

[RV8tor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6839732#post6839732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JOEL232
ANd what does it actually do?

Thanks,

This may help understand what they do

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/fm/feature/index.php