Do you use a skimmer in your aquarium?

TamiW · 07/23/2006, 10:08 AM

This poll is to help gauge just how many seahorse keepers use skimmers on their seahorse tanks vs. those that don't. If you have seahorses, please respond to this poll. The wording of the poll refers to "system" rather than "aquarium" as some people have their seahorses in an aquarium that is remotely connected to a reef tank. If that is how your system is set up; please count the entired system; i.e. if the skimmer is on the reef tank, that is part of the "system".

The poll is multiple choice, so please choose all answers that apply if you have multiple systems with different configurations.

autumnb · 08/03/2006, 07:47 AM

I have a filter system called the back pack. One half of it is a skimmer where that water is fed into the other half. I do have bioballs in that half where the water is fed from the bottom to the top and then flows back into the tank. Any suggestion. I do like having the skimmer water feed into the other half as to prevent too many bubbles from going into my tank. I am very new at this type of tank, so please correct me if any of this in not the right thing to do. I have heard that I should take the bioballs out or even take a few out each time I change water and rinse and put back in, to help with nitrates.

theimpulsive1 · 12/29/2007, 07:59 PM

I use an in sump skimmer for my horses. The way they eat it would be hard not 2 use one.

buffalobunch · 12/31/2007, 09:25 AM

No skimmer. Sump and refugium

peterpiper · 02/09/2008, 08:11 PM

using a HOT Skimmer now, but will move it to the sump when we get our sump

David123 · 02/11/2008, 01:01 PM

Skimmers are a very valuable piece of equipment to have, many reasons, but I recommend them to all fish tanks.

Tropicalfish123 · 11/29/2009, 10:28 PM

I think skimmers play a role in gas bubbles. There are many other factors that may cause this. I have took down my skimmer because many of my seahorses where getting gas bubbles.

arcprolife · 11/30/2009, 08:55 AM

I have a counter current skimmer in with my horses. Its simple, no harsh flow, and I get decent results. I also run a phosphate reactor to help keep the tank clean.

namxas · 11/30/2009, 09:25 AM

i use a skimmer in the sump of my SH larger setup, not on the smaller one.

DanU · 12/02/2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

I think skimmers play a role in gas bubbles.

We noticed a significant decrease in pouch emphysema after adding skimmers. We like to have them on all systems. We use both sump and HOB depending upon the tank or system.

Dan

LisaD · 12/02/2009, 10:21 PM

I agree with Dan, I have had the same experience. Skimmers help improve water quality = improved seahorse health.

Diane_B · 12/11/2009, 12:44 PM

I've had trouble with hang-on skimmers on seahorse tanks, but I do use a good skimmer in the sump of my larger seahorse tank. The smaller ones without sumps are skimmerless.

ScooterMom · 05/22/2010, 11:26 PM

I have a new set up with no protein skimmer. I put my first seahorse in the tank, a male H. barbouri and he must have snicked some air as he came out of the bag. He went straight to the surface and started blowing bubbles. He has gotten worse, and now just floats at the surface upside down. I can't see any air bubbles or bloating.
He has been in a diamox bath for three days now and I don't see any improvement. Any ideas?

rayjay · 05/23/2010, 08:08 AM

Barbs are known for this pouch problem.
In my case I have a shot glass with alcohol in it and sit a rubber tipped bobby pin in the alcohol for 30 seconds or so and scoop out the male with tank water, into a 2 litre ice cream container. I hold the male in the water but vertical, and carefully insert one end of the bobby pin into the pouch to enlarge the opening and allow the gas to be removed from the pouch. Most will come out of the enlarged opening but some I gently move the gas from the bottom of the pouch, out, with my fingers. (VERY gently)
If the problem continues you could do a flush of the pouch with the diamox.
(It doesn't take much gas to make the seahorse float at the top. Pouch may look normal to bloated)

onepoorreefer · 05/24/2010, 04:26 PM

Yes I use a skimmer helps the water quality ond with the water changes

esnailme · 06/25/2010, 12:29 AM

i use a surface skimmer on my 5 gallon dwarf tank. I added this skimmer when my tank was 4 months old. I have a black sponge covering the top portion of the skimmer under the cup so that my dsh do not get sucked up. My amphipods love this setup. They play in the water current and inside the sponge. To this day...I have not regretted this decision. I have crystal clear water and no excess debris or organics floating on the surface of the tank.

jennifish120 · 06/28/2010, 04:43 PM

No skimmer on my sh tank

SeahorseSammy · 12/13/2011, 03:53 PM

I use a skimmer and have had no trouble with any seahorses, or fry, since I started working with them

mtc1966 · 12/13/2011, 04:08 PM

hot skimmer

Tucson Reef · 12/13/2011, 07:39 PM

Tunze 9011 on a 58 gal cube with 20 gal sump

nonimmigrant · 12/19/2011, 10:20 PM

sump skimmer ...

Fishobsessgal · 03/16/2012, 11:51 AM

My male has been getting GBD weekly and I have had to manually evacuate his pouch. I have a skimmer, the only thing that has changed is that we had our water softener fail and had to use the reverse osmosis through hard water and since the hard water he has GBD.

rayjay · 03/16/2012, 01:58 PM

Skimmer isn't the problem.
Try flushing the pouch with new aged salt water, matched to pH and temperature of tank water.
As a last resort, you can flush with Diamox. (Probably need a prescription)

novahobbies · 03/16/2012, 09:40 PM

Tunze nano skimmer for me, and I haven't looked back.

WallysWorld · 03/16/2012, 10:06 PM

Use both HOB (Eshopps 75) and in sump (ASM G3) without them the water quality drops too quickly to keep up with.

View Poll Results: Do you use a skimmer on your seahorse system?
I do not use a skimmer on my seahorse system(s).	24	39.34%
I use a HOT (Hang On Tank, Hang On Back) Skimmer on my seahorse system(s).	27	44.26%
I use a Sump Skimmer on my seahorses system(s).	14	22.95%
I use Other Skimmer on my seahorse system(s).	2	3.28%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

07/23/2006, 10:08 AM	#1
TamiW Seahorse Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Milwaukee Area, WI Posts: 914	Do you use a skimmer in your aquarium? This poll is to help gauge just how many seahorse keepers use skimmers on their seahorse tanks vs. those that don't. If you have seahorses, please respond to this poll. The wording of the poll refers to "system" rather than "aquarium" as some people have their seahorses in an aquarium that is remotely connected to a reef tank. If that is how your system is set up; please count the entired system; i.e. if the skimmer is on the reef tank, that is part of the "system". The poll is multiple choice, so please choose all answers that apply if you have multiple systems with different configurations. __________________ Tami It's all about the snick! Current Tank Info: I have a fish room.

12/31/2007, 09:25 AM	#4
buffalobunch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,926	No skimmer. Sump and refugium __________________ Blame no one, expect nothing, do something. Live well, laugh often, love much Current Tank Info: 175 gallon bowfront mixed reef

02/11/2008, 01:01 PM	#6
David123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Port Lincoln/ South Australia Posts: 119	Skimmers are a very valuable piece of equipment to have, many reasons, but I recommend them to all fish tanks. __________________ Education is the bane of ignorance. Cheers David

11/30/2009, 09:25 AM	#9
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 5,087	i use a skimmer in the sump of my SH larger setup, not on the smaller one. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

08/03/2006, 07:47 AM	#2
autumnb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Garland, TX Posts: 9	I have a filter system called the back pack. One half of it is a skimmer where that water is fed into the other half. I do have bioballs in that half where the water is fed from the bottom to the top and then flows back into the tank. Any suggestion. I do like having the skimmer water feed into the other half as to prevent too many bubbles from going into my tank. I am very new at this type of tank, so please correct me if any of this in not the right thing to do. I have heard that I should take the bioballs out or even take a few out each time I change water and rinse and put back in, to help with nitrates.

12/29/2007, 07:59 PM	#3
theimpulsive1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: IL Posts: 51	I use an in sump skimmer for my horses. The way they eat it would be hard not 2 use one.

02/09/2008, 08:11 PM	#5
peterpiper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth Western Australia Posts: 22	using a HOT Skimmer now, but will move it to the sump when we get our sump

11/29/2009, 10:28 PM	#7
Tropicalfish123 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1	I think skimmers play a role in gas bubbles. There are many other factors that may cause this. I have took down my skimmer because many of my seahorses where getting gas bubbles.

11/30/2009, 08:55 AM	#8
arcprolife Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Rapids Michigan Posts: 52	I have a counter current skimmer in with my horses. Its simple, no harsh flow, and I get decent results. I also run a phosphate reactor to help keep the tank clean.

12/02/2009, 10:21 PM	#11
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	I agree with Dan, I have had the same experience. Skimmers help improve water quality = improved seahorse health.

12/11/2009, 12:44 PM	#12
Diane_B Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 115	I've had trouble with hang-on skimmers on seahorse tanks, but I do use a good skimmer in the sump of my larger seahorse tank. The smaller ones without sumps are skimmerless. __________________ It's not about the destination, it's the journey..... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, 65g softie reef, and various seahorse tanks....

05/22/2010, 11:26 PM	#13
ScooterMom Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 14	Gbd I have a new set up with no protein skimmer. I put my first seahorse in the tank, a male H. barbouri and he must have snicked some air as he came out of the bag. He went straight to the surface and started blowing bubbles. He has gotten worse, and now just floats at the surface upside down. I can't see any air bubbles or bloating. He has been in a diamox bath for three days now and I don't see any improvement. Any ideas?

05/23/2010, 08:08 AM	#14
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Barbs are known for this pouch problem. In my case I have a shot glass with alcohol in it and sit a rubber tipped bobby pin in the alcohol for 30 seconds or so and scoop out the male with tank water, into a 2 litre ice cream container. I hold the male in the water but vertical, and carefully insert one end of the bobby pin into the pouch to enlarge the opening and allow the gas to be removed from the pouch. Most will come out of the enlarged opening but some I gently move the gas from the bottom of the pouch, out, with my fingers. (VERY gently) If the problem continues you could do a flush of the pouch with the diamox. (It doesn't take much gas to make the seahorse float at the top. Pouch may look normal to bloated) __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

05/24/2010, 04:26 PM	#15
onepoorreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: bloomingdale il Posts: 238	Yes I use a skimmer helps the water quality ond with the water changes

06/25/2010, 12:29 AM	#16
esnailme Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 6	i use a surface skimmer on my 5 gallon dwarf tank. I added this skimmer when my tank was 4 months old. I have a black sponge covering the top portion of the skimmer under the cup so that my dsh do not get sucked up. My amphipods love this setup. They play in the water current and inside the sponge. To this day...I have not regretted this decision. I have crystal clear water and no excess debris or organics floating on the surface of the tank.

06/28/2010, 04:43 PM	#17
jennifish120 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 56	No skimmer on my sh tank

12/13/2011, 03:53 PM	#18
SeahorseSammy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	I use a skimmer and have had no trouble with any seahorses, or fry, since I started working with them __________________ Care taker of a threesome of Hippocampus Erectus and a loner Kuda 60G Tall Tank 30g Clownfish Duo, mated pair

12/13/2011, 04:08 PM	#19
mtc1966 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: middletown,ct Posts: 6,528	hot skimmer __________________ 65g seahorse tank 20g sump with a reef octopus skimmer ,tlf 150 reactor, red sea ozone generator controller,cpr hob fuge with light and 2 China led lights one 42x1 w and one 24x3 w. occupied by 4 ecectus seahorses a couple small gobies and cuc. Current Tank Info: 58g main with 20g sump

12/13/2011, 07:39 PM	#20
Tucson Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 506	Tunze 9011 on a 58 gal cube with 20 gal sump __________________ No Comment!

12/19/2011, 10:20 PM	#21
nonimmigrant Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 453	sump skimmer ...

03/16/2012, 11:51 AM	#22
Fishobsessgal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 20	My male has been getting GBD weekly and I have had to manually evacuate his pouch. I have a skimmer, the only thing that has changed is that we had our water softener fail and had to use the reverse osmosis through hard water and since the hard water he has GBD.

03/16/2012, 01:58 PM	#23
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Skimmer isn't the problem. Try flushing the pouch with new aged salt water, matched to pH and temperature of tank water. As a last resort, you can flush with Diamox. (Probably need a prescription) __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

03/16/2012, 09:40 PM	#24
novahobbies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Deerfield Beach Posts: 395	Tunze nano skimmer for me, and I haven't looked back.

03/16/2012, 10:06 PM	#25
WallysWorld Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Port Jefferson Station Posts: 1,855	Use both HOB (Eshopps 75) and in sump (ASM G3) without them the water quality drops too quickly to keep up with. __________________ SCIENTIA EST POTENTIA! Current Tank Info: 120 gal 4x2x2 Reef, 4 x 160W Kessil's, Refuge, Korallin Calcium Reactor, ASM G3 Skimmer and Refuge.