Skimmer or No Skimmer

myram · 11/16/2011, 08:39 PM

I'm torn right now......and I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I have an AquaClear 70 that I've been using on my tank for the past few months with no problems. It works great, keeps the water clean, but the surface gets some build up. I clean the sponge often in it to keep the nitrates in check.

But I recently picked up a AquaC Remora skimmer, but the micro bubbles and noise are driving me nuts.

I do a 5 gal water change every week, so tonight I put the AquaClear back on the tank until I decide what I'm going to do.

I'm going to have a few corals, a BTA, and maybe 2-3 fish, and the usual clean up crew.

Just looking for opinions...........

Thanks

Steve

moondoggy4 · 11/16/2011, 08:54 PM

I take it this is for the 35 gallon tank, if you are successful without a skimmer just use the cup o skimmer technique , just scoop out the bad water on top don't siphon the good water on the bottom. I have a 33 gallon tank and it is difficult to skim often, water changes works great.

reefermad619 · 11/17/2011, 01:07 AM

No skimmer. WC and good maintainence. Plus, microbubbles suck!

myram · 11/17/2011, 08:30 AM

I forgot to add.............Yes, for the 35 gal hex. 35lbs of live rock, 35lbs of live sand.

5 gal weekly water change is like 15% weekly, and I do try to skim the surface with a bowl to remove the build up.

The tank just looks so much better without the microbubbles, plus the microbubbles build up and turn into big bubbles under the rock and stuff.

My wife hates the noise of the skimmer, and the AC70 is dead silent..........so that makes her happy.

I had thought about making the AC70 into a refugium...........any thoughts on a benefit or not worth it?

Steve

myram · 11/17/2011, 07:10 PM

Anyone else have any opinions?

Steve

myram · 11/17/2011, 07:10 PM

Anyone else have any opinions?

Steve

myram · 11/26/2011, 09:36 AM

Put the skimmer back on last night, and I'm already ready to yank it off again.

Microbubbles are driving me nuts, and the noise is driving my wife nuts.

I'm trying to maintain the best water conditions possible, so I'm torn as to use the skimmer to go with the AC70. I'm thinking that the weekly water change is going to keep the water in good shape, and cleaning the filter material regularly is helping too. The skimmer didn't producing any great skimmate during it's last stint, and only loaded the tank with bubbles.

What to do............what to do.

Steve

moondoggy4 · 11/26/2011, 11:05 AM

Which skimmer do you have? Do you have a sump?

Ansphire · 11/26/2011, 11:27 AM

You can buy the attachment for the aquaclear that skims.. its like 10 or 15 bucks and problem solved

Ansphire · 11/26/2011, 11:30 AM

http://big-als-online.amazonwebstore...B000256CH8.htm

Vpham97 · 11/26/2011, 11:33 AM

I don't remember having much micro bubbles from from a cycled AquaC. There are cheap mod that can be done to quiet down the AquaC (cut a foam piece to place over the injection area.

myram · 11/26/2011, 02:49 PM

AquaC Remora with a Maxi-Jet 1200 and the skimmer box.

No Sump.

A folded paper towel works great over the injection nozzle to quiet things down, but I think the pump needs replacing.

Microbubbles are crazy with this, I had to remove it today.........it was just driving me crazy have a hazy tank.

I may run it on my QT tank for a while to let it cycle in there, then move it back to my DT later on.

I picked up the skimmer attachement for the AquaClear, it works OK but it too put microbubbles in the tank. And it killed the flow as well, probably cut it down by 2/3rds at least.

Steve

reefermad619 · 11/27/2011, 12:37 AM

Seems frequent WC will keep you and the wife happy.

myram · 11/27/2011, 06:47 AM

Yup, that's what I'm thinking.

It's too bad, I know I "should" have a skimmer on there..............but I'm must not willing to deal with the micro bubbles.

Once my QT is empty, I'll hook it up there and let it run for a while to see if it gets better.

Steve

11/16/2011, 08:39 PM	#1
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Skimmer or No Skimmer I'm torn right now......and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I have an AquaClear 70 that I've been using on my tank for the past few months with no problems. It works great, keeps the water clean, but the surface gets some build up. I clean the sponge often in it to keep the nitrates in check. But I recently picked up a AquaC Remora skimmer, but the micro bubbles and noise are driving me nuts. I do a 5 gal water change every week, so tonight I put the AquaClear back on the tank until I decide what I'm going to do. I'm going to have a few corals, a BTA, and maybe 2-3 fish, and the usual clean up crew. Just looking for opinions........... Thanks Steve

11/17/2011, 01:07 AM	#3
reefermad619 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Salty D! Sandy let go of my eggo! Posts: 1,962	No skimmer. WC and good maintainence. Plus, microbubbles suck! __________________ Fish tanks and Chevys... And my cousin's Datsun too. Some call it paranoid. I call it prepared. You have more post than I do... You MUST be right then!

11/26/2011, 11:27 AM	#9
Ansphire Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 619	You can buy the attachment for the aquaclear that skims.. its like 10 or 15 bucks and problem solved __________________ Ricky

11/26/2011, 11:30 AM	#10
Ansphire Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 619	http://big-als-online.amazonwebstore...B000256CH8.htm __________________ Ricky

11/27/2011, 12:37 AM	#13
reefermad619 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Salty D! Sandy let go of my eggo! Posts: 1,962	Seems frequent WC will keep you and the wife happy. __________________ Fish tanks and Chevys... And my cousin's Datsun too. Some call it paranoid. I call it prepared. You have more post than I do... You MUST be right then!

11/16/2011, 08:54 PM	#2
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I take it this is for the 35 gallon tank, if you are successful without a skimmer just use the cup o skimmer technique , just scoop out the bad water on top don't siphon the good water on the bottom. I have a 33 gallon tank and it is difficult to skim often, water changes works great.

11/17/2011, 08:30 AM	#4
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	I forgot to add.............Yes, for the 35 gal hex. 35lbs of live rock, 35lbs of live sand. 5 gal weekly water change is like 15% weekly, and I do try to skim the surface with a bowl to remove the build up. The tank just looks so much better without the microbubbles, plus the microbubbles build up and turn into big bubbles under the rock and stuff. My wife hates the noise of the skimmer, and the AC70 is dead silent..........so that makes her happy. I had thought about making the AC70 into a refugium...........any thoughts on a benefit or not worth it? Steve

11/17/2011, 07:10 PM	#5
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Anyone else have any opinions? Steve

11/26/2011, 09:36 AM	#7
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Put the skimmer back on last night, and I'm already ready to yank it off again. Microbubbles are driving me nuts, and the noise is driving my wife nuts. I'm trying to maintain the best water conditions possible, so I'm torn as to use the skimmer to go with the AC70. I'm thinking that the weekly water change is going to keep the water in good shape, and cleaning the filter material regularly is helping too. The skimmer didn't producing any great skimmate during it's last stint, and only loaded the tank with bubbles. What to do............what to do. Steve

11/26/2011, 11:05 AM	#8
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Which skimmer do you have? Do you have a sump?

11/26/2011, 11:33 AM	#11
Vpham97 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,679	I don't remember having much micro bubbles from from a cycled AquaC. There are cheap mod that can be done to quiet down the AquaC (cut a foam piece to place over the injection area.

11/26/2011, 02:49 PM	#12
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	AquaC Remora with a Maxi-Jet 1200 and the skimmer box. No Sump. A folded paper towel works great over the injection nozzle to quiet things down, but I think the pump needs replacing. Microbubbles are crazy with this, I had to remove it today.........it was just driving me crazy have a hazy tank. I may run it on my QT tank for a while to let it cycle in there, then move it back to my DT later on. I picked up the skimmer attachement for the AquaClear, it works OK but it too put microbubbles in the tank. And it killed the flow as well, probably cut it down by 2/3rds at least. Steve

11/27/2011, 06:47 AM	#14
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Yup, that's what I'm thinking. It's too bad, I know I "should" have a skimmer on there..............but I'm must not willing to deal with the micro bubbles. Once my QT is empty, I'll hook it up there and let it run for a while to see if it gets better. Steve

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