LR or Skimmer??

FormulatedFire · 03/19/2011, 04:45 PM

Currently in my sump/refugium the first chamber where the drain pipe goes is full of live rock, but I was thinking of getting a skimmer instead. So my question is as my tank stands now skimmerless would I be better off sticking with the extra live rock and breeding ground for pods or ditch some of the live rock and get a skimmer. I'm currently lined up to get a ASM G3, I'm hoping that it will fit below my tank.

Little bit about my tank:
75G RR/ 30G sump/fuge
150-160lbs of LR between display tank and sump.

Livestock:
5 Blue/Green Chromis
1 Tiger Tail Cucumber
Various snails and hermits.

I have no corals except for what has hitchhiked on the live rock.

karsseboom · 03/19/2011, 04:47 PM

skimmer, is this a serious question? why in the world dont you have a skimmer yet?

davocean · 03/19/2011, 05:16 PM

I'd definitely swap to a good skimmer, looks like you have plenty of rock even if you lose some in sump.

FormulatedFire · 03/19/2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karsseboom

skimmer, is this a serious question? why in the world dont you have a skimmer yet?

Because I've ran a full reef of sps/lps/softies before without a skimmer. A skimmer is not a absolute part of a tank. Great reefs can be built without one.

gotoneon · 03/19/2011, 06:40 PM

Skip the skimmer, if everything else is done correctly they just make noise. Keeping your tank properly stocked and with lots of rock a skimmer will just be an airstone.

Chris27 · 03/19/2011, 08:34 PM

Ditch the rock in the sump - more trouble then it's worth. If you don't clean it properly and often, it will trap a good bit of junk and start leading to water issues. FWIW, a skimmer performs an entirely different function vs. rock (mechanical vs. biological)....granted you can get by without one....but if you decide to skip it, substitute some sort of very fine mechanical filtration like a sock or a good deal of frequently changed floss.

03/19/2011, 04:45 PM	#1
FormulatedFire Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 138	LR or Skimmer?? Currently in my sump/refugium the first chamber where the drain pipe goes is full of live rock, but I was thinking of getting a skimmer instead. So my question is as my tank stands now skimmerless would I be better off sticking with the extra live rock and breeding ground for pods or ditch some of the live rock and get a skimmer. I'm currently lined up to get a ASM G3, I'm hoping that it will fit below my tank. Little bit about my tank: 75G RR/ 30G sump/fuge 150-160lbs of LR between display tank and sump. Livestock: 5 Blue/Green Chromis 1 Tiger Tail Cucumber Various snails and hermits. I have no corals except for what has hitchhiked on the live rock.

03/19/2011, 05:16 PM	#3
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I'd definitely swap to a good skimmer, looks like you have plenty of rock even if you lose some in sump. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/19/2011, 08:34 PM	#6
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Ditch the rock in the sump - more trouble then it's worth. If you don't clean it properly and often, it will trap a good bit of junk and start leading to water issues. FWIW, a skimmer performs an entirely different function vs. rock (mechanical vs. biological)....granted you can get by without one....but if you decide to skip it, substitute some sort of very fine mechanical filtration like a sock or a good deal of frequently changed floss. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

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03/19/2011, 04:47 PM	#2
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	skimmer, is this a serious question? why in the world dont you have a skimmer yet?

03/19/2011, 06:40 PM	#5
gotoneon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 182	Skip the skimmer, if everything else is done correctly they just make noise. Keeping your tank properly stocked and with lots of rock a skimmer will just be an airstone.