To Skim or Not To Skim

Psychotrshman · 09/29/2011, 07:12 PM

Good evening,
I was talking to the resident "Expert" at my LFS about protein skimmers for a 30 gallon Reef Tank (because the one I had on my FOWLR didn't work) and he said a good filter was more important than a skimmer and he would recommend no skinner at all.

I was curious to get a few point of views and possibly a suggestion on one that works good. The one I had was a plastic tube with an airstone in it and a cup on top. It never collected anything at all. Any information is appreciated.

greech · 09/29/2011, 07:27 PM

I ran my 45 gallon tank for over a year without a sump or a skimmer. Just a HOB filter with floss and media. I had very good success but I could not many SPS happy. I have since added a small sump and a good skimmer and I can honestly say it was the best thing I could have done for my livestock. I was (and still am) doing weekly water changes and I would not suggest going skimmerless without a 10 to 20% WC each week (especially if you try any SPS).

Adam_T · 09/29/2011, 07:33 PM

I've had multiple tanks with skimmers and without skimmers.

Personally, I believe a Media Reactor running high quality active carbon and some sort of phosphate remover is better than running a skimmer. Only reason being is that you don't have to "dial in" a media reactor or wait for something to hopefully "slime up". You just plug it in and your nitrates are kept as low as you want them!

James77 · 09/29/2011, 07:35 PM

There are much better skinner available now, and at very competitive prices. I would not run a reef tank of even a FOWLR without one, they remove some nasty crap from the water. That is the best part of them over a filter, the skimmer fully removes it from the system so it will not rot in the water.

Reefnut2010 · 09/29/2011, 08:23 PM

A balanced system is what we want. Just like in nature, balance is key. Replicating this in a box is not easy by any means. Proper stocking levels, water changes, and proper equipment are ways we can accomplish this to some extent. How you go about it is always personal choice. With Reef tanks we tend to overstock, and some tend to overfeed. Thus, the need for all the equipment. Even without this problem, we have to maintain other parameters. Again not so easy.

grigsy · 10/01/2011, 07:10 PM

I run my larger tanks with skimmers but my 24 gallon nano without a skimmer.

You have a 30 gallon tank with an airstone skimmer.

My suggestion - just do more water changes. That will work much better than an airstone skimmer will.

09/29/2011, 07:12 PM	#1
Psychotrshman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 53	To Skim or Not To Skim Good evening, I was talking to the resident "Expert" at my LFS about protein skimmers for a 30 gallon Reef Tank (because the one I had on my FOWLR didn't work) and he said a good filter was more important than a skimmer and he would recommend no skinner at all. I was curious to get a few point of views and possibly a suggestion on one that works good. The one I had was a plastic tube with an airstone in it and a cup on top. It never collected anything at all. Any information is appreciated.

09/29/2011, 07:27 PM	#2
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	I ran my 45 gallon tank for over a year without a sump or a skimmer. Just a HOB filter with floss and media. I had very good success but I could not many SPS happy. I have since added a small sump and a good skimmer and I can honestly say it was the best thing I could have done for my livestock. I was (and still am) doing weekly water changes and I would not suggest going skimmerless without a 10 to 20% WC each week (especially if you try any SPS). __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

09/29/2011, 07:35 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	There are much better skinner available now, and at very competitive prices. I would not run a reef tank of even a FOWLR without one, they remove some nasty crap from the water. That is the best part of them over a filter, the skimmer fully removes it from the system so it will not rot in the water. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

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09/29/2011, 07:33 PM	#3
Adam_T Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 171	I've had multiple tanks with skimmers and without skimmers. Personally, I believe a Media Reactor running high quality active carbon and some sort of phosphate remover is better than running a skimmer. Only reason being is that you don't have to "dial in" a media reactor or wait for something to hopefully "slime up". You just plug it in and your nitrates are kept as low as you want them!

09/29/2011, 08:23 PM	#5
Reefnut2010 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Gabriel Valley, Ca Posts: 427	A balanced system is what we want. Just like in nature, balance is key. Replicating this in a box is not easy by any means. Proper stocking levels, water changes, and proper equipment are ways we can accomplish this to some extent. How you go about it is always personal choice. With Reef tanks we tend to overstock, and some tend to overfeed. Thus, the need for all the equipment. Even without this problem, we have to maintain other parameters. Again not so easy.

10/01/2011, 07:10 PM	#6
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	I run my larger tanks with skimmers but my 24 gallon nano without a skimmer. You have a 30 gallon tank with an airstone skimmer. My suggestion - just do more water changes. That will work much better than an airstone skimmer will.