Skimmer yay or nay

JenC2012 · 11/27/2013, 04:18 AM

Hi all, I'm planning a new tank. 240g DT, large refugium, large sump. I plan to have it up and running with rock, sand, and algae for one year before stocking, to get a large sustainable population of microfauna. I'm wondering if I will need to purchase a skimmer during that year; I will definitely add a skimmer when it's time to add fish and invertebrates, but I'm wondering if I'll need it before then. Any help you can provide is appreciated.

dave.m · 11/27/2013, 08:36 AM

It depends on the rock and sand you use to build your tank. If they are "live" then there will be some die-off initially and you will definitely need a skimmer then. If the rock and sand are not live then what do you think the microfauna are going to live on? You will still need to feed the tank to build a bacterial and algal base to support the microfauna.

And really, it doesn't take a year to fill your tank with microfauna. They come in on the live rock, and will stock your tank in a matter of weeks, not months. You can purchase additional bugs for your tank in the US (no source for them here in Canada - darn!) but they will not be able to survive unless you already have a thriving bacterial and algal base for them to live on.

If you are too strapped for cash to afford a skimmer right away I would suggest you hold off on setting up your tank until you can afford it. Reef tanks are very expensive both to build and to maintain. There is no room for cutting corners once you've started. If you think it will be out of your range you may want to consider starting with a smaller tank that will cost less to build and operate.

Dave.M

AdamSabina · 11/27/2013, 08:43 AM

I ran my skimmer from the start and it pulled out some NASTY stuff for the first two month because I was curing and cycling the rock in the tank. I "think" it helped. It had a 5 month break after that while I slowly stocked. Huge side note I feel skimming is 100% needed if you carbon dose.

I have a nano without skimmer and medium nitrates (5-10 ppm) and a 150 gallon with skimmer at (1-2 ppm). Just depends.

Duvallj · 11/27/2013, 09:38 AM

With such low stocking for the first year I'm sure you wouldn't need one. Having one off the get-go wouldn't hurt either. Many tanks, even large tanks do fine without skimmers. Personally I like running a skimmer as there are just too many benefits.

On a off-topic note I feel that dosing live phytoplankton can really make a pod/feeder filter population explode. Dose as if it were liquid fertilizer though, as overdosing leads to algae very easy. Just something to look into.

jjk_reef00 · 11/28/2013, 01:04 AM

Skimmer yay, you will not regret it once you see it pulling out junk.

slief · 11/28/2013, 11:12 AM

I would start the system with a skimmer. Chances are you will not make it a year with an empty tank anyway.

JenC2012 · 11/28/2013, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

I would start the system with a skimmer. Chances are you will not make it a year with an empty tank anyway.

I made it 6 months w/o stocking before moving to Australia, whats an additional 6? To have a self sustaining population of copepods it's worth it!

JenC2012 · 11/28/2013, 05:24 PM

Thank you for your opinions! Since I have read most books on the subject of reefkeeping and this being my 3rd tank i'm not clueless about the expense of the hobby, I have had ALL the possible gizzmos and gadgets on the other tanks and know that a skimmer is very beneficial, even essential in some cases; but if it's not needed straight away I would rather collect intrest on that cash until I stock the tank.

11/27/2013, 04:18 AM	#1
JenC2012 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edgewood, WA Posts: 54	Skimmer yay or nay Hi all, I'm planning a new tank. 240g DT, large refugium, large sump. I plan to have it up and running with rock, sand, and algae for one year before stocking, to get a large sustainable population of microfauna. I'm wondering if I will need to purchase a skimmer during that year; I will definitely add a skimmer when it's time to add fish and invertebrates, but I'm wondering if I'll need it before then. Any help you can provide is appreciated.

11/27/2013, 08:36 AM	#2
dave.m Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canadia Posts: 4,276	It depends on the rock and sand you use to build your tank. If they are "live" then there will be some die-off initially and you will definitely need a skimmer then. If the rock and sand are not live then what do you think the microfauna are going to live on? You will still need to feed the tank to build a bacterial and algal base to support the microfauna. And really, it doesn't take a year to fill your tank with microfauna. They come in on the live rock, and will stock your tank in a matter of weeks, not months. You can purchase additional bugs for your tank in the US (no source for them here in Canada - darn!) but they will not be able to survive unless you already have a thriving bacterial and algal base for them to live on. If you are too strapped for cash to afford a skimmer right away I would suggest you hold off on setting up your tank until you can afford it. Reef tanks are very expensive both to build and to maintain. There is no room for cutting corners once you've started. If you think it will be out of your range you may want to consider starting with a smaller tank that will cost less to build and operate. Dave.M __________________ My Gawd! It's full of corals! Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.

11/27/2013, 09:38 AM	#4
Duvallj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 379	With such low stocking for the first year I'm sure you wouldn't need one. Having one off the get-go wouldn't hurt either. Many tanks, even large tanks do fine without skimmers. Personally I like running a skimmer as there are just too many benefits. On a off-topic note I feel that dosing live phytoplankton can really make a pod/feeder filter population explode. Dose as if it were liquid fertilizer though, as overdosing leads to algae very easy. Just something to look into. __________________ If it's not broke, fix it til it does. -Managment proverb Current Tank Info: 180gal softie reef

11/28/2013, 01:04 AM	#5
jjk_reef00 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,476	Skimmer yay, you will not regret it once you see it pulling out junk. __________________ I need more fish tank appliances! --Ed Current Tank Info: 375 FOWLR

11/28/2013, 11:12 AM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I would start the system with a skimmer. Chances are you will not make it a year with an empty tank anyway. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

11/27/2013, 08:43 AM	#3
AdamSabina Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,426	I ran my skimmer from the start and it pulled out some NASTY stuff for the first two month because I was curing and cycling the rock in the tank. I "think" it helped. It had a 5 month break after that while I slowly stocked. Huge side note I feel skimming is 100% needed if you carbon dose. I have a nano without skimmer and medium nitrates (5-10 ppm) and a 150 gallon with skimmer at (1-2 ppm). Just depends.

11/28/2013, 05:24 PM	#8
JenC2012 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edgewood, WA Posts: 54	Thank you for your opinions! Since I have read most books on the subject of reefkeeping and this being my 3rd tank i'm not clueless about the expense of the hobby, I have had ALL the possible gizzmos and gadgets on the other tanks and know that a skimmer is very beneficial, even essential in some cases; but if it's not needed straight away I would rather collect intrest on that cash until I stock the tank.