need help with bak pak

BradsOcean · 02/18/2007, 09:41 PM

I need to know if a bak pak cyclone is a protein skimmer, a filter, or both. I bought one for my tank when I just got started, but now because the guy that sold me it said it was good because it was a skimmer and filter, but now I know that most skimmers have air bubbles and my bak pak cyclone doesnt have any, so I dont know if it is a skimmer. If it is both, is it a good skimmer and filter? I have a 38 gallon tank that I am using it on. On the box it says bak pak bio-filter, CYCLONE. Any help would be great. Thanks----Brad.

OO7 · 02/18/2007, 10:52 PM

does it have blue plastic stuff in it? If so, thats the filter part . . . . get rid of it.

As for a good skimmer . . . I ran one on my 20g reef for several years. I feel that it was mediocre at best.

BradsOcean · 02/18/2007, 10:58 PM

Why do you say get rid of the bio bale stuff

OO7 · 02/19/2007, 07:57 AM

because it is just a space waster and won't really add much in terms of filtration. Besides, all your filtration will be handled by your live rock and live sand (if you're using it).

The bio-bale will turn to a nitrate factory quickly and require cleaning and or replacing. This skimmer already requires a lot of maintenance to keep it running properly. The bio-bale just adds to that.

02/18/2007, 09:41 PM	#1
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	need help with bak pak I need to know if a bak pak cyclone is a protein skimmer, a filter, or both. I bought one for my tank when I just got started, but now because the guy that sold me it said it was good because it was a skimmer and filter, but now I know that most skimmers have air bubbles and my bak pak cyclone doesnt have any, so I dont know if it is a skimmer. If it is both, is it a good skimmer and filter? I have a 38 gallon tank that I am using it on. On the box it says bak pak bio-filter, CYCLONE. Any help would be great. Thanks----Brad.

02/18/2007, 10:58 PM	#3
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	Why do you say get rid of the bio bale stuff __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

02/18/2007, 10:52 PM	#2
OO7 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 153	does it have blue plastic stuff in it? If so, thats the filter part . . . . get rid of it. As for a good skimmer . . . I ran one on my 20g reef for several years. I feel that it was mediocre at best.

02/19/2007, 07:57 AM	#4
OO7 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 153	because it is just a space waster and won't really add much in terms of filtration. Besides, all your filtration will be handled by your live rock and live sand (if you're using it). The bio-bale will turn to a nitrate factory quickly and require cleaning and or replacing. This skimmer already requires a lot of maintenance to keep it running properly. The bio-bale just adds to that.