what is a protien skimmer

katiegurl83 · 02/11/2007, 11:39 PM

i have a filter, and a heater etc... live rock, live sand, 1 damsel and a 198 Watt lighting PC for a 36 inch 35 gallon tank. I am starting my first aquarium, now I am trying to figure out if I need a chiller and or a protein skimmer. What is a protein skimmer? Do I need one? Also what is a UV filter thing (techincal terms I know) it kills bacteria but is it a seperate filter and with only 35 gallons do I need one?

sir_dudeguy · 02/11/2007, 11:44 PM

a skimmer just pulls crap out of the water basically. For a 35, i would say try to get the Aqua C Remora skimmer, or maybe a cheaper OK option would be the Coralife Super Skimmer 65 (but i have both and much prefer the Remora. That could be used on up to a 55 gallon tank in my opinion. The coralife doesnt work all that great on just my 40)

Sk8r · 02/11/2007, 11:48 PM

Yes, you need one: an Urchin or Remora would probably serve a 35 fine: I just had to replace my Urchin because it couldn't handle a 52g.

You know when the wind gets up and the surf produces yellow foam along the ocean shore, and it's pretty nasty? That's where intense aeration causes protein compounds and some phosphate, etc, to precipitate out and get washed ashore. A protein skimmer operates much the same: like water jetting into a bucket, it produces a froth in which the spare proteins and wastes of your tank are precipitated out as yellow foam, which a skimmer collects into a cup so you can toss it: by then the yellow foam has collapsed down to a dark, stinking fluid. You don't want it in your tank for the health of your fish and corals. You can live without a UV filter [a light that kills small animacules in your water] and you can live without a chiller, more than likely---a fan blowing over your open sump [you don't use lids in reefs] will serve that purpose, by heavy evaporation. You don't need a filter---shouldn't use one, because the rock and sand serve that purpose, and the cycles of a filter only impede their work and build up nitrate. But a skimmer is a good thing. An Urchin is in-sump, a Remora is HOB [hang-on]. They'll do what you'd wish your filter will do and won't. HTH.

nctommy · 02/11/2007, 11:53 PM

Ok, LOL slow down. First off, I don't think you are going to need a chiller right now. Just buy and inexpensive clip on fan for now. With what you have in the tank that would work out good. A protein skimmer is for removing dissolved organics so that they don't have a chance to cause nitrate. I would save up until you can get a good one. With your set up right now it isn't going to hurt to wait. In simple terms, a uv sterializer is a tube that has ultra violet light in it that water passes through that just kills any organism that goes through it ie. bacteria, algae, etc. This early on don't worry about that now. As time goes on and you learn more and possibly add animals to your set up you will learn what you need or want.

Sk8r · 02/11/2007, 11:58 PM

NCTOMMY's right about that: it's not an emergency, but don't let the need for a skimmer creep up on you---sort of like a house without a toilet, you can get by, but pretty soon, well, things can prosper for a while. Mine ran for a year on a weak skimmer, then phosphate nearly crashed my tank, caused a lot of damage to corals and discomfort for fish, before I realized I had no choice but upgrade that skimmer. You'll be ok for a while just with weekly 10% water changes. Be sure to use ro/di water for that [salted, of course!] and also for topoff [no salt ro/di, replacing evaporation.] You'll want an autotopoff fairly soon: hand-topping-off can drive you mad. Check out autotopoff.com. And consider a downflow box and a sump, eventually, which makes everything easier.

katiegurl83 · 02/12/2007, 12:24 AM

When you say a fan do you mean a special aquarium fan or a clip on fan like you would buy at a normal typical everyday store?

nctommy · 02/12/2007, 12:30 AM

Normal everyday fan. Just a small clip on fan from walmart will do.

katiegurl83 · 02/12/2007, 01:07 AM

Do I leave the light on at night in my Aqaurium? do I leave the lighter bluer light on or do I turn the lights off at night? I have 2 96 Watt PC

nctommy · 02/12/2007, 01:11 AM

Turn them off unless you want to be buying bulb very often. You could get a moon light if you would like or you could buy a small LED over counter light from lowes or home depot and put over the tank.

02/11/2007, 11:39 PM	#1
katiegurl83 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 22	what is a protien skimmer i have a filter, and a heater etc... live rock, live sand, 1 damsel and a 198 Watt lighting PC for a 36 inch 35 gallon tank. I am starting my first aquarium, now I am trying to figure out if I need a chiller and or a protein skimmer. What is a protein skimmer? Do I need one? Also what is a UV filter thing (techincal terms I know) it kills bacteria but is it a seperate filter and with only 35 gallons do I need one?

02/11/2007, 11:44 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	a skimmer just pulls crap out of the water basically. For a 35, i would say try to get the Aqua C Remora skimmer, or maybe a cheaper OK option would be the Coralife Super Skimmer 65 (but i have both and much prefer the Remora. That could be used on up to a 55 gallon tank in my opinion. The coralife doesnt work all that great on just my 40) __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/11/2007, 11:48 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Yes, you need one: an Urchin or Remora would probably serve a 35 fine: I just had to replace my Urchin because it couldn't handle a 52g. You know when the wind gets up and the surf produces yellow foam along the ocean shore, and it's pretty nasty? That's where intense aeration causes protein compounds and some phosphate, etc, to precipitate out and get washed ashore. A protein skimmer operates much the same: like water jetting into a bucket, it produces a froth in which the spare proteins and wastes of your tank are precipitated out as yellow foam, which a skimmer collects into a cup so you can toss it: by then the yellow foam has collapsed down to a dark, stinking fluid. You don't want it in your tank for the health of your fish and corals. You can live without a UV filter [a light that kills small animacules in your water] and you can live without a chiller, more than likely---a fan blowing over your open sump [you don't use lids in reefs] will serve that purpose, by heavy evaporation. You don't need a filter---shouldn't use one, because the rock and sand serve that purpose, and the cycles of a filter only impede their work and build up nitrate. But a skimmer is a good thing. An Urchin is in-sump, a Remora is HOB [hang-on]. They'll do what you'd wish your filter will do and won't. HTH. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/11/2007, 11:58 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	NCTOMMY's right about that: it's not an emergency, but don't let the need for a skimmer creep up on you---sort of like a house without a toilet, you can get by, but pretty soon, well, things can prosper for a while. Mine ran for a year on a weak skimmer, then phosphate nearly crashed my tank, caused a lot of damage to corals and discomfort for fish, before I realized I had no choice but upgrade that skimmer. You'll be ok for a while just with weekly 10% water changes. Be sure to use ro/di water for that [salted, of course!] and also for topoff [no salt ro/di, replacing evaporation.] You'll want an autotopoff fairly soon: hand-topping-off can drive you mad. Check out autotopoff.com. And consider a downflow box and a sump, eventually, which makes everything easier. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/11/2007, 11:53 PM	#4
nctommy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 181	Ok, LOL slow down. First off, I don't think you are going to need a chiller right now. Just buy and inexpensive clip on fan for now. With what you have in the tank that would work out good. A protein skimmer is for removing dissolved organics so that they don't have a chance to cause nitrate. I would save up until you can get a good one. With your set up right now it isn't going to hurt to wait. In simple terms, a uv sterializer is a tube that has ultra violet light in it that water passes through that just kills any organism that goes through it ie. bacteria, algae, etc. This early on don't worry about that now. As time goes on and you learn more and possibly add animals to your set up you will learn what you need or want.

02/12/2007, 12:24 AM	#6
katiegurl83 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 22	When you say a fan do you mean a special aquarium fan or a clip on fan like you would buy at a normal typical everyday store?

02/12/2007, 12:30 AM	#7
nctommy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 181	Normal everyday fan. Just a small clip on fan from walmart will do.

02/12/2007, 01:07 AM	#8
katiegurl83 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 22	Do I leave the light on at night in my Aqaurium? do I leave the lighter bluer light on or do I turn the lights off at night? I have 2 96 Watt PC

02/12/2007, 01:11 AM	#9
nctommy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 181	Turn them off unless you want to be buying bulb very often. You could get a moon light if you would like or you could buy a small LED over counter light from lowes or home depot and put over the tank.