do I need a protien skimmer

MeganK · 03/04/2007, 11:39 AM

this is my first tank and I want to have a reef in the future I currently have a 55 gallon tank, 3 inch live sand bed, 40 lbs of live rock, with a 30 gallon sump and a cascade 1500 canister filter. my question is, do I need to get a protien skimmer?? Thanks for your help!

WaterKeeper · 03/04/2007, 11:47 AM

Hi Megan

To Reef Central

A protein skimmer is indeed a valuable tool as it removes nitrogen compounds from the water and lessens the tank's overall loading. For a tank your size a HOB skimmer, like the Backpac or Remora, would be enough,

You may also find this useful in setting up that first tank The New Tank Thread

peterkay · 03/04/2007, 11:51 AM

Hi Megan,

I'm new to the hobby (only about 5 months in) and i installed a protein skimmer about 3 months ago. I can now say that I will NEVER go without one again. I have a little 15-gallon tank with 15lbs of LR and only 2 Ocellaris Clowns and my skimmer still manages to get out ALOT of gross stuff. Once you see the nasty gunk that a skimmer cleans out, you'll never run a system without one again. You'll also notice that your water will look MUCH clearer.

Good luck!

fancyfish · 03/04/2007, 11:52 AM

yes. i would not run my tank without one. I think if you were to run a poll most people use one.

WaterKeeper · 03/04/2007, 11:59 AM

Hi Peter

You get a

To Reef Central

too.

Chris Clark · 03/04/2007, 12:06 PM

I would say most definetly. and if you have room to put an in sump skimmer in get an ASM G2. and if you want one that just hangs on get an aquac remora pro.. good luck

chrisqueenz · 03/04/2007, 12:52 PM

A protien skimmer does wonders, It will remove that waste that your usual filters cant remove.

Sk8r · 03/04/2007, 12:57 PM

I have a 54. I have an Aqua C EV 120 on my tank. It fills the whole middle of my sump and pulls about a cupful of greenish black gunk out of my water per week. If you don't remove that stuff, it just builds up and it's not good. Think of it as your tank's sewer: there are some things you just want out of your house.

With a good skimmer and enough live rock [1-2 lbs per gallon of tank] you don't need a filter.

03/04/2007, 11:39 AM	#1
MeganK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3	do I need a protien skimmer this is my first tank and I want to have a reef in the future I currently have a 55 gallon tank, 3 inch live sand bed, 40 lbs of live rock, with a 30 gallon sump and a cascade 1500 canister filter. my question is, do I need to get a protien skimmer?? Thanks for your help!

03/04/2007, 11:47 AM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hi Megan *To Reef Central* A protein skimmer is indeed a valuable tool as it removes nitrogen compounds from the water and lessens the tank's overall loading. For a tank your size a HOB skimmer, like the Backpac or Remora, would be enough, You may also find this useful in setting up that first tank The New Tank Thread __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

03/04/2007, 11:52 AM	#4
fancyfish Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,418	yes. i would not run my tank without one. I think if you were to run a poll most people use one. __________________ The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. Albert Einstein I hate micro-bubbles!! Current Tank Info: 215 gallon oceanic Ultimate with starfire front, 3-250 watt metal halide, 4-36 inch 39 watt T-5 actinic and daylight bulbs, aquamedic turboflotor shorty with mesh mod 3-Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 with controller, 40 gallon sump

03/04/2007, 11:59 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hi Peter You get a *To Reef Central* too. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

03/04/2007, 12:57 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I have a 54. I have an Aqua C EV 120 on my tank. It fills the whole middle of my sump and pulls about a cupful of greenish black gunk out of my water per week. If you don't remove that stuff, it just builds up and it's not good. Think of it as your tank's sewer: there are some things you just want out of your house. With a good skimmer and enough live rock [1-2 lbs per gallon of tank] you don't need a filter. __________________ 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%.

03/04/2007, 11:51 AM	#3
peterkay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 25	Hi Megan, I'm new to the hobby (only about 5 months in) and i installed a protein skimmer about 3 months ago. I can now say that I will NEVER go without one again. I have a little 15-gallon tank with 15lbs of LR and only 2 Ocellaris Clowns and my skimmer still manages to get out ALOT of gross stuff. Once you see the nasty gunk that a skimmer cleans out, you'll never run a system without one again. You'll also notice that your water will look MUCH clearer. Good luck!

03/04/2007, 12:06 PM	#6
Chris Clark Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: St. Peters, MO Posts: 37	I would say most definetly. and if you have room to put an in sump skimmer in get an ASM G2. and if you want one that just hangs on get an aquac remora pro.. good luck

03/04/2007, 12:52 PM	#7
chrisqueenz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rochester New York, USA Posts: 2,042	A protien skimmer does wonders, It will remove that waste that your usual filters cant remove.