Why do they say skimmer are not that important on a FOWLR

salty3 · 04/06/2007, 10:58 AM

I want to start a FOWLR and have heard skimmers arent that important for them. Why? I have a css125 on the way can I put it on a 90 with say a 20 gal sump and have FOWLR without underskimming the tank? I know these are good for 60 gal or under but will it work for a bigger tank with out corals?

Freed · 04/06/2007, 11:04 AM

Don't know who told you that but I believe they are somewhat mistaken. A skimmer will pull all the dissolved gunk out of the water especially if you have a high population of fish. Just a couple of fish and you could just do water changes every once in a while. You could do water changes with a high bioload too but you would have to do quite a few or large ones to keep the ammonia and nitrate/ite down to acceptable levels. A skimmer will do this for you.

luke33 · 04/06/2007, 11:06 AM

It will work, its just not going to be a good skimmer for that large of a setup, but it will be better than nothin. As for why its not as important in a fowlr is because nitrates aren't going to affect your fish like they would on corals. sps and lps need a very pure stable water source and if the nitrates rose alot they would not be very happy. Fish on teh otherhand can take nitrates and it won't affect them to a certain extent, only if they get really high. Thats the explanation in a nutshell

salty3 · 04/06/2007, 11:10 AM

Thank you for the explaination. So if I did use a skimmer too small on a bigger tank, then I would most likely have algae issuse right? If thats the case I will just stay with a smaller tank till schools over and I can afford a bigger one.

luke33 · 04/06/2007, 11:15 AM

If you do frequent water changes, every two weeks i wouldn't worry about the algae problem so much.

salty3 · 04/06/2007, 11:27 AM

Well I do weekly 10% on my 30, and its doing great but on there I have a oversized skimmer. So would 10% weekly be good enough for a bigger tank?

luke33 · 04/06/2007, 11:39 AM

FOWLR, yes, i'd go for it

gabe3d · 04/06/2007, 12:36 PM

I think they mean that the livestock in a FOWLR tank are not as sensitive to nitrates as a reef. Fish in general IME have higher tolerance for "dirty" water.

luke33 · 04/06/2007, 01:12 PM

Yep High nitrates and fish=ok
High nitrates and corals=death

Ironsheikh · 04/06/2007, 04:19 PM

A CSS is made for 125g tanks ...what skimmer are you saying is too small? do you mean you have a css65?

kodyboy · 04/06/2007, 04:37 PM

skimmer ratings are often (most often) way too high, except for euroreef which seems reasonable. A css125 is really good for a 60 gallon or so tank. If you can I would send that back and get an aquaeurousa classic 250, not too expensive and much better for your tank. In actuallity I would think a FOWLR would require skimming more than a reef, as they tend to have a larger fish load (organic waste load). The fish would also do better with the greater oxygenation the better skimmer would provide. But all that said the css125 is better than nothing.

Tron87 · 04/06/2007, 05:35 PM

In my experience, you can do whatever you want with a FOWLR almost. The tank I inherited was a FOWLR and had not seen a water change in its lifetime unless the guy was moving it or something.

Algea was not a problem because the lighting was abysmal (2X30 watt halogen pendants. Like for inside kitchen cabinets and stuff) And a Fluval 304 that never got cleaned. When I go it I checked the nitrates and they were off the charts. My test goes up to 160. The fish were fine. Not as happy as fish in a well taken care of tank, but they were all about 5 years old. Damsels and gobies.

Everything about a fowler is more lenient but morality and good husbandry apply just the same.

Anyway. clean water is clean water and everyone appreciates it but I think the skimmer you have will be fine. Maybe go overbaord on live rock if your still worried.

salty3 · 04/06/2007, 07:08 PM

Thanks everyone. Iron it say rated for 125 gal but all the reading I've done say cut the nuber in half and thats what its really rated for.

04/06/2007, 10:58 AM	#1
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Why do they say skimmer are not that important on a FOWLR I want to start a FOWLR and have heard skimmers arent that important for them. Why? I have a css125 on the way can I put it on a 90 with say a 20 gal sump and have FOWLR without underskimming the tank? I know these are good for 60 gal or under but will it work for a bigger tank with out corals?

04/06/2007, 11:04 AM	#2
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Don't know who told you that but I believe they are somewhat mistaken. A skimmer will pull all the dissolved gunk out of the water especially if you have a high population of fish. Just a couple of fish and you could just do water changes every once in a while. You could do water changes with a high bioload too but you would have to do quite a few or large ones to keep the ammonia and nitrate/ite down to acceptable levels. A skimmer will do this for you. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

04/06/2007, 11:27 AM	#6
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	gg Well I do weekly 10% on my 30, and its doing great but on there I have a oversized skimmer. So would 10% weekly be good enough for a bigger tank?

04/06/2007, 04:19 PM	#10
Ironsheikh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SYRACUSE NY Posts: 1,124	A CSS is made for 125g tanks ...what skimmer are you saying is too small? do you mean you have a css65? __________________ You have been weighed... You have been measured... YOU have been found wanting! Current Tank Info: 20G fowlr some zoas

04/06/2007, 11:06 AM	#3
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	It will work, its just not going to be a good skimmer for that large of a setup, but it will be better than nothin. As for why its not as important in a fowlr is because nitrates aren't going to affect your fish like they would on corals. sps and lps need a very pure stable water source and if the nitrates rose alot they would not be very happy. Fish on teh otherhand can take nitrates and it won't affect them to a certain extent, only if they get really high. Thats the explanation in a nutshell

04/06/2007, 11:10 AM	#4
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Thank you for the explaination. So if I did use a skimmer too small on a bigger tank, then I would most likely have algae issuse right? If thats the case I will just stay with a smaller tank till schools over and I can afford a bigger one.

04/06/2007, 11:15 AM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	If you do frequent water changes, every two weeks i wouldn't worry about the algae problem so much.

04/06/2007, 11:39 AM	#7
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	FOWLR, yes, i'd go for it

04/06/2007, 12:36 PM	#8
gabe3d Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Elk Grove/Sunnyvale/Shibuya Posts: 1,605	I think they mean that the livestock in a FOWLR tank are not as sensitive to nitrates as a reef. Fish in general IME have higher tolerance for "dirty" water.

04/06/2007, 01:12 PM	#9
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Yep High nitrates and fish=ok High nitrates and corals=death

04/06/2007, 04:37 PM	#11
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	skimmer ratings are often (most often) way too high, except for euroreef which seems reasonable. A css125 is really good for a 60 gallon or so tank. If you can I would send that back and get an aquaeurousa classic 250, not too expensive and much better for your tank. In actuallity I would think a FOWLR would require skimming more than a reef, as they tend to have a larger fish load (organic waste load). The fish would also do better with the greater oxygenation the better skimmer would provide. But all that said the css125 is better than nothing.

04/06/2007, 05:35 PM	#12
Tron87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 595	In my experience, you can do whatever you want with a FOWLR almost. The tank I inherited was a FOWLR and had not seen a water change in its lifetime unless the guy was moving it or something. Algea was not a problem because the lighting was abysmal (2X30 watt halogen pendants. Like for inside kitchen cabinets and stuff) And a Fluval 304 that never got cleaned. When I go it I checked the nitrates and they were off the charts. My test goes up to 160. The fish were fine. Not as happy as fish in a well taken care of tank, but they were all about 5 years old. Damsels and gobies. Everything about a fowler is more lenient but morality and good husbandry apply just the same. Anyway. clean water is clean water and everyone appreciates it but I think the skimmer you have will be fine. Maybe go overbaord on live rock if your still worried.

04/06/2007, 07:08 PM	#13
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Thanks everyone. Iron it say rated for 125 gal but all the reading I've done say cut the nuber in half and thats what its really rated for.