Protein Skimmer Advice

[diggydoo]

When I first got my tank I purchased a so-so protein skimmer. After months of problems, I think it is my protein skimmer. I don't even know what kind it is, only that is has a Rio1400 pump attached to it and appears to be a countercurrent venturi type. I have a huge BGA and algae problem. All my chemistries are on track: pH7.9, alk 10 dKH, sal 1.023, NH4 <0.25, NO3 <0.30, nitrites 10 ppm, Ca: 400, Mg: 1050, phosphates zero. Since I have gotten the calc/alk situation resolved, lots of halimeda has started growing, but I still don't have any coralline algae, even after seeding the tank with a kit. I even scrubbed the algae and BGA off my rocks and it still comes back. The only reason I think it is my protein skimmer is because the poly-filter I put in my sump was black/brown within a week. I have 3 green chromis that are doing wonderful in the tank as well as some herms and snails (I only feed them every other day). I just need some advice on an affordable ($250), but decent protein skimmer. The only space I have for a protein skimmer in my sump is 8" by 7.5" by 25"

[shag26272]

DAS EX-1 I am setting up a 75 and thats what im using, you can run it external

[D to the P]

well your protein skimmer is part of the problem. But lets just make sure it isn't the only problem.
1. what is your water source?
2. have you tested this source for nitrates, phosphates?
3. How long has the tank been set up?
4. How long did you let it cycle before you put fish in?
5. what are you using for food, and have you always just fed every other day, and do you see yourself trying to make up for the other day of no food by feeding it a lot of food on the days you do feed?
6. How much live rock?
Thats all I can think of right now, but answer these questions and we can try to figure out if it is just your protein skimmer.

[diggydoo]

We have city water in the middle of nowhere. I tested it for nitrates and phosphorus and both were zero. The tank has been set up for a little over a year. I purchased 90# of uncured LR from DFS and let it cure in the tank, which took about a month before I added 120# of reef grade sand. It has only been recently (less than 2 months) that I put the fish in the tank. As far as feeding, I feed only as much as the fish will eat in about 3 minutes, which ends up being about I'd say a quarter inch cubed.

[D to the P]

hmm. It's just weird that you would have that much ammonia and nitrites in an aquarium with that much live rock that has been kept for over a year. It should be zero if you only have a few chromis and you only feed them a little bit. While a better skimmer would help with the nitrates, I am concerned about your ammonia and nitrites.
What test kits are you using, and have you ever used a different one to test your water (a second opinion)?
I also think its weird that you have no nitrates or phosphates from your municipal water. I'm not calling you a liar or saying you are wrong, but I've never heard of municipal water without some nitrates and/or phosphates in it. Maybe its more common than I've heard, maybe you are just lucky, or possibly your tests are wrong.
Do you do regular matainence to the tank like frequent water changes and cleaning detritus off and out of your live rock?

Sorry to not focus on the skimmer, but I don't know of one that would fit in that small of a spot and be effective. Hopefully someone else can give you a good suggestion.

[cbusreefer]

i had similar issues with my old stand, so I bought a Tunze 9010. It's a little more expensive than your budget, but works great.

[Gtstricky]

Look at the MR-1 from MRC:
http://www.myreefcreations.com/psstandard.htm

[captainobvious]

You can get the Coralife Super Skimmer 125 for your tank and it would do great at a cheaper price than most listed.
Also, make sure you have good flow all over the tank so that your not allowing algae to settle in as easy. I'd also add a clean up crew if you dont have one already. Some blue leg hermits, some astrea snails, a lawnmower blenny/diamond goby, etc.
Also, you should REALLY consider getting an RO/DI unit. City water has too high a ppm of TDS (total disolved solids) and is surely contributing to your algae growth. You can get a decent rodi on ebay shipped for about $100

[diggydoo]

I recently spend $160 on a clean-up crew from IPSF. About the only thing left are the snails and herms. I haven't seen any of the starfish, worms or shrimps in a while, but that's not to say they are still around as I did spot a starfish the other day. I have a lot of pumps in the tank as is, about 750 gph with the overflow and return, plus a 2100 gph maxijet w/sureflow upgrade, a hydor koralia 2 and two hydor koralia nanos, which really didn't seem to do anything as far as the BGA goes, other than giving it another surface to grow on. I did a 25% water change today and removed all the pumps except the sureflow and return as they are getting very dirty. I fiddled around with the protein skimmer today and it produced a lot of skimmate overnite but now has tapered off again. I do have a hagen 50 with a micron filter to try and get all the debris sucked up that I disturbed while doing the water change. I'll be blowing off the live rock daily with a powerhead to keep the gunk from settling. Also lights off for a while. Would a emerald crab help in this case also? I have considered investing in an RO/DI unit, would I also need to get a TDS meter? I do have a UV filter but haven't had it running because of the IPSF kit, would running this again help out? Thank you so much for all the helpful advice.

[D to the P]

When your lights are out, wait about an hour and then go out to your tank with a flashlight. You might see some of you clean up crew (even parts of it that you didn't buy) doing its job. Some things that are normally sold (nassarius snails, sand sifting starfish, some crabs) will either be hiding in your sand or hiding in your rockwork. 25% water changes are great, but not if the water you are doing it with isn't clean. I know your test showed no nitrates or phosphates but like I said, I find that hard to believe. Keep your pumps in the water. I don't know if you meant that you took them out to clean them and then put them back or if you just took them out all together. Just make sure they're in there. Get a better skimmer (I too like the superskimmers by coralife). Get an RO unit, The Filter Guys have good ones from what I've heard. Yes, you should get a TDS meter. I don't think an emerald crab will eat cyano. I've never seen it happen. A UV filter might help, but will not do more than just sterilizing a few algae spores that pass through it, usually not that many.