kind of a noob question

knorsk · 03/28/2009, 03:21 PM

does good skimming keep nitrates down for a longer period of time. I have a seaclone 100 skimmer which doesn't really do a good job so i was thinking of getting a red sea prism skimmer or a aquac remora. my friend has a red sea prism skimmer and it seems to out skim mine 10 to 1. Any feedback about the skimmer choices would be great.

kraze3 · 03/28/2009, 03:43 PM

Skimmer will not eliminate nitrates. It may help but wont solve the problem. You need to locate the source. Cut feedings down. Clean all filter pads, sponges, and socks bi-weekly. What do you have for substrate?

xian · 03/28/2009, 03:49 PM

Good skimming keeps nitrates down by removing fat soluble (oily) organics from the water before they decompose.

Nitrate itself is water soluble and therefore will not be removed by a skimmer.

How big is your tank? Do you have a sump?

All three of those skimmers are questionable at best but I would say the remora is the best of the three. If you must go that route.

Now as to which option is best that is a discussion that can go on for months. In my opinion the best skimmers that are affordable are made by ASM and Octopus.

If you are looking for a good hang on you may want to consider Bermuda Aquatics. Or even a Turbofloater if you can find one.

The performance of a hang on often depends on the water level in the tank being constant. I've never been able to get a prism to perform long enough to be effective. They always seem to stop running on me.

knorsk · 03/28/2009, 04:01 PM

it's a 55 gallon FOWLR with 40lbs live sand and 60lbs of reef sand that i mixed together. So about a 2 inch sand bed. 50lbs of live rock or so. HOB filter and HOB seaclone 100 skimmer. Some Koralia powerheads and 260w power compact. No refugium. only 4 small fish. nitrates are at 10 and I just want a better skimmer to possibly make water changes less often and remove more waste.

xian · 03/28/2009, 04:14 PM

You should remove the hang on filter. Its not doing anything for you.

Look into getting an overflow and a sump that will fit under your stand. Any container can be a sump. The best skimmers work with a sump.

Juruense · 03/28/2009, 04:18 PM

Just say no to prism.

knorsk · 03/28/2009, 04:19 PM

will the tank get enough oxygen without the filter breaking the water?

mat167 · 03/28/2009, 11:27 PM

Yes the gas exchange at the surface should be plenty. If you see the surface is stagnant, just adjust/add a powerhead to move the surface a bit. The skimmer does a lot of the oxygenation.

Speaking of skimmers, I agree that the best skimmers are in-sump or stand alone models. Of the three you suggested there's not really one that stands out.
That being said, NO3 at 10 ppm for a FOWLR is more than acceptable. Unless you're having algae problems I wouldn't worry too much about it. With proper husbandry it should go down on it's own.

And yes, it would greatly benefit you to add a sump/fuge. It doesn't take much, and you can add an overflow box so you don;t have to drill your tank. A plastic bin or old 20 gallon tank doesn't take up a lot of room and will make a big difference.

Water changes not only remove waste but possibly re-introduce elements that have been used up by the tank inhabitants, so make sure you continue them.

03/28/2009, 03:21 PM	#1
knorsk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 82	kind of a noob question does good skimming keep nitrates down for a longer period of time. I have a seaclone 100 skimmer which doesn't really do a good job so i was thinking of getting a red sea prism skimmer or a aquac remora. my friend has a red sea prism skimmer and it seems to out skim mine 10 to 1. Any feedback about the skimmer choices would be great.

03/28/2009, 03:49 PM	#3
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	Good skimming keeps nitrates down by removing fat soluble (oily) organics from the water before they decompose. Nitrate itself is water soluble and therefore will not be removed by a skimmer. How big is your tank? Do you have a sump? All three of those skimmers are questionable at best but I would say the remora is the best of the three. If you must go that route. Now as to which option is best that is a discussion that can go on for months. In my opinion the best skimmers that are affordable are made by ASM and Octopus. If you are looking for a good hang on you may want to consider Bermuda Aquatics. Or even a Turbofloater if you can find one. The performance of a hang on often depends on the water level in the tank being constant. I've never been able to get a prism to perform long enough to be effective. They always seem to stop running on me. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

03/28/2009, 04:14 PM	#5
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	You should remove the hang on filter. Its not doing anything for you. Look into getting an overflow and a sump that will fit under your stand. Any container can be a sump. The best skimmers work with a sump. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

03/28/2009, 03:43 PM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	Skimmer will not eliminate nitrates. It may help but wont solve the problem. You need to locate the source. Cut feedings down. Clean all filter pads, sponges, and socks bi-weekly. What do you have for substrate?

03/28/2009, 04:01 PM	#4
knorsk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 82	it's a 55 gallon FOWLR with 40lbs live sand and 60lbs of reef sand that i mixed together. So about a 2 inch sand bed. 50lbs of live rock or so. HOB filter and HOB seaclone 100 skimmer. Some Koralia powerheads and 260w power compact. No refugium. only 4 small fish. nitrates are at 10 and I just want a better skimmer to possibly make water changes less often and remove more waste.

03/28/2009, 04:18 PM	#6
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Just say no to prism.

03/28/2009, 04:19 PM	#7
knorsk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 82	will the tank get enough oxygen without the filter breaking the water?

03/28/2009, 11:27 PM	#8
mat167 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Montreal, South-Shore Posts: 473	Yes the gas exchange at the surface should be plenty. If you see the surface is stagnant, just adjust/add a powerhead to move the surface a bit. The skimmer does a lot of the oxygenation. Speaking of skimmers, I agree that the best skimmers are in-sump or stand alone models. Of the three you suggested there's not really one that stands out. That being said, NO3 at 10 ppm for a FOWLR is more than acceptable. Unless you're having algae problems I wouldn't worry too much about it. With proper husbandry it should go down on it's own. And yes, it would greatly benefit you to add a sump/fuge. It doesn't take much, and you can add an overflow box so you don;t have to drill your tank. A plastic bin or old 20 gallon tank doesn't take up a lot of room and will make a big difference. Water changes not only remove waste but possibly re-introduce elements that have been used up by the tank inhabitants, so make sure you continue them.