Do I need a skimmer in this situation?

djtuzik · 04/16/2015, 09:47 AM

I have a 35g tank with live sand/rock.
The current inhabitant is a skeletor eel, about 1 foot in length.
I have a canister filter attached which I clean every 2 or 3 weeks running only chemical filtration.
Do I need to buy a new skimmer or only canister should be ok for the time being?
thx

Kyle461 · 04/16/2015, 09:53 AM

Skimmers are always preferred over canisters for nutrient export. Seems like the tank is a bit small for that eel though.

djtuzik · 04/16/2015, 09:56 AM

Keeping the Eel in there until I can put him into my 180...
Was told it's easier to take care of him until he grows up a bit more.

Kyle461 · 04/16/2015, 09:57 AM

If you have sufficient live rock, that will act as your filtration so you could ditch the canister and add a skimmer.

ReefsandGeeks · 04/16/2015, 09:59 AM

Once I got a skimmer I'd never go back to not having one. That being said, you can get aways without one with a good maintanance schedule. With eels being as dirty as they are, I'd highly suggest a skimmer. It'll remove organics before they decompose, unlike mechanical filtration like canisters, and will improve pH, as well as oxygenate the water. They also give you the ability to carbon dose if so desired so you can get your nitrates and phosphates way down with little effort, if so desired

BigCountry74 · 04/16/2015, 11:48 AM

just keep the canister and put money into filtering the 180. sounds like your 35 is nothing more than a holding tank? so why put money into it? focus on that 180

djtuzik · 04/16/2015, 12:17 PM

I'm afraid to put the eel in to a 180, if I can't feed him, will be a huge pain

04/16/2015, 09:47 AM	#1
djtuzik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 282	Do I need a skimmer in this situation? I have a 35g tank with live sand/rock. The current inhabitant is a skeletor eel, about 1 foot in length. I have a canister filter attached which I clean every 2 or 3 weeks running only chemical filtration. Do I need to buy a new skimmer or only canister should be ok for the time being? thx

04/16/2015, 09:53 AM	#2
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Skimmers are always preferred over canisters for nutrient export. Seems like the tank is a bit small for that eel though. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

04/16/2015, 09:57 AM	#4
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	If you have sufficient live rock, that will act as your filtration so you could ditch the canister and add a skimmer. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

04/16/2015, 11:48 AM	#6
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	just keep the canister and put money into filtering the 180. sounds like your 35 is nothing more than a holding tank? so why put money into it? focus on that 180 __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

04/16/2015, 09:56 AM	#3
djtuzik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 282	Keeping the Eel in there until I can put him into my 180... Was told it's easier to take care of him until he grows up a bit more.

04/16/2015, 09:59 AM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Once I got a skimmer I'd never go back to not having one. That being said, you can get aways without one with a good maintanance schedule. With eels being as dirty as they are, I'd highly suggest a skimmer. It'll remove organics before they decompose, unlike mechanical filtration like canisters, and will improve pH, as well as oxygenate the water. They also give you the ability to carbon dose if so desired so you can get your nitrates and phosphates way down with little effort, if so desired

04/16/2015, 12:17 PM	#7
djtuzik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 282	I'm afraid to put the eel in to a 180, if I can't feed him, will be a huge pain