Do I need a protein skimmer?

[mjc041800]

Hi, I have a 30 gallon bow front aquarium. I am going to get 2 hang on the back filters, 1 with a bio wheel and the other with bio media in it. They will both have mechanical media and maybe some chemical media too. If I plan to get a cleaning crew (snails, starfish, shrimp, crabs, etc.) should I still get a protein skimmer, or will it take out most of the cleaning crew's food? What about soft corals and SPS corals? I will also have to power heads. Thanks!

[tennesseebob]

On a system that size the guys who work there dislike them. They say it is more trouble than it is worth.

[Heatherabel3]

I use a HOB skimmer on my 29g. The tank is much cleaner since using it and my corals are much happier. I am in the 'must have piece of equipment' camp.

[Jade5051]

I'd use a skimmer for sure. It will improve water quality and boost the O2 levels.

[tennesseebob]

I def understand that, I was still thinking about it, but I decided my 29 will be my QT and I'll leave in the bioballs, the system really is doing great, so imma steal all it's goodies soon lol

[ericarenee]

Originally Posted by tennesseebob

I def understand that, I was still thinking about it, but I decided my 29 will be my QT and I'll leave in the bioballs, the system really is doing great, so imma steal all it's goodies soon lol

Bio Balls= Detritus trap.

[downbeach]

A good article here:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php

[thegrun]

I've run small tanks for years without a skimmer, as long as you maintain a small fish population and keep up on your water changes it's fine to go without one, but there is no doubt it is better to have one. You may get into trouble with some of the more sensitive SPS corals however without a skimmer as it become difficult to maintain low nutrient levels without one.

[saltyskier]

Yes it can be done. But water changes are an absolute must for nutrient transport out of the tank.

[cloak]

A protein skimmer is definitely a nice tool to have, but with so many beautiful nano tanks out there that don't use a skimmer it just goes to show... If it can be done on such a small scale like that then there's really no reason why it can't be done on a much larger one. More work perhaps, but if you love what your doing it's not necessarily work.

[gone fishin]

I agree with thegrun and cloak. I ran a 29g tank successfully without a skimmer. On a smaller tank they can make life easier but are not a necessity.

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by tennesseebob

I def understand that, I was still thinking about it, but I decided my 29 will be my QT and I'll leave in the bioballs, the system really is doing great, so imma steal all it's goodies soon lol

Bio balls need to go in the garbage, it's a nitrate trap. Best to filter with live rock and YES use a skimmer.

[Dkuhlmann]

Sure you can do without a skimmer but your water quality will be so much better with one.

[CStrickland]

Originally Posted by mjc041800

Hi, I have a 30 gallon bow front aquarium. I am going to get 2 hang on the back filters, 1 with a bio wheel and the other with bio media in it. They will both have mechanical media and maybe some chemical media too. If I plan to get a cleaning crew (snails, starfish, shrimp, crabs, etc.) should I still get a protein skimmer, or will it take out most of the cleaning crew's food? What about soft corals and SPS corals? I will also have to power heads. Thanks!

The biowheels and other media basically give bacteria a place to live. It could be that your rocks do that just fine on their own. The downside is those environments can collect crud from the water and break it down in a high oxygen area which raises nitrates. Many many people say they are more trouble than they are worth. I'd give the rocks a chance first, and maybe add the hob contraptions later if needed.

I haven't had to get a skimmer yet, I have a small bio load and I clean my tank weekly.

[cloak]

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Sure you can do without a skimmer but your water quality will be so much better with one.

Perhaps, but the outcome of a tank is in your hands, not the skimmer...

As far as bio balls go, they are VERY efficient at what they do, but if accumulation is a problem, so is your filter sock, your live rock, your sand bed etc. They're not very practical so to say, but there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that some of us can create a stunning tank with the use of a wet/dry...

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by cloak

Perhaps, but the outcome of a tank is in your hands, not the skimmer...

As far as bio balls go, they are VERY efficient at what they do, but if accumulation is a problem, so is your filter sock, your live rock, your sand bed etc. They're not very practical so to say, but there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that some of us can create a stunning tank with the use of a wet/dry...

I completely agree with you, they are not a solution to bad housekeeping.

[Rai]

Seeing so much wastes or black stuffs inside collection cup of a skimmer make my heart at peace. There are a lot of people who don't skimmer in their tank and still have beautiful tank. What about try it without skimmer first. Then decide you need the skimmer or not.

[cloak]

Woops... (wrong thread)

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by Rai

Seeing so much wastes or black stuffs inside collection cup of a skimmer make my heart at peace. There are a lot of people who don't skimmer in their tank and still have beautiful tank. What about try it without skimmer first. Then decide you need the skimmer or not.

This is all that is needed to be said about using a skimmer

[mjc041800]

So the cleaning crew won't be affected?

[gone fishin]

No the CUC will not be bothered by a skimmer if that is the question.

[tennesseebob]

I agree the bioballs can collect detritus pretty badly, I rinse mine every couple of months and change my filter pad every couple of weeks, seems to do well for me in my 29g

[A sea K]

Originally Posted by tennesseebob

I def understand that, I was still thinking about it, but I decided my 29 will be my QT and I'll leave in the bioballs, the system really is doing great, so imma steal all it's goodies soon lol

Originally Posted by ericarenee

Bio Balls= Detritus trap.

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Bio balls need to go in the garbage, it's a nitrate trap. Best to filter with live rock and YES use a skimmer.

In a reef application there are far better choices than bio balls. However when used for a QT system such as tennesseebob is planning they are very efficient in this role for converting ammonia to nitrate, far better and cleaner than LR. Not to mention they wont absorb meds and are easily cleaned and re-used.

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by A sea K

In a reef application there are far better choices than bio balls. However when used for a QT system such as tennesseebob is planning they are very efficient in this role for converting ammonia to nitrate, far better and cleaner than LR. Not to mention they wont absorb meds and are easily cleaned and re-used.

Good point and looking at it as a QT which I wasn't you have it correct!

[Tecnomantis]

Look in amazon for this
KollerCraft TOM Rapids Pro RP3 Wet/Dry Filter System

It has a built-in skimmer HOB filtration. You wont need anything else